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Does the resurgent Räikkönen deserve a new Ferrari contract?

Kimi Raikkonen. (Photo: Ferrari Scuderia)
Roar Guru
21st April, 2015
12

After an agonising interim of almost 25 races, Kimi Räikkönen graced the Formula One podium at the recently concluded Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Finn raced to an alternative strategy which saw him trump Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes AMG, as well as his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel, to finish second.

Switching to the medium tyres during his first stop saw him do more than survive during the second stint, and then a change to the faster, soft tyre in the final stretch ensured Räikkönen was the fastest on track at the end of the race.

The result was more than welcome for the 2007 world champion, who since his return to Ferrari in 2014 had only achieved a best result of fourth and had been annihilated by then-teammate Fernando Alonso.

With a resurgent red car under his belt and operating in a more harmonious team this year, Räikkönen is keen to taste success in Formula One a little longer.

At 35 years of age, Räikkönen is the oldest driver on the grid. His current contract with Ferrari, signed in 2013, expires at the end of the year but there is an option for a third year. Now that the team have a car suited to ‘The Iceman’s’ sensitive driving style, he wishes to use that option.

And why not? Considering the atrocious year that Räikkönen had upon returning to the squad with which he claimed a maiden championship – the sacking of two team principals, the resignation of their long-standing president, and an overall culture which was rank with malignancy – he had plenty of reasons to walk away then. However with the atmosphere more ‘open’ and the culture more encouraging, Ferrari may be one of the best places to race at the moment.

The new ‘rock and roll’ team principal Maurizio Arrivabene stated during the Bahrain race weekend, that “performance” will be the decisive factor in whether he wants to re-sign his driver.

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“If you’re asking me if he deserves to renew the option now, I’m going to say yes.

“But if I’m going to say yes, I do not want the driver to fall asleep.

“This is a psychological approach. The paper at the moment is white.”

Arrivabene has already been given plaudits for his reinvigorated approach to Ferrari. His ability to communicate thoroughly with all facets of the team and on a level more open than his predecessors has reignited Räikkönen’s competitive spark.

“Sometimes you have to take the pen and take it away, and then Kimi is going to the podium,” Arrivabene continued.

So with this new-found competitiveness, driving the flourishing Ferrari to success once again, it would be rewarding for Räikkönen to see out another season in red.

His rapport with teammate and off-track friend Vettel has already proven to be a benefit inside the garage. But keeping on par in terms of results with the four-time world champion will be crucial, and will also uncover whether a ‘number one’ clause is in the latter’s contract.

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And if so, then there’s no reason why Ferrari’s most recent world champion cannot embark on one last endeavour in 2016 to re-attain that lost glory.

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