Raikkonen has faith Ferrari will deliver winning car in 2015

[vcs316]

Kimi Raikkonen is confident Marco Mattiacci is the right man to return Ferrari to winning ways next season and believes technical director James Allison will deliver a car to his liking.

Raikkonen has made a lacklustre return to the team this year, scoring just 27 points from 11 races and failing to beat team-mate Fernando Alonso on race day. The Ferrari F14 T lacks power and downforce compared to its rivals but the team will have to wait until the winter before it can start to address its power unit's deficiencies, meaning serious gains on Mercedes are unlikely this year.

However, Raikkonen believes Mattiacci, who replaced Stefano Domenicali as team principal in April, is the right man to organise Ferrari's resources into a winning package.

"I have 100% belief in the people at the factory," he said when asked about the team's plans for 2015. "We have the tools and the people to do the job and what we are supposed to do. I'm sure we can be where we should be, hopefully by next year. We have to do a lot of work, but like I said, we have the people and the tools and I don't see a reason why we shouldn't be at the front again, but obviously time will tell.

"With a new team boss [Mattiacci], he didn't have much knowledge of F1 when he came in, but he has a very smart head and I think he's doing good work and good decisions and he can get the best out of people. I think he's the guy that we need."

Raikkonen has struggled more than Alonso with the car this year and says it does not suit his style. But having worked with Ferrari technical director Allison at Lotus over the last two years, he believes he is more likely to get a car that suits him in 2015.

"The team know what I like and their designers are designing a new car [for 2015] and I have 100% belief in the guys in the factory, and with James I should get something that is more to my liking. We have to improve anyhow with the speed and I think we have good people who know what they should do. This year overall - not just for me - it's been pretty bad for the team, so there's a lot of work to do and I'm sure we have the tools to turn it around and be stronger next year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

[vcs316]

Romain Grosjean says he is not entirely surprised to see his ex-team-mate Kimi Raikkonen struggling this year and believes it is down to the latest generation Pirelli tyres.

Raikkonen has struggled so far this year after two stellar seasons alongside Grosjean at Lotus in 2012 and 2013. Grosjean believes this year's tyres - which feature harder compounds than in recent seasons - do not offer Raikkonen the front-end grip he desires.

"I know what he doesn't like and I think this year's tyres don't suit him very well," he said. "He needs a good front end and there tyres don't give him that feeling. It's hard to explain but it just changes a little bit your confidence."

Asked to compare his relationship with Raikkonen and his relationship with his current team-mate Pastor Malonado, Grosjean said: "It's fairly different. Pastor is a nice guy and a father so we can speak about different things off track, which I didn't have with Kimi because we didn't have any common points on that one.

"The work relationship is pretty similar, even though I speak a little bit more with Pastor in the briefings than I did with Kimi. Kimi was very interesting to have as a team-mate because in that car he was performing very well and doing a very good job, so it was nice to have him on board."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

[IulianFerrari]

"They are very different (Pastor and Kimi), Pastor is a nice guy..." that cracked me up. But it is an interesting point Romain makes with the front end and Pirelli tyres this year.

[Stormy]

That is the problem with Kimi, he just cant adjust to a car that is not of his liking.

[Katu]

i'm not sure i have faith Kimi will deliver in 2015....

[Kingdom Hearts]

so kimi need the tyres to his liking too, so what will happen if next year tyres are the same or worse/harder?.

[Stormy]

so kimi need the tyres to his liking too, so what will happen if next year tyres are the same or worse/harder?.

I hope he will adjust, its still Kimi we are talking about.
Of course he is not Alonso but still...

[Kristof_F40]

If Kimi is in a happy place, he's top class, if he isn't... We all know..

[Brembo]

"They are very different (Pastor and Kimi), Pastor is a nice guy..." that cracked me up. But it is an interesting point Romain makes with the front end and Pirelli tyres this year.

As nice a guy as Pastor is he hasn't scored a point in a full year neither for Willims or Lotus. This is the first time since 2006 Kimi didn't get on the podium in Hungary. It has to bother him big time.

[Stormsearcher]

i'm not sure i have faith Kimi will deliver in 2015....

You never know man. I think if he makes peace with his machinery, he can be really fast.
its an entirely different issue if he wants to be.

If the 2015 car is fast and suits both drivers.. the battle between them is going to be fantastic. I would still bet on Alonso coming out on top by the end of the year though, but it would mean solid WCC points too.
This season cant be over soon enough.

[Ed Harley]

You never know man. I think if he makes peace with his machinery, he can be really fast.
its an entirely different issue if he wants to be.

Why wouldn't he want to be?

[Stormsearcher]

Ask him.
Hes a moody kinda guy or so it seems/or made to appear. Sometimes he is so lackluster, makes you ask if he really wants to be on that race track at all. Hence!

[Ed Harley]

Perhaps if he would talk nonsense more or wave his hands more while talking nonsense would that make you happy?

[Katu]

Perhaps if he shows results, that would make a lot of us happy

[Ed Harley]

I don't think he is paid to make you happy. But as long as Ferrari keep paying him he must be doing something that makes them happy.

[Katu]

he certainly isn't being paid to make me happy, because so far he hasn't. however i think i should point out that Ferrai paid him to leave which made them happy too...

