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'Raikkonen will get hard time catching Vettel'

Published on 29 Mar 2017 12:29
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By: Rob Veenstra

Another win for Sebastian Vettel could set up a very difficult season for his Ferrari teammate. That is the view of Niki Lauda, who said the gap between Melbourne winner Vettel and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen was "unusual".

"If Sebastian gets a momentum with this victory, then the whole team gets behind him because he is already the several-times world champion," F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda told German broadcaster RTL. "Then it's hard for Kimi to catch him."

Even current FIA president and former Ferrari chief Jean Todt agrees, saying Vettel's manner at the Maranello team "reminds me of Michael Schumacher". "They both have the same thirst for victory that is so great that it can leverage a whole team to succeed," Todt told the German magazine Sport Bild. "Vettel's victory in Australia was important for formula one," the Frenchman added, "because it means Mercedes finally has an opponent." (GMM)

Vet5

Posts: 225

Yet again trying to de-stabilize Ferrari! haha all i can do is laugh at this mong of a man! What they don't realize is Raikonnen just wants to drive, make money (since lotus didnt pay him lol) and he doesnt mind Vettel winning, Ferrari are pretty lucky having these 2 drivers, plus they cause no s... [Read more]

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Mar 29 2017 - 12:28

F1 News Sebastian Vettel Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari

Replies (8)

Vet5

Posts: 225
Yet again trying to de-stabilize Ferrari! haha all i can do is laugh at this mong of a man! What they don't realize is Raikonnen just wants to drive, make money (since lotus didnt pay him lol) and he doesnt mind Vettel winning, Ferrari are pretty lucky having these 2 drivers, plus they cause no stress to the team when they are driving.
- + 1
- Mar 29 2017 - 12:28
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  Ditto, it's all a ploy to destabilize Ferrari. Lauda along with Wolff are two P.o.Ss who should not be allowed to breed. Mercedes are really worried. Now we wait for more whining and all the fireworks to go off when Bottas doesn't follow the memo. Dis gun b gud
  + 1
  
  Mar 29 2017 - 12:45
- Major Tom
  
  Posts: 152
  Let me think. Last year didn't Vettel get away 1st after having qualified about 2 tenth behind the mercs? But then went on to be third in the championship after failing to come close to winning any GPs. Hope this year is different, but I'm far from convinced yet.
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  Mar 29 2017 - 13:40
mbmwe36

Posts: 533
Mercedes are not really graceful in defeat. Not that I really expected that, but still, it's getting kind of ridiculous.
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- Mar 29 2017 - 14:35
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I doubt we've seen the last of Mercedes this year. Australia isnt necessarily a good race for them, hard to follow and hard on tyres, and I think China could tell a similar story, since the air there tend to be dirty and could impact their engine, but I think they and Red Bull will work their hair off trying to upgrade and outpace Ferrari now that they saw how things went in Melbourne.
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  Mar 29 2017 - 18:29
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they've lost the war, but they lost the first battle, and especially Lauda I'd coming of rather childish.
  There's no doubt both Merc and RB will work extremely hard, however, you have to think that the victory motivated Ferrari like nobody's business as well.
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  Mar 29 2017 - 19:12
Wolfgang

Posts: 313
@calle.itw:

i´m also sure they´re going to work their hairs off, but they have to do it now on chassis/aero side without FRIC and all that kind of stuff.

I´m very curious to see how they will perform in that area when the advantage on the engine side is gone.

I always thought throughout the last 3 years they just had the best engine and a good chassis/aero but not the best. The RedBulls always cornered faster and the Ferrari was smoother to the tires, so i´m really excited what Brackley can do on this side of the car..
- + 0
- Mar 30 2017 - 12:06
Wolfgang

Posts: 313
And btw let Bottas find some 2 tenths or whatever. -->
Niki is going to be in big trouble with a fast finn and the badmouthing other part of the garage.. :-) Looking forward to that... hehe
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- Mar 30 2017 - 12:09