Raikkonen has faith Ferrari will deliver winning car in 2015

[wickedf1]

So it's win or bust for you? If we don't win then it doesn't matter if we are third or ninth? Same difference to you?

The least of problems would suggest it's an area where we are very strong. Such areas are mechanics, strategists and commercial deals. After the disastrous 2014 for our drivers I wouldn't say we have a reason to be overly confident in them. Both of them are leaving too many pts on the table if the car doesn't suit them.

Ferrari's car did not suit any driver. The car is the biggest problem for many years. Arrivabene is right that the least problem is the drivers. Those drivers were in the teams that moved from mid field to winning races so they know how to do their part. Now Ferrari has to make a great car.

[shamim179]

We are also an engine manufacturer. If we weren't we'd probably be competing with Marussia and Sauber. I know that sounds harsh but the car was unquestionably terrible this year given that we had a significant advantage as an engine manufacturer over customer teams.

[shamim179]

The problem last year was the F14-T had bad-handling characteristics that could not be cured without major changes. Obviously, these couldn't be cured by "fine tuning" the existing chassis. The car may have been designed with Fernando's preferences in mind, but I doubt the result was a car Fernando wanted, else he'd still be a Ferrari pilot! To put the blame on the car being designed for Alonso is patently absurd!

Both Alonso & Kimi disliked the handling, according to some of JA's remarks, only difference being that Alonso was able to handle the shortcomings better than Kimi.

I hope they succeed in giving Kimi & Seb a car they both find, at the very least, predictable & tractable. Give them a car with those properties & more horsepower & their abilities should have a chance to show.

MA's statement is an acknowledgement that the car had some problems, but that Kimi must do better in 2015, else he will be shown the EXIT sign...



That's a "warning shot across the bow" to Kimi, up your game son or no contract for you. Hardly what you say to a driver when you are NOT concerned about him performing up to snuff.

I agree. Kimi needs to perform next year or else Ferrari will let go of him. His performance has been very poor this year. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Vettel. If they both perform similarly, Ferrari will be in a very difficult position. And should Kimi perform better than Vettel it will be rather embarrassing for Ferrari.

[Stormy]

That's a "warning shot across the bow" to Kimi, up your game son or no contract for you. Hardly what you say to a driver when you are NOT concerned about him performing up to snuff.
Yeah but i think Kimi likes to retire after next season, so he is not bothered much about Maurizio's statement.

[Ed Harley]

Perhaps he will, perhaps he will not - IMHO it depends a lot on if the 2015 car is an improvement or not.

[Nero Horse]

I agree. Kimi needs to perform next year or else Ferrari will let go of him. His performance has been very poor this year. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Vettel. If they both perform similarly, Ferrari will be in a very difficult position. And should Kimi perform better than Vettel it will be rather embarrassing for Ferrari.

Why on earth would Kimi performing better than Vettel be in any way embarrassing for Ferrari? I don't follow that train of thought at all. There are absolutely no guarantees that Vettel will beat Kimi and vice versa. If Kimi performs really great and significantly elevates his level and beats Vettel fair and square then how would it be embarrassing for Ferrari, or anyone for that matter? They're both great drivers and it's going to be difficult for either one of them to beat the other one. I'm sure that Vettel doesn't think for a second that beating Kimi will be easy. Both are champions and it certainly wouldn't be embarrassing for anyone if for example Kimi beats Vettel or Vettel beats Kimi, it will just mean that the one who comes out on top has done a better job, that's all.

[abbottcostello]

Perhaps he will, perhaps he will not - IMHO it depends a lot on if the 2015 car is an improvement or not.
+1
All Kimi ever said was something like Ferrari would probably be last F1 team he drives for, everybody took that to mean he was retiring after his current contract is up. He has even made statements to clarify that's not what he meant!

[Dromedary]

All Kimi ever said was something like Ferrari would probably be last F1 team he drives for, everybody took that to mean he was retiring after his current contract is up. He has even made statements to clarify that's not what he meant!

Yeah. The option is for the season 2016. If the year is not a total failure, let' say something similar to 2014, I think he will drive at least for another year. I've seen some quotes where Kimi has said that there could be couple of more years left even after that. It's all up to the performance of the team, the driver and whether both sides are happy with the results.

