The pressure on Kimi Raikkonen is mounting. The Finn, whose Ferrari contract runs out this year, opened his 2016 podium account on Sunday but boss Maurizio Arrivabene hinted he expected more. "Raikkonen? He had a good race but after the safety car it could have been better," the Italian is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport after the Sochi race.
On Saturday, the 2007 world champion qualified just fourth, behind Williams' Valtteri Bottas. "I think it would have been ideal for him to be third and therefore starting on the front row," Sebastian Vettel, at the prospect of taking a grid penalty in Russia, had said after qualifying.
So when asked on Sunday if he is doing enough to secure a new deal for 2017, the 36-year-old Raikkonen answered: "I don't know. Obviously I have a passion for racing but many things are not in our hands. We can only try to do our best and then see what the future will bring." (GMM)
Local time
Local time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Replies (6)
Login to replymclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
He got 3rd, what more do you want when the rocket ships are the ones ahead in 1 and 2? It's not like vettel would have finished 2nd had he been in the race before blind turd head Kvyat rammed him. The merc advantage was huge.
There must be investigations into merc now, that car is doggy and clearly not in the regulations. Right after a few races where Ferrari seemed to get very close on pure pace they pull something out of the bag for sochi, or rather switch something on. When it is too good to be true it really is.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
The FIA has already investigated it inside out. Remember when FRIC was banned? The FIA figured Mercedes used that in some odd way and decided to ban it, but that didnt quite help the others, sadly.
The Mercedes cars were bound to be dominant in Sochi. Its a high speed track and the worst track on the calendar for Ferrari. The good news is that if this was the best race for Mercedes, Ferrari will likely get closer from now on.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
More tricks from where that came from, only to be banned once discovered, what FIA should be really doing is take away driver and constructors points for such actions circumventing the spirit of the rules.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
But the thing is, there wasnt a trick to it. Their pace was strong even without the FRIC, and the FIA has found nothing else apart from that it is a very good car, sadly. McLaren also had a very tricked out (but legal) FRIC, and if anyone suffered from that ban it was them. It would've been nice if they found some spot they could ban to prevent the Mercedes success, but as for now, Mercedes drive a perfectly legal and OP package.
Vet5
Posts: 225
Yeah def agree with you there mate, ive heard stories that they have been turning the power down on the PU incase the FOM/FIA decide to throw away the hybrid units as its an unfair advantage over the rest of the grid.
khasmir
Posts: 893
Kimi did a decent job but he did mess up the restart after the sc and lost out to Bottas and then later Hamilton. He's still good but I have seen a much better Kimi in the past.
He will have to improve his restarts if he wants to drive Nascar ;)