Sebastian Vettel says he has no concerns about teaming up with Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year.
Ferrari announced earlier today Vettel will take over from Fernando Alonso at the team next year. Raikkonen will start his fifth season with the team having returned to Ferrari at the end of 2013.
Asked in today’s press conference if he expects to have a positive relationship with the 2007 champion, Vettel said “I think yes”.
“Why? Because I think Kimi is probably the least complicated driver in the grid.
“In terms of performance on the track I think when we talk about the skills Kimi has I don’t think there’s a single person in the paddock who doubts his skills, including myself.
“But from a personal point of view on a personal level I think very straightforward, I don’t expect any complications because I think we have a good relationship but also I think we have great respect for each other which I think is always very healthy to deal with any sorts of situations coming up.”
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Image © Red Bull/Getty
OmarR-Pepper (@)
20th November 2014, 13:11
Caption Competition anyone?
Mashiat (@mashiat)
20th November 2014, 13:19
@omarr-pepper
SV: I’m number one driver, but you better not tell the press that.
KR: Yes, yes, yes, yes, just leave me alone, I know what I’m doing
zippyone (@zippyone)
20th November 2014, 14:41
haha :D yes!
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
20th November 2014, 19:38
Don’t talk to me in the middle of a press conference !!!
Jenkins
21st November 2014, 1:00
SV: “Did you say something?”
KR: “hehe no I just need to fart”
Fun (@functor)
21st November 2014, 15:29
Vet: “Hey Kimi, since both of our cars sliding around, and we’re both not in championship, let’s skip the race & have some fun at Ferrari World”
Kim (Thinking) : “Not a bad idea”
Chad (@chaddy)
22nd November 2014, 3:26
“I said, I’m going to wipe the floor with you”
Tarek (@tmaddah)
20th November 2014, 13:23
I just hope Kimi would outscore him by the end of the season … Vettel is not that great
Palle (@palle)
20th November 2014, 22:39
nah, only 4 titles in a row, most of them won in close last races. His recovery from a first corner touch and spin in the last race could’ve been done by any driver in that car.
But who knows – next year we might have 3 teams where both drivers have won the title.
Rodney (@)
21st November 2014, 4:53
Based on Kimi’s very poor form in 2014, I see him outscoring Vettel as very unlikely.
David Margono (@woshidavid95)
21st November 2014, 7:17
Vettel may not have been that great this season but Raikkonen was an absolute disappointment.
Fun (@functor)
21st November 2014, 15:41
Simple car logic for next year Ferrari: If Kimi can’t drive it well, then Vettel won’t as well
If Vettel has a good feeling with car, so will Kimi to challenge. Either both are screwed, or both will compete against each other. My bet is Kimi will do MUCH BETTER in first flyaway races.
It’s human nature, when you’re used to screwing with knife, and you’re given screwdriver, you’d be happy and do better. But if you’re used to electric screwdriver which does a lot for you, and you’re given screwdriver, it’s strange for you! – This is exactly analogy what’s gonna happen with Kimi & Vettel next year at Ferrari!
Peppermint-Lemon (@)
20th November 2014, 13:27
Here is when the “complications” start :
Vettel to Ferrari pit via radio “Get Kimi out of the way. He’s too slow.”
greg-c (@greg-c)
21st November 2014, 11:17
Cant help but remember Kimi and Permanes exchange on the lotus radio ,
Peppermint-Lemon (@)
20th November 2014, 13:33
SV: “You think this fart is bad? Wait until the driver debriefs next year if you beat me- THEN I’ll cause a stink you’ll remember!”
KR “You can have my skunk fancy dress costume- I used to wear it on nights out in Gran Canaria as an alternative to my Gorilla boat-racing costume.”
lippalappa (@alipappa)
20th November 2014, 15:14
“Both Kimi and Vettel have difficulties keeping an eye contact due to their lust for sunglasses”
TMF (@)
20th November 2014, 15:31
Personally I think it was the best decision to team them up. It should create a good working environment and with their similar styles a clear development path for the car.
Zubin
20th November 2014, 18:17
I’m a big ferrari fan… Since the mid 90s…. But can never come to terms with vettel driving for scuderia
Giggsy11 (@giggsy11)
20th November 2014, 22:40
They are good friends off track, I remember seeing a gif on Tumblr showing Kimi standing on the grid alone but near other drivers waiting for Seb to turn up.
SauberS1 (@saubers1)
20th November 2014, 23:02
I think they can do that, they are very good friends.
Ilham Shaq (@hahailham1)
21st November 2014, 4:38
sort of remember massa-raikkonen pair back in 2007-2009
kimiwillbeback
21st November 2014, 11:14
They`ll be fine, both Vettel and Raikkonen are among the least complicated and mature drivers on the grid. I think Vettels relationship with Ricciardo this year has proven that the tensison between Vettel and Webber was caused by something else than them being difficult. The events before Vettel joined Red bull certainly didn`t help, him taking Webber out and Webber refering to Vettel as a “kid”. There was allready bad blood, and then Vettel starts outperforming Webber.. Recipe for a strained relationship any day in my book.
Raikkonen never has a problem with anybody as he`s grown up in a hard school and realizes that you can complain as much as you like, but it won`help so why bother. That`s the opposite of a primadonna of which we have several in F1.
I was pleased to see the realationship between Vettel and Ricciardo this year. What that really proved was that Vettel really is that character who emerged and was so warmly welcomed at Monza in 2008, not the character many tried to portray him as for he last 5 years. He`s honest and straight forward, but if you get on his wrong side he`ll be relentless.
That kind of reminds me of the feud between Rossi and Gibernau in MotoGP. Rossi dived on the inside of Gibernau and was a little bit tough winning a race. Gibernau complained to everybody and his mother. Rossi didn`t like that and made a promize, Gibernau should never win another race.. Gibernau never did.. And Rossi is an easy going character if there was was one, but enough was enough.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
21st November 2014, 11:44
@kimiwillbeback As far as I remember, Webber was angry with Hamilton and not Vettel.
Jaanus (@)
21st November 2014, 13:46
For those who have not seen this yet. Here is the Mario Muth`s interview with Mark Arnall (Kimi`s trainer). Including a quite cool story about the relationship between Kimi and Sebastian. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIuiR-hhuaE
Jack (@jxb141)
21st November 2014, 14:14
What’s so interesting about the Ferrari pairing for next year is that they’re both top-class, world champion drivers, but they’ve both got something to prove, and there’s a good chance that they’ll be scrapping in a (relatively) uncompetitive car. Raikkonen’s not looked good at all this year against Alonso – same for Vettel against Ricciardo. A year ago, having Vettel and Raikkonen in the two Ferraris would have seemed unquestionably great for any member of the tifosi. Now – who knows? It seems unusual to have two world-class drivers battling for supremacy in a team that will probably be outside of next year’s title fight, but I suppose that’s an indication of the depth of quality in today’s F1.