Kimi Raikkonen feel sure he is “going in the right direction” with Ferrari having been signed by the team for another year on Wednesday.
The driver’s future with the Scuderia had been the subject of speculation throughout the season, with the knock-on effect of putting drivers from other teams in the frame as potential replacements.
Raikkonen, who is in his second stint with Ferrari having driven for them between 2007 – when he won the world championship – and 2009, returned to the team last year but suffered from a lacklustre run, finishing 12th. Ferrari have a much improved car this season that suits the Finnish driver. He is currently fifth in the standings but expects a further improvement.
“Obviously we want more wins, me and the team,” he said ahead of this weekend’s Belgium Grand Prix. “I”ve had good years, difficult years, some up and downs but I always enjoy it, always enjoy it more when things are going more nicely when you get results. But as a team, I’ve had a great time there and I’m very pleased that we can be working together next year again.
“As a team, as they are now, I really feel that we are going in the right direction and we can do great things in the future”.
Ferrari have two wins this season, in Malaysia and Hungary, both from Sebastian Vettel, who will be Raikkonen’s team-mate next year. But second in the constructors’ championship, they remain well off the pace of leaders Mercedes. “We want to do as well as we can and hopefully challenge for championships for next year and I’m sure we can produce a quite bit better car than this year,” said Raikkonen .
Raikkonen’s fellow Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas was considered most likely to replace the 35-year-old at Ferrari and he will now continue discussions with his current team, Williams, who have an option to keep him on for 2016. Felipe Massa has also expressed his desire to stay with Williams, although he too has yet to be confirmed for next season.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams had confirmed that discussions were taking place around Bottas’s future, but in the wake Ferrari’s announcement he was keen to distance himself from the speculation. “It’s easier now for me, for Williams and for Kimi,” Bottas said. “Now there are just facts and no rumours and I think this proves that what a lot of what was said was rumour. Nothing has changed for me.”
The other potential candidate for Raikkonen’s seat, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours this year with Porsche and whose current contract with the team ends this year, was also optimistic he would secure a drive for 2016. “I’m pretty confident I can put something good together and that I’ll be here next year in a good car,” the 28-year-old said.
“This is the time of the year, you talk to everyone and you assess your options. You put things how you like them and make a decision when the time is right. At the moment I am working quietly in the background and preparing everything.” He has also been linked with a potential drive with the Haas F1 team that will join the grid next year.
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| Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images |
The driver’s future with the Scuderia had been the subject of speculation throughout the season, with the knock-on effect of putting drivers from other teams in the frame as potential replacements.
Raikkonen, who is in his second stint with Ferrari having driven for them between 2007 – when he won the world championship – and 2009, returned to the team last year but suffered from a lacklustre run, finishing 12th. Ferrari have a much improved car this season that suits the Finnish driver. He is currently fifth in the standings but expects a further improvement.
“Obviously we want more wins, me and the team,” he said ahead of this weekend’s Belgium Grand Prix. “I”ve had good years, difficult years, some up and downs but I always enjoy it, always enjoy it more when things are going more nicely when you get results. But as a team, I’ve had a great time there and I’m very pleased that we can be working together next year again.
“As a team, as they are now, I really feel that we are going in the right direction and we can do great things in the future”.
Ferrari have two wins this season, in Malaysia and Hungary, both from Sebastian Vettel, who will be Raikkonen’s team-mate next year. But second in the constructors’ championship, they remain well off the pace of leaders Mercedes. “We want to do as well as we can and hopefully challenge for championships for next year and I’m sure we can produce a quite bit better car than this year,” said Raikkonen .
Raikkonen’s fellow Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas was considered most likely to replace the 35-year-old at Ferrari and he will now continue discussions with his current team, Williams, who have an option to keep him on for 2016. Felipe Massa has also expressed his desire to stay with Williams, although he too has yet to be confirmed for next season.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams had confirmed that discussions were taking place around Bottas’s future, but in the wake Ferrari’s announcement he was keen to distance himself from the speculation. “It’s easier now for me, for Williams and for Kimi,” Bottas said. “Now there are just facts and no rumours and I think this proves that what a lot of what was said was rumour. Nothing has changed for me.”
The other potential candidate for Raikkonen’s seat, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours this year with Porsche and whose current contract with the team ends this year, was also optimistic he would secure a drive for 2016. “I’m pretty confident I can put something good together and that I’ll be here next year in a good car,” the 28-year-old said.
“This is the time of the year, you talk to everyone and you assess your options. You put things how you like them and make a decision when the time is right. At the moment I am working quietly in the background and preparing everything.” He has also been linked with a potential drive with the Haas F1 team that will join the grid next year.
From: theguardian.com