Jean Alesi opens up on Ferrari’s podium finish in Belgium and drivers’ hierarchy. Jean Alesi on Ferrari's Spa result and drivers' hierarchy.

In his usual Tuesday column for the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi discussed the current situation at the Maranello team, focusing on the podium achieved in Belgium at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and the hierarchy between the drivers.

Jean Alesi assesses the situation at Ferrari

The Frenchman believes it’s still too early to talk about Ferrari being “back.” Moreover, considering the Maranello team’s current context, he is convinced that the conditions aren’t in place for Fres Vasseur to decide to favor Charles Leclerc as the lead driver. Here are his thoughts:

“Let’s be clear: I’d prefer not to regard Charles Leclerc’s third place in Spa as truly good news, but rather as a positive event that lightens up the summer break. It remains to be seen whether and to what extent it was a race that suited Mercedes, while it certainly was for McLaren, who gambled on rain by putting out heavily laden, slow cars on the dry track. I say this without discounting the now permanent gap to Red Bull, which, as we keep watching it, makes us forget the true goal of a top team, which is victory.” – the former Ferrari man pointed out.

The hierarchy issue

“The battle for honorable positions remains open and complex for Ferrari, and I don’t believe that the favorable result for Charles will change Fred Vasseur’s attitude towards the two drivers. On one hand, Charles Leclerc was already in a favored position, and as the team principal is a man of the field, concerned about the team’s result, he will aim to gain points by utilizing both cars, both drivers. It’s not the time, and the conditions aren’t present to intervene in favor of one or the other, still fighting for the mere placements.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.