[Ed Harley]

"We are lucky to have two great champions, who are working with the whole team to get back to being competitive again," he told Ferrari's website. "Of course, as is the case every summer, there is unfounded gossip about alleged problems with senseless rumours bandied about, such as the ones relating to Alonso's contract or those of drivers' salaries.

"We know that the summer heat always produces silly stories. Our drivers must now relax in order to return in top form. The season is still long and we need Fernando and Kimi to be in great shape. And on the subject of Kimi, I wish him all the best as he is soon to become a dad."

At least somebody has faith in him and sees the big picture.

[Kiwi Nick]

Ed, I agree. And I have to think that Kimi played a part in the development of last years Lotus. I believe that he and Allison may have a good relationship. Let's hope so.

[Katu]

i think it has been said here multiple times that drivers do not develop cars, they drive it.

[Kiwi Nick]

i think it has been said here multiple times that drivers do not develop cars, they drive it.

It has also been said here multiple times that Schumi was great at helping develop cars. de La Rosa is paid to help develop. Feedback to the engineers from the drivers helps develop the car. If you think that a driver's feedback is not useful in the development of the car I cannot help you.

[Brembo]

It has also been said here multiple times that Schumi was great at helping develop cars. de La Rosa is paid to help develop. Feedback to the engineers from the drivers helps develop the car. If you think that a driver's feedback is not useful in the development of the car I cannot help you.

I agree with Katu here. MS was not much help at Merc. Lewis' car with all his feedback. Vettel and his car this year. Kimi for sure has a list after each race.
All of them champion drivers for sure . As far as engineering expertise in developing the cars, so far this year there still not much help. They get hired and paid to drive. I can't imagine a team engineer getting in one of these drivers cars and getting points for the team. If Ferrari does in fact pay Alonso $50 million to stay on, it will be for his fenominal driving in spite of the engineers short commings so far. Not to say there not trying.

[Stormsearcher]

Perhaps if he would talk nonsense more or wave his hands more while talking nonsense would that make you happy?

Was there need to get aggressive?

And to answer your question, am happy enough that Fernando is showing how you can get points even with this car! You join the dots.

[Hornet]

It has also been said here multiple times that Schumi was great at helping develop cars. de La Rosa is paid to help develop. Feedback to the engineers from the drivers helps develop the car. If you think that a driver's feedback is not useful in the development of the car I cannot help you.

You have no idea the actual process that goes on unless you have been directly involve in any actual development work.

Kimi isn't a magical driver in car development and he isn't going to magically make the car go faster.

[Ed Harley]

There are no magical drivers, they are all humans.

Why do the team need separate test drivers in the first place - let alone three of them - nowadays? Wouldn't it be better to test with the race drivers instead and get better feedback from them directly?

[Stormy]

You have no idea the actual process that goes on unless you have been directly involve in any actual development work.

Kimi isn't a magical driver in car development and he isn't going to magically make the car go faster.

True that, but its a fact that Kimi is underperforming in the car as it is.

[Hornet]

There are no magical drivers, they are all humans.

Why do the team need separate test drivers in the first place - let alone three of them - nowadays? Wouldn't it be better to test with the race drivers instead and get better feedback from them directly?

Perhaps because any experience driver is able to give equally valuable feedback? People make it out like it's a special talent. With all the modern telemetry we have today, sometimes the driver is the one asking the pit wall for certain info instead as we've seen in races. The role of driver's feedback diminishes as the car gets more technical in modern times.

I'm sure even when Bianchi tested the car, the engineers were able to gather all the info they needed, otherwise the team wouldn't have put him in the car.

True that, but its a fact that Kimi is underperforming in the car as it is.

Only Kimi and the team knows what he is struggling with. But the point is that, it's not the driver's role to develop the car. When Schumi was dominating, there were many people behind the scene who contributed to that too. This is why Rory Bryne was hailed as one of the best designer, this is why Ross Brawn is such a huge news in F1. Schumi was the best of his generation, but the results wasn't down to him alone. Schumi's role is in driving the car and making the best of it, but it's the others in the team who gave him a winning car.

[Ed Harley]

Considering how the F14T turned out I would suggest that the team should get other test drivers or different car development methods.

[Ed Harley]

Driver is one part of the team which develops the car. He is the one who confirms how what the engineers see in the data translates in actual world ie. how the car behaves/handles on track or not.

[Stormy]

Only Kimi and the team knows what he is struggling with. But the point is that, it's not the driver's role to develop the car. When Schumi was dominating, there were many people behind the scene who contributed to that too. This is why Rory Bryne was hailed as one of the best designer, this is why Ross Brawn is such a huge news in F1. Schumi was the best of his generation, but the results wasn't down to him alone. Schumi's role is in driving the car and making the best of it, but it's the others in the team who gave him a winning car.

I understand, but im going to say again, Kimi is underperforming in the car as it is. lol.
Its clear that Kimi is struggling with some aspect of the car, but Alonso on the other case is squeezing the maximum, so its clear that Kimi can do better, we all know Kimi and what he has achived, he is a great WC and i know he can do better if we give him the right car with a setup of his liking, but right now he is underperforming and cant get used to the car.

[Brembo]

The car is underperforming with Kimi sitting in the drivers seat, IMO doing what he can with what the tech. folks give him. What would be to Kimi's liking is a better set up for the guy who drives the car. Him! Right now the car is what's underperforming and throw in the tech. crew. The first time since 2006, no podium for Kimi in Hungary. It ain't his fault.