[Winter]

I agree. Kimi needs to perform next year or else Ferrari will let go of him. His performance has been very poor this year. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Vettel. If they both perform similarly, Ferrari will be in a very difficult position. And should Kimi perform better than Vettel it will be rather embarrassing for Ferrari.

Why them performing similarly would put Ferrari in a difficult spot? Wouldn't that be only a good thing to Ferrari?
Kimi had a bad year with a bad car, Vettel also had a bad year, that happens. Both of them have convinced me with their previous driving in many seasons.

And why you think that Kimi performing better than Vettel would be somehow embarrassing? Kimi is our last WDC after all...

[Winter]

Why on earth would Kimi performing better than Vettel be in any way embarrassing for Ferrari? I don't follow that train of thought at all. There are absolutely no guarantees that Vettel will beat Kimi and vice versa. If Kimi performs really great and significantly elevates his level and beats Vettel fair and square then how would it be embarrassing for Ferrari, or anyone for that matter? They're both great drivers and it's going to be difficult for either one of them to beat the other one. I'm sure that Vettel doesn't think for a second that beating Kimi will be easy. Both are champions and it certainly wouldn't be embarrassing for anyone if for example Kimi beats Vettel or Vettel beats Kimi, it will just mean that the one who comes out on top has done a better job, that's all.

Yep +1

[Tifoso]

Why them performing similarly would put Ferrari in a difficult spot? Wouldn't that be only a good thing to Ferrari?
Kimi had a bad year with a bad car, Vettel also had a bad year, that happens. Both of them have convinced me with their previous driving in many seasons.

And why you think that Kimi performing better than Vettel would be somehow embarrassing? Kimi is our last WDC after all...

Put another way, I don't give a rat's rear which Ferrari driver is the WDC, as long as it is a Ferrari driver, and his teammate helps us to the WCC.

[Winter]

Put another way, I don't give a rat's rear which Ferrari driver is the WDC, as long as it is a Ferrari driver, and his teammate helps us to the WCC.

Thanks for the translation :xmassmile:. WDC and WCC might be a tall order, but one step at a time is fine, as long the direction is right.

[Alonsomaniac]

Why on earth would Kimi performing better than Vettel be in any way embarrassing for Ferrari? I don't follow that train of thought at all. There are absolutely no guarantees that Vettel will beat Kimi and vice versa. If Kimi performs really great and significantly elevates his level and beats Vettel fair and square then how would it be embarrassing for Ferrari, or anyone for that matter? They're both great drivers and it's going to be difficult for either one of them to beat the other one. I'm sure that Vettel doesn't think for a second that beating Kimi will be easy. Both are champions and it certainly wouldn't be embarrassing for anyone if for example Kimi beats Vettel or Vettel beats Kimi, it will just mean that the one who comes out on top has done a better job, that's all.


I understand what he means though: Alonso..... If Ferrari, and that is quite likely, does not have a top car this year, and Kimi finishes let's say 5th in the WDC and Vettel finishes 6th, then a lot of people will say Ferrari should have never let Fernando go.
And although it is impossible then to prove Fernando would have done any better, lots of people will point at 2014.

And it's the same for Sebastian, after what happened in 2014 to Kimi he just can't afford not to beat Kimi. I know it doesn't mean a lot, but to many people it will.

[ManFromMilan]

I understand what he means though: Alonso..... If Ferrari, and that is quite likely, does not have a top car this year, and Kimi finishes let's say 5th in the WDC and Vettel finishes 6th, then a lot of people will say Ferrari should have never let Fernando go.
And although it is impossible then to prove Fernando would have done any better, lots of people will point at 2014.

And it's the same for Sebastian, after what happened in 2014 to Kimi he just can't afford not to beat Kimi. I know it doesn't mean a lot, but to many people it will.



Agree with you 100%.

But hopefully this years car will be able to allow Ferrari to win and be strong again. And for goodness sake let it be a looker.

[KimiBot]

Kimi Prophet Raikkonen

[Katu]

has it won anything yet?

[KimiBot]

Only Jerez Winter Test Trophy

But here is something about that drivers feedback by team boss
I don`t know how important drivers feedback really are




i still want to argue on subject that driver is the car developer. but we'll probably see next year how mr i cannot drive anything that isn't to my likings can develop a car

Maurizio Arrivabene: “If one makes a comparison to last year, these past few days of testing have produced encouraging signs. The team has worked well, both at home and at the track and our drivers did a great job, providing the engineers with valuable feedback.

[Katu]

i didn't know there was such trophy... well one year R. Schumacher was winter testing champion too only to see Williams fail miserably the same year.

Mr. Arrivabene who has sat in team for what - 1 month is such expert? whatever suits your views

[Silent Bob]

Really? You do know that he has been involved in F1 for many years. Personally I think he can give you a good schooling on the workings of F1.

[Katu]

i'm sure he can, but that doesn't mean i have to believe in everything he says..

[Tony]

I hope we're not going to argue about this until the first race of the season.... that's more than 6 weeks away....

[Nero Horse]

Kimi's new helmet design for this season...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9LcIb0IQAAzA0T.jpg:large

[kev68]

Hi i am sceptical about Kimi producing the good in 2015, he finds it hard to adjust to a new car.

kev68 :ferrarifl

[Brembo]

I have to believe Kimi's last year car problems were made clear and that said, this years car is how he wants it to be set up. I can't imagine Ferrari giving him the same set up he had trouble adjusting to. I'm hoping for a better car for both drivers , and it looks good so far.

[wickedf1]

I agree. I think Kimi will do great. Last season was terrible, but he is not a terrible driver, so it will be much better this season. He has also had a baby which I saw was called Robin Raikkonen like the Batman's partner! :thumb But I think he will be psyched for the season now that he has a settled life in his house!

[fmatiasii]

If both cars performs well this season, it's going to be interesting between kimi and seb.

[Brembo]

Too bad we missed the fun between Kimi and Alonso last year. As you said If the cars are good , we wil see some great driving this time around.

[shamim179]

Kimi needs to do well this season otherwise he is going to get the boot. I wonder who will have the edge: Kimi or Vettel? I wonder how Vettel will feel if he performs significantly worse than Kimi. Would be very damaging to his legacy but if it is the other way round it will be very good for him. There is a lot at stake for the both of them.

[fmatiasii]

Kimi needs to do well this season otherwise he is going to get the boot. I wonder who will have the edge: Kimi or Vettel? I wonder how Vettel will feel if he performs significantly worse than Kimi. Would be very damaging to his legacy but if it is the other way round it will be very good for him. There is a lot at stake for the both of them.

In my opinion, i would go for vettel. kimi right now knows he has to deliver the goods otherwise as you said, he would be booted out next season. as for vettel, not much is expected from him only because our car is not expected to perform well therefore not much pressure for vettel unlike kimi.

[Winter]

Hi i am sceptical about Kimi producing the good in 2015, he finds it hard to adjust to a new car.

kev68 :ferrarifl


If you say so :roll

[Winter]

In my opinion, i would go for vettel. kimi right now knows he has to deliver the goods otherwise as you said, he would be booted out next season. as for vettel, not much is expected from him only because our car is not expected to perform well therefore not much pressure for vettel unlike kimi.

He drives for Ferrari, there is much expectations towards Vettel.

[aroutis]

In my opinion, i would go for vettel. kimi right now knows he has to deliver the goods otherwise as you said, he would be booted out next season. as for vettel, not much is expected from him only because our car is not expected to perform well therefore not much pressure for vettel unlike kimi.
Just because the public statements downplay the car, that does not mean the expectations within the firm are the same.

So, really, the only people that know what goes on in Ferrari, are Ferrari employees and management tbh.

[aroutis]

He drives for Ferrari, there is much expectations towards Vettel.
There is a lot of pressure for every Ferrari driver; problem with Vettel is there is added pressure being the one that replaces Alonso, plus, for better or worse he comes with 4 WDCs and is German, and we all understand the parallelisms with a certain German driver that has been a legend for Ferrari.

[KimiBot]

Now we can call him Kimi "Prophet" Raikkonen.

[Ed Harley]

Mr will do. :lol

I like what I saw in Malaysia that the car has speed, reliability, handling is very good and on top of that tyre degradation is manageable.

Very well done.

[KimiBot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCasYJnZ0oQ

Reporter Sam Smith writing about that hot lap, it was funny to read.

http://www.wired.com/2015/04/ants-still-dead/