2017 testing "much smoother" than 2016 - Raikkonen

  • Published on 03 Mar 2017 09:23
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Kimi Raikkonen admits that he is positive after the first week of winter testing, and thinks that Ferrari are in a much better place than they were 12 months ago.

Ferrari topped the time sheets on two out of the four days of testing and completed many laps, sparking speculation that not only are they reliable, but also quick.

"If we compare with how it went a year ago it's been much smoother going, so it's a good start," Raikkonen told reporters in Barcelona. 

"We've been doing our own stuff and I'm happy with how things are running. The car has a good feeling, everything has been reasonable, we haven't had any issues – we cannot complain too much.

"Are we going to be fast enough? We don't know that yet; how it turns out at the end of the year is hard to say. We've learned lessons from the past years and the team has done a good job, but will it be enough? We will see - but the first feelings are good, and that's the main thing."

When asked about rivals Mercedes and Red Bull, the Finn said: "I don't see Red Bull or Mercedes – I see their lap times like all of you guys, but who knows what everybody is doing. 

"We know what we are doing, and we are reasonably happy with how things are running. Some years it runs smoothly, some years not – and this year has been good so far.

"But obviously there is a lot of work still to do. We have another week before the first race, so we'll try to do another good week next week and see."

 

Fergal Walsh

 

Wolfgang

Posts: 313

to be honest the had less time wasting issues than merc.... So i hope very much they beat merc this year. Can´t stand this certain driver there..

  • 1
  • Mar 3 2017 - 13:53

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • Certainly was, they managed to get in far more laps compared to last year's first practice sessions.

    • + 0
    • Mar 3 2017 - 10:37
  • Smooth but perhaps a delusioned message? Is it more false hope?

    • + 0
    • Mar 3 2017 - 10:50
  • Wolfgang

    Posts: 313

    to be honest the had less time wasting issues than merc.... So i hope very much they beat merc this year. Can´t stand this certain driver there..

    • + 1
    • Mar 3 2017 - 13:53

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 00:40

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 00:40

World Championship standings 2025

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 - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Oct 17 1979 (45)
  • Place of b. Espoo, FI
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar