Briatore: "Hard to win constructors' title with Raikkonen"

  • Published on 25 Oct 2017 12:57
  • comments 11
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Flavio Briatore has questioned Ferrari's decision to stick with Kimi Raikkonen for 2018. In Austin, Mercedes wrapped up the 2017 constructors' world championship with a full three races to spare. And Briatore, the former title-winning Renault team boss, says pairing Raikkonen with Sebastian Vettel is not a good strategy if Ferrari wants to wear the constructors' crown in the future.

"Certainly it is very difficult to win the constructors' title with Raikkonen," the Italian told the Spanish daily Marca. "To win, you must have two drivers who are competitive and then you identify who should win the drivers' championship," he added.

Even if Ferrari's Vettel wins in Mexico this weekend, a mere fifth place will wrap up the drivers' championship for Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Briatore says the British driver will deserve it. "You win and lose races, but a championship is more like the Giro d'Italia. "Lewis and Mercedes have been the strongest, even if Ferrari did very well at the beginning. But I think Mercedes did the better job in development," he added. (GMM)

No he's absolutely right. It's far more effective if you can threaten your no.2 driver into deliberately crashing and bringing out a safety car, which then allows your no.1 driver to win.

He knows his stuff old Flav ;-)

  • 2
  • Oct 25 2017 - 13:39

Replies (11)

Login to reply
  • I dont like it, but he has a point. Kimi hasnt really performed as well as he need to. How many times has he beaten Vettel this season, not including the times Vettel got technical issues? The same does go for Bottas, but Bottas can afford to be a bit slower, since he can just blast past on the straights. And Bottas usually doesnt lose places on race starts, and he does also tend to be decent in quali. I just dont think Kimi has it anymore, sadly.

    • + 0
    • Oct 25 2017 - 13:38
  • No he's absolutely right. It's far more effective if you can threaten your no.2 driver into deliberately crashing and bringing out a safety car, which then allows your no.1 driver to win.

    He knows his stuff old Flav ;-)

    • + 2
    • Oct 25 2017 - 13:39
  • Agree with Briatore on this. Ferrari would have made at least 50 more points with a faster driver like Ricciardo.

    • + 0
    • Oct 25 2017 - 16:06
  • That's what Ferrari gets for upholding proven mediocrity. Raikkonen should have been replaced after the first year with Alonso. They just like having a toothless number two like Massa, Barrichello, and Irvine. But unless they have the advantage they had in the early 2000's they won't win a constructors championship again. I honestly don't think Raikkonen is even a top 15 driver right now.

    • + 0
    • Oct 25 2017 - 17:07
  • denis1304

    Posts: 284

    i think someone like Daniel Ricciardo in Ferrari would be 3rd with more point then Bottas, making Ferrari 1st in team championship, but if you replace Bottas in Mercedes with someone like Daniel Ricciardo, then you get Mercedes winning team championship even sooner :-)

    • + 0
    • Oct 25 2017 - 17:30
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    I don’t think anyone understands (outside of Ferrari inner sanctum) quite why Raikkonen was retained for next year? (Much as I love Kimi).

    • + 0
    • Oct 25 2017 - 18:12
    • As I understand it, it was part of the terms Vettel set up if they wanted to sign him.

      • + 0
      • Oct 25 2017 - 20:56
    • Vettel seems pretty clearly as a guy that needs #1 status. Whether by contract or defacto #1 status by having a teammate.

      • + 0
      • Oct 25 2017 - 21:22
  • HForce

    Posts: 1

    I think Kimi has done reasonable job this year. Right now on pace he is closer to Vettel than Bottas is to Hamilton. Kimi's had a pole, a few from row starts, lots of podiums. He's lost about 70 points due to reliability and accidents that weren't his fault.
    Hamilton, Verstappen and Ricciardo are not available and Alonso is unemployable. Is there anyone else greatly better than Kimi ??? Hulkenberg is overrated, Grosjean can still be a bit erratic, Perez is solid but certainly no better. Sainz is still tied to Red Bull, giving the driver options for 2019 Ferrari probably thought they could wait another year if they wanted him.
    Ferrari don't like racing rookies.
    Flavio comments are hypocritical, Fisichella, Piquet Jr, Herbert, Verstappen Snr ............... nuff said!

    • + 0
    • Oct 26 2017 - 12:19
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    I would hardly call him second rate driver. I do believe he will drive at 80% if he feels driving harder is pointless. This has probably cost the team points. Perhaps how he sets up the car and his input helps the team with Vettels car set up. Clearly when he and ricciardo were together at rbr the setup didn't favor vettel where ricciardo could make it work.

    • + 0
    • Oct 26 2017 - 16:38
  • tonda

    Posts: 1

    That is what Ferrari for being in bed with cigarette manufacturers. www.reuters.com/ar(...)onsor-idUSKCN1BF20I
    www.thedrive.com/a(...)-deal-with-marlboro Illegal subliminal advertising...

    • + 0
    • Oct 26 2017 - 23:10

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
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
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. Oct 17 1979 (44)
  • Place of b. Espoo, Finland
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar