Ferrari is not ruling out restoring team orders this season despite drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc starting the year on the “same level”.

Leclerc’s arrival at the Italian team in 2019 led to a series of controversial inter-team flashpoints over the course of the season, as both drivers battled for the number one status.

Although Ferrari stated before the first race in Melbourne that it would prioritise Vettel in 50/50 situations, this proved in vein as Leclerc outscored the four-time world champion and won two races to Vettel’s one.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto, who oversaw the pair’s rivalry, has reminded them the team will come first in whatever decision is taken in a racing situation.

“I think he [Leclerc] has already proven to be ready. I think he did a fantastic job and great season last year and he has reached the same level of Sebastian as well in terms of final results,” Binotto said, as quoted by Crash.net. “I think he has proven he can do it.

“It is right that they are on the same level to start in 2020 and I think they know as well the team has the first priority so team orders may still be there.

“I am not saying that they are free to race with no team orders, so there might be team orders for the benefit of the entire team. But it has to be a clear situation.”

Following last year’s on-track struggles that blighted Ferrari’s bid for a first drivers’ title since 2007, Binotto is optimistic lessons have been learned and there will be a greater harmony between its drivers.

“I think last year has been very useful for both of them and myself, to know each other and to understand how we should behave and what should be the rules within the team and what is the priority – that the team comes first,” he said.

“I think that the two drivers now know each other better too and they are behaving well. I am very happy at the level of discussions we got and the level of contribution to the car and to the team.

“I think, generally speaking, there is not much to tell them because they understand perfectly what should be the way to behave on track.”