'It won't happen again' insist Ferrari's feuding drivers ahead of Japan GP

Squabbling teammates Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc on Thursday insisted "everything is clear now" with Ferrari team orders after their Russian Grand Prix debacle.

The Scuderia saw their race in Sochi fall apart handing Mercedes a one-two after a pre-arranged plan for Leclerc, who started from pole position, to "tow" Vettel into the lead unravelled when the German refused to give back the place before retiring with a mechanical problem.

Leclerc told reporters in Suzuka ahead of the weekend's typhoon-threatened Japanese Grand Prix that team principal Mattia Binotto had held talks with both drivers to iron out a "misunderstanding".

"Yeah, obviously there was some misunderstanding from the car but I think we've had a discussion and everything is clear now," said Leclerc.

"Obviously it felt like it was a huge deal from the outside, which it definitely wasn't, but yeah, now everything is fine." Vettel disobeyed team orders in Russia and Leclerc seemed to have a further dig at his teammate before trying, cryptically, to wriggle out of it.

"I think that's clear from the beginning of the season, we need to obey team orders," said the Monegasque.

"And what is clear is that the situation wasn't clear for both of the drivers, starting the race, and I think that's the most important.

"So we spoke about it and we'll make sure that this situation doesn't happen again in the future."
"We speak with each other. Maybe different to what some people think. But I think it's pretty clear. But in the end, we look forward and look forward to this race and the next races. So not worried too much."