Raikkonen has faith Ferrari will deliver winning car in 2015

[Ed Harley]

Seems like he knows that there are numerous other problems to sort out first.

[Alonso14]

Drivers are the least of the team's problems in 2015.

I said that the drivers are the least of the team's problems.

"For sure," Arrivabene insisted, "drivers are not a problem for us."

Sorry but believe that Mr Arrivabene's assessment of the team's situation is more accurate.

What do you expect Arrivabene to say? To go against his two highest paid employees before the season has even started? Or to openly admit that our line-up is very car sensitive and they cannot extract the maximum unless the car is to their liking?

I agree we are very far from the point where driver line-up deserves to be singled out as the problem like in Williams 2012 for example but it's not the least of our problems. If we were making W05/RB10 style cars, then sure, fast guys like Seb and Kimi would the drive the wheels off the car and rack up win after win. But that's not the case, in the current situation we would benefit much more from a driver with great adaptability and ability to drive around problems like Hamilton or Alonso in order to score the maximum of points available. Just think how much points Kimi left on the table last year because the F14T was a dog. Now imagine a guy with the same problems driving the 2nd Ferrari - that catapults us from fighting with Williams/McLaren territory to fighting with Force India/Toro Rosso territory.

Of course whatever Arrivabene or any other TP is saying doesn't have 100% face value. They protect the imagine and the moral of their company and employees.

[Ed Harley]

Drivers really are the least of the team's problems. Fix the car and operation and look at the drivers when said building blocks are first in place and working as they should.

Had Räikkönen or any driver in the other red car matched Alonso's points in 2014 Ferrari would still not have won WDC or WCC and as far as I can tell they are not in F1 to aim to finish second or third.

[Alonso14]

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.

[Ed Harley]

One Ayrton Senna allegedly said that "Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose." ​And I agree.

Ferrari could of course rely on the drivers to adapt to unpredictable handling of the F14T but IMHO that is not the way to go.

[Alonso14]

So the 2008/2010/2012 seasons were all the same to you as the 2005/2009/2014?

[vecchiasignora]

the problem last year the team and car were designed for alonso. not kimi.this is why we failed. wait next year, when we build our team around proven players like kimi and vettel..

[Brembo]

the problem last year the team and car were designed for alonso. not kimi.this is why we failed. wait next year, when we build our team around proven players like kimi and vettel..

I guess you also feel Red Bull failed by designing their car after Vettel and not the rookie who beat him big time. Ferrari was designing a car around a proven player in Alonso.

[abbottcostello]

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...

Maurizio "I want to emphasise that next season Kimi needs the time to show that he is capable, and after that it will be possible to make a decision about the future."

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.

[Alonso14]

the problem last year the team and car were designed for alonso. not kimi.this is why we failed. wait next year, when we build our team around proven players like kimi and vettel..

That would explain why Alonso left. If "designed for FA" means car with no downforce, traction, balance and good engine then it's pretty safe to assume that the designer team hated Alonso's guts.

[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..