'Ferrari target Bottas the right age, but inconsistent'

  • Published on 07 Jul 2015 16:24
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

The pressure is continuing to pile on Kimi Raikkonen. Amid swirling speculation about the Finn's future, Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene departed Silverstone with the message: "What I want now is for Kimi to remain calm so he can do his job."

But as far as the specialist Italian press is concerned, Arrivabene is only ramping up the pressure. La Repubblica correspondent Marco Mensurati said: "Arrivabene made clear after the race that the strategic decisions in Britain had been made by the drivers. I understood it to mean 'Vettel is a genius and Raikkonen is stupid'."

Sport Mediaset's Giorgio Terruzzi agrees: "The intermediate tyre choice (made by Raikkonen) was wrong. Too bad, because until then everything was going well. The fact is, he (Raikkonen) already seems to be out of the house: unprotected and under constant fire."

Former Ferrari boss Cesare Fiorio thinks it is time for the 2007 world champion to go. "Two years ago I raised question about his lifestyle and age," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "These doubts have been confirmed."

And former F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi agrees: "Kimi is no longer delivering what Ferrari needs. I would put a young driver in his place. Maranello's own academy has two promising youngsters: (Raffaele) Marciello and (Antonio) Fuoco," he added. Raikkonen's manager, Steve Robertson, commented: "We would like to know Ferrari's decision before Monza."

Pino Allievi, La Gazzetta's veteran correspondent, said the obvious favourite is Valtteri Bottas, although many believe the Finn has been increasingly outperformed by Felipe Massa in 2015. "If the Ferrari of the future must have a driver who has lost to the Ferrari of the past (Massa), it is better to wait and think before making a decision," he said.

Fiorio agrees: "He (Bottas) is the right age, but pretty inconsistent, and I think Felipe Massa really has the upper hand at Williams. I would like to see another top driver there, even if it causes problems with Vettel. Ferrari should try to get (Lewis) Hamilton, and if that fails, then (Nico) Rosberg," he added. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar