First round of testing is done... so who's going to win 2019?

[Alonsofan]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-vettel-priority-leclerc/4338410/amp/

[cosworth151]

No surprise there. Standard Ferrari operational mode.

[Jericoke]

I didn't think anyone on here was naive enough to think that Ferrari will not favour Vettel 

If any Ferrari driver wins the WDC it will only ever be Vettel 

I’m not so sure.  Ferrari has historically been much more interested in the WCC than the WDC.  It will have more to do with mathematical chances after mid season.

Maybe when Enzo was in charge, but ever since Barichello and Massa made a botch of pulling over for Schumacher, it's pretty clear that Ferrari has a number one driver. 

There's nothing wrong with that, the drivers know what they're signing up for, after all.  But they're not fair minded.

All the same, you're right, if LeClerc finds himself ahead of Vettel, they're pragmatic enough to recognize who the number one driver is.  (Of course, in 2010 Webber was RBR's number one driver and Vettel won the championship anyway)

[Scott]

Every teams operational mode is to use their most expensive driver optimally.  More experienced, more proven...the key phrase is in the headline - “if required”.  Ferrari is not at all unique in this manner yet get spanked about it far more than others even though RBR and Merc are far more blatant about it.

[Alonsofan]

Don't fully agree about Mercedes. They only favour a driver when it is either totally necessary or has been earned by the leading driver. Ferrari and Red Bull will clearly favour Vettel and Max from the start. Probably as Jeri said contractually.
On that subject I think team orders and number 2 contracts should be banned completely. Even the famous "Fernando is faster than you" moment made me cringe, baby cakes should have got passed him on merit. It spoils the whole spectacle for fans, who let's face it,  without us there would be no sport.

[Jericoke]

Don't fully agree about Mercedes. They only favour a driver when it is either totally necessary or has been earned by the leading driver.

In the Rosberg/Hamilton era Mercedes was dominant enough to let the drivers 'have at it' without really worrying about either title.  Then Bottas came along and was (with all due respect Valteri) one step behind and not a threat to defeat Hamilton.  In 2018, where there was a real risk of not claiming the WDC, Mercedes DID ask Bottas to hand over places to Hamilton.  I believe they would have done this all along, but they never needed to.

So, Mercedes is as bad as RBR and Ferrari for declaring a #1 driver... they just were never in enough danger to need to do so until last year.

(And of course in the Schumacher/Rosberg era, even though Rosberg was arguably the better of the two, Mercedes would never be caught dead letting anyone think for a second that Schumacher wasn't being treated as the #1.  I wonder if that held them back at all?)

[Alonsofan]

My point is, Mercedes favoured Hamilton last year because they had to and because he had earned number 1 status. If Bottas was leading, he would have been favoured.
Ferrari and Red Bull have their favourites from the start and even implement team orders when it is NOT necessary. Just ask Rubens and Webber

[Jericoke]

My point is, Mercedes favoured Hamilton last year because they had to and because he had earned number 1 status. If Bottas was leading, he would have been favoured.
Ferrari and Red Bull have their favourites from the start and even implement team orders when it is NOT necessary. Just ask Rubens and Webber

Toto always seemed nervous about letting Hamilton and Rosberg race each other, but was more scared of looking like a spoilsport by not letting them race.  (And of course upsetting the apple cart by declaring a diva-ish Hamilton #2... or the German on a German team #2)

If Rosberg had stayed on for 2017, it could have been very tense at Mercedes with a stronger Ferrari to fend off they might have had to declare a number one.  Nico didn't want to go through that (can't say I blame him) and did Toto a favour by stepping down.

[Alonsofan]

Rosberg retired because he knew he could never be so lucky twice, so he took the cowardly option and retired  Never liked him anyway.

Btw....I have a message for Leclerc.... watch the 2019 Carabao Cup final and please have the same attitude as the Chelsea goalkeeper. Might end up retiring another German if you did