But given that the suggestion to swap positions actually came from Hamilton to start with, Vasseur has called out FOM for trying to create drama.

“I think this is a joke from FOM because the first call came from Lewis,” he told the media in Shanghai. “Lewis asked us to swap, but to make the show, to create the mess around the situation, they broadcast only the second part of the question.

“I will discuss with them.”

The Ferrari team boss revealed Ferrari had already spoken with the drivers about doing what is “best” for Ferrari in the pre-race briefing.

“Yeah,” he insisted. “I think we have to work for the team and to consider that we have to do the best for Ferrari, and it’s agreed between the cars and the drivers before the race, and it’s not an issue.

“It’s even the best proof of this is that it came from the drivers that ‘okay, I’m losing the pace that I am keen to swap’.”