Vettel: Ferrari’s pre-race agreement “not a big deal”

Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari’s pre-race agreement and team orders controversy during Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix is “not a big deal”.

Vettel made a brilliant getaway from third on the grid and took the lead of the race at the start, with polesitter Leclerc informed by Ferrari that the team would swap back the positions.

Vettel initially did not hand back the place and demonstrated stronger pace than his teammate. The team orders call was made more complicated by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes keeping tabs with the Ferrari duo.

For the second race running, Leclerc was frustrated over team radio and stressed that he had stuck to the Scuderia’s agreement. Leclerc ultimately moved into the lead after undercutting his teammate, before Vettel retired with an MGU-K failure.

Speaking about the incident, Vettel said: “I don’t know exactly what happened.

“I think we had an agreement, I spoke with Charles before the race and I think it was quite clear. But maybe I missed something.

"I’m sure we will talk about it. It’s obviously bitter today because we wanted to have a 1-2 with the cars. So not the result that we wanted.”

Asked what was agreed before the race, Vettel replied: “I don’t know if I want to share. Not a great deal.

“I don’t want to put the team in a bad position afterwards because someone said something here and there.

"I know it’s not fair because people want to know but it’s not a big deal. I was in third and Charles was in first, and we were talking about a strategy to find a way to get past Lewis.

“I had a very good start and there were a couple of options on the table. Sorry but I really prefer not to [go into it].”

Leclerc, who eventually finished third behind both Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas after the timing of a Virtual Safety Car period hurt Ferrari, insisted he has full trust in Ferrari.

“I will always trust the team but the tactic was me giving the slipstream to be one two at the end of the straight, which happened,” he explained.

“But after that I don’t know, I need to speak with the team to know better the situation.”