Leclerc will do anything to negate Ferrari orders

Charles Leclerc says he "will do anything" in order to reverse the hierarchy that Ferrari have laid down on him and Sebastian Vettel so far this season. Team orders have been handed down to Leclerc in three of the four races of the 2019 season, favouring Vettel each time.

Ferrari's approach was little surprise given team principal Mattia Binotto signalled that Vettel was the team's "champion" and would get the benefit in 50-50 situations.

That led to Leclerc being called off a late charge on his team-mate in Australia and then giving up a third place in China to his team-mate, although the Monegasque ignored a call not to overtake Vettel for the lead in Bahrain, although a certain win was robbed of him by a mechanical issue.

Leclerc saw another chance to grab his maiden grand prix win slip through his fingers in Baku last time out thanks to a crash in qualifying, but he remains determined to get on the winners' board and prove Ferrari wrong in some way.

"I have to show what I can do on the racetrack, and then hopefully the situation will change someday," said Leclerc, speaking to Auto Motor und Sport.

"Like every driver here, I want to be the fastest. So far, I have understood every decision, even though it is sometimes difficult for a driver to accept it.

"I have a four-time world champion next to me driving for Ferrari in his fifth year. I understand that there is a hierarchy at the moment, but I will do anything to change that.

"The boys on the pit wall have a better overview of the race. So, to some extent, I will do what is required of me."

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