No “big differences” between Leclerc and Vettel on F1 data - Binotto

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says there are no “big differences” between F1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel when comparing the duo on the telemetry data it receives at each race weekend.

The disparity between the two Ferrari drivers in 2020 has been stark. Leclerc has 75 points and two podiums to his name, while Vettel has only scored 18 points.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Binotto says there are only “small differences” between the pair when looking at the telemetry data. 

“I don’t think there’s a key difference,” Binotto said. “I think in the end it’s very small differences. We aren’t talking about a big number,  it’s always a sum of hundredths per corner, per braking. It’s very little and as Seb said, it’s a matter of feeling, it’s a matter of feeling the grip, it’s a matter of extracting the potential, it’s our task and it’s our duty to help him, to support him in the ways he can deliver better and that’s it. Looking at the data there are no big differences, that’s the point.”

Vettel makes the switch to Racing Point - soon to be rebranded as Aston Martin for 2021.

The four-time world champion is still keen to find a solution to his problems before his six-year stint with the Scuderia comes to an end.

“Obviously, you summed up the situation. I am driving the car, and just like anytime throughout my career I am driving to do everything I can to go as fast as I can but currently, I am not able to get the same out of the car that Charles is,” Vettel added.

“I am looking forward with the engineers to try and understand and work on it. I continue to work on it. Like I said, so far in my racing life, I’ve always been able to extract the maximum. This year seems a bit different but there’s no choice than working on myself and working on the car. I don’t think it’s down to the way the car is handling.

“I think you always have to adapt, I think that’s true in go-karts all the way up to F1 and normally has never been a problem. Clearly, as I said I am missing something this year and I am trying everything I can to get on top of it.”