Standard Formula One convention dictates that a title contending outfit assigns a lead driver, complemented by a ‘number two driver’, though in certain instances the latter find themselves an insignificant consideration.
Kimi Räikkönen is applicable to this notion, with the Finn rapidly venturing towards being sidelined by Ferrari as it shapes a belated championship bid squarely behind Sebastian Vettel at this early juncture.
The 2007 World Champion has been vocal in his discontent across the opening rounds, forced to settle for fifth place at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, following fourth while his teammate secured victory at Australia.
There is no suggestion that the Maranello outfit is unfairly prioritising the German, who established himself as the operation’s nucleus upon his arrival in 2015, yet Räikkönen hasn’t been handed optimal strategies to date, having also suffered last season when Ferrari’s campaign was blighted by blunders from pitwall.
Constructors’ titles are the hallmark of a successful campaign and accruing solid points towards this outcome is the objective of the ‘other’ driver, though Räikkönen could have achieved more than his position on Sunday at China.
In remaining on circuit until lap 39, while Vettel stopped five laps earlier, the frustrated Finn ceded an opportunity to pass the Red Bulls, on whom he was rapidly gaining in the final laps, for third position.
“I think we could have, should have had a better result… I think we should have changed earlier”, Räikkönen remarked, adding that “the car was good when the tyres were fresh”, which invites contemplation surrounding his operating threshold.
Räikkönen appears more sensitive to the handling of the SF70-H than Vettel, notably struggling with understeer on Sundays, though has displayed moments of pace which indicates that he is capable of producing results if his requirements for a finely balanced car can be finessed.
His P1 time in the second qualifying session at Shanghai was eye catching, yet the 37-year old failed to pull it together in the crucial final session, questioning whether the setup had been altered while both Ferraris claimed to have been affected by wind gusts.
It’s long been evinced that Räikkönen, notwithstanding his title, hasn’t quite delivered on his promise. While he hasn’t possessed the raw edge of the first portion of his Formula One career and more precisely – his McLaren tenure, he has frequently represented an unfortunate victim of fate and circumstance in recent seasons.
Widely forecast to thrive in machinery reminiscent of his early career, the margin between Räikkönen’s best and worst is considerable, thus it doesn’t aid the Finn’s charge when he is rendered hot under the collar with questionable calls that cruel his fortunes.
Though he hasn’t registered a victory since commencing his second tenure with the Prancing Horse in 2014, he has been retained by Ferrari each subsequent season despite appearing on the outer, presenting an interesting proposition of which precise function Maranello expects from him.
Ferrari appears content enough with Räikkönen continuing to accumulate solid points without a real sense of urgency to see him produce even greater results. A little more attention to his corner could yield outcomes beneficial to both parties, the rewards await in persevering with the mercurial Finn.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
That's the most infuriating aspect of his contributions - you always know there was more on the table, though for one reason or another, isn't realised. Ferrari won't be shy to take action if they're committed to claiming both titles should the current trajectory be upheld, regardless of whose end is the major contributing factor - both parties must be in perfect harmony to extract the optimal outcome, thus coming events will determine his future beyond 2017.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
You have to ponder then, what the result will be if Kimi has a 'perfect' weekend, which hasn't been the case since his Ferrari return in 2014. As we discussed, circuits such as Bahrain or Spa could be venues where the Finn gets the upper hand on his rivals - though it has to be something happening race in, race out.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
It certainly goes both ways for Raikkonen, in that he leaves areas to be desired such as his pace on Sunday, though Ferrari needs to be more receptive to his ideas otherwise he loses interest. What the outcome might have been had he stopped even two or three laps earlier we'll never know - it must be said he's traditionally been reluctant to pass unless absolutely certain of success - see Bahrain in 2012 and 2013 as the most prominent examples. Ferrari certainly has the right to scrutinise his contributions - which inexplicably conclude as underwhelming on most occasions, though it seems he requires a little extra nurturing to bring out his best qualities, thus you'd hope they're willing to examine where they can aid his cause rather than straight out demanding improved performances. Between the safety car and Raikkonen's baffling pace ahead of Vettel on Sunday - since he later displayed moments where he was right on it, the latter lost his opportunity for victory. It'd be no surprise to see him fire at Bahrain, and to a lesser extent Spain as he's done in the past, though he needs to bring the consistency on a recurring basis rather than at select circuits. If both parties can address solutions, they'll have gone a long way into converting his fourths and fifths into likely podium appearances which could prove the difference between the constructors' title or otherwise.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
While in hindsight an earlier pit stop could have given Raikkonen the opportunity to undercut Ricciardo, his lap times were so consistently poor in the first stint that the prospect of his (relative) improvement in the second stint wouldn't have been a factor in the strategy. Even though he was gaining on the Red Bulls by the end of the race, this also is partly down to Verstappen and Ricciardo squabbling at the end. I actually think Ferrari was perhaps excessively fair — if you can say that! — in China given Raikkonen bottled Vettel behind him for 12 laps, costing the German around five seconds and a shot at the race win. That Vettel could quickly dispatch with both RBRs in short order while Raikkonen continued to lumber behind them is pretty illustrative, too. It's little wonder Ferrari's inquiring into his performance.