Leclerc not number one at Ferrari - Binotto

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has dismissed any suggestion of Charles Leclerc becoming the designated number one driver this year following Carlo Sainz's arrival.

Although Leclerc is fully integrated into the workings of Ferrari ahead of his third year with the Scuderia, Sainz carries the greater experience after five seasons in F1.

Ferrari's tally of 131 points last season was largely down to the Monégasque who scored 98, yet Binotto has ruled out preferential treatment for Leclerc over the new recruit.

"There is nothing written in the contract of Charles about him being the leader," said Binotto.

"I think that the two will be free to fight on track. It is important they are not damaging themselves. I think they will have equal opportunities, certainly at the start of the season.

"I think that our top priority, as I have said in the past, will be to optimise the team points.

"So it may be that in some races it will be important that the two are somehow helping team decisions and accepting team decisions in order to optimise the team's interest, but by doing that we are helping the driver's interest as well."

After finishing sixth in the constructors' standings last season, its worst finish for 40 years, Ferrari is introducing a new power unit for this year in the hope it can fight at the sharp end again.

While there is optimism on this front, Binotto has explained the two drivers could be issued team orders if a gap develops between them in the championship and there are advantages for such an instruction.

"Later in the season, if there is a clear advantage of one driver to the other and one driver may achieve an objective which is not possible for the other, again, here, I think it will be an open discussion between the two," he added.

"So let's see how they can eventually help each other but still benefit the team. Optimising the team points is the first priority."

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