Former Ferrari drivers, Jean Alesi and Alain Prost, have backed the team's decision to declare Sebastian Vettel their priority over Charles Leclerc this season.
Expectations remain high of the Monegasque as he steps up to the Scuderia and he impressed during testing with a very strong four days of running and finishing just 0.01s behind Vettel with his best time.
However, the predictions of Leclerc coming in and beating the German do appear to be fading after Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto proclaimed the four-time world champion would be favoured in the championship fight.
"It was a courageous decision," Prost told France's, Le Figaro. "In a team like Ferrari, it's extremely difficult to win a championship if you let both drivers compete on equal terms."
The four-time champion also believes it was wise to make that position clear now.
"It's more cautious and better to say it from the beginning," he continued. "It clarifies the situation and it's also more comfortable for Charles."
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As for Alesi, who won his only F1 race with the Italian team in 1995, he admits he was less surprised by Binotto's declaration.
"I have no doubt that Vettel is preferred and Leclerc plays second violin," he told Radio Sportiva.
"But still, I think it will be very exciting between the two. The plan seems to me that Vettel must be first and Leclerc just second, but who knows. The season is long with 21 races! Vettel has at least everything to grab the title, so let's see what happens in Melbourne."
