The key trait Vettel must show to stay at Ferrari

There were times last year when it would not have been a big surprise if Sebastian Vettel had decided that Formula 1 was no longer for him.

This was especially true after the Italian Grand Prix, when the critics were on his back. Many in the anti-Vettel camp were suggesting that his time was up after his Monza race had effectively ended with an unforced spin, after which he hit Lance Stroll, while team-mate Charles Leclerc became the darling of the tifosi with a sensational win.

But leading sportspeople like Vettel don't reach the top by throwing the towel in after dark days. In fact, they're often inspired to hit their peak form after some of their toughest moments. And that's exactly what happened with Vettel last year.

At the next race in Singapore, helped in part by an update package that transformed the Ferrari's handling, Vettel was back on form. And as the strategy shook out to hand him a lead that team orders ensured he kept to the flag, it marked a defining moment in showing the world - and his bosses - that he was not all washed up.

Most importantly, Singapore acted as a reset for the balance of power between Vettel and Leclerc as the pair moved to establish their own superiority within Ferrari.

As well as the big public contrast between their performances at Monza, there had been some internal controversy to deal with regarding the way Leclerc had failed to give Vettel a promised tow in qualifying.

In the final stages of Q3, Leclerc was supposed to return a favour to Vettel and give him the slipstream benefit for the last run. But, amid the chaos of those last few minutes, it never happened, and his team-mate was pretty unhappy about it.

That double whammy of on-track struggles and internal politics could have been all too much for Vettel. But instead, as team principal Mattia Binotto explained to Autosport at the end of last year, he actually drew inspiration from the situation.

"I think he was motivated," said Binotto. "He knew he could deliver better, he knew that he had a good performance as well at Monza. So for him it was also important to prove that he could be still a world champion, and I think winning in Singapore has been key for his motivation.

"That was true on the performance side, but as well in the team trust. Monza was certainly difficult from the qualifying situation. [But] he was very happy from the [team orders] decision during the race in Singapore, and that gave him something, a boost, some confidence. And then you free your mind to do even better."

Binotto reckons that the car changes Ferrari made for Singapore - which included a new floor, diffuser, rear wing and caped nose section - were an important factor in helping Vettel show what he was capable of better.

As was widely reported at the time, it wasn't the case of the improvement just being about more downforce, it was about delivering a better operating window for the car. Both drivers had struggled to get on top of it earlier in the campaign.

"It was certainly a significant amount of downforce," said Binotto. "But it was mainly a better balance or car driveability. It felt more stable, so the drivers had more confidence. So it was about attacking the cornering, braking, and through the corners.

"And I think it helped Seb to shine even more. So certainly that increased confidence gave better feeling to Seb and since then, since Singapore, I must say the performance offset has been always great - except for maybe the mistake in Monza, but the performance there was still good. So, in the second half of the season, certainly Seb's base was as good if not better than Charles."

Vettel's return to competitiveness brought with it an inevitable increase in rivalry with Leclerc. And while the team orders controversies in Singapore and Russia were big issues at the time, they paled into insignificance compared to their clash in Brazil.

But, while Binotto would have preferred conflict not to get aired in public - either through on-track incident or team radio messages - he thinks it important that both drivers are always dealt with in a fully transparent way.

It is clear Ferrari retains faith that the Vettel/Leclerc line-up can work. And for Binotto, the key to Vettel's future is not necessarily down to pure results

When asked if controversial moments were an inevitable part of having two top-line drivers racing against each other, Binotto said: "You have to accept them because that is obvious.

"They are top drivers and they are there to do their best and to win. So what's important for me is that they understand what is the overall objective and understand more about the overall situation [in the race].

"Arguing on the radio is never the best because when you are in the car you do not have the full picture. So then it is a matter of trust - trusting the team, even if you make mistakes, as the drivers may make them. I think it is only about clarity and transparency before the race, clarity and transparency also during the season, and then we should face whatever situation in the race together before we eventually discuss it. "

Binotto does not seem too fussed by the fact there are problems to deal with when one of the drivers is behind. It seems that the day that one of them is happy to be second is the day Ferrari will likely go looking for a replacement.

"If I look at the two drivers at the moment and how they are behaving together, it works very well," he reflects. "There is a good spirit, a good benchmark and in qualifying. When Charles is disappointed that he is behind Seb, it is good and positive.

"But between the two, after all the polemics that we may have read in the newspaper about the radio communication, that is one point that is not a concern at all.

"In fact it is opposite. It is a good line-up, as well quite different in terms of experience. For us, that is an advantage."

It is clear then that Ferrari retains faith that the Vettel-Leclerc line-up can work. And for Binotto, Vettel's future is not necessarily down to pure results, and whether he finishes ahead or behind Leclerc as 2020 plays out.

Instead, the main factor will be whether he has reason to smile about his life at Maranello.

"What is important for him is that he's always enjoying what he is doing," explained Binotto. "And I think at the moment he is enjoying it. [Being] ahead or behind - that will become a boost or a motivation for him. But as long as he is enjoying it, he is fine."