Allison's Technical Influence Drives Raikkonen's Ferrari Resurgence
Kimi Raikkonen’s manager credits James Allison’s engineering approach for the Finn’s return to form at Ferrari in 2015, highlighting similarities with Raikkonen’s successful Lotus years.
Kimi Raikkonen’s return to the Formula One podium with Ferrari in Bahrain 2015 owed much to the technical direction set by James Allison, according to the Finnish driver’s manager, Steve Robertson. After a difficult 2014 season in which Raikkonen struggled to match teammate Fernando Alonso, questions were raised about his future at Maranello. The turnaround has been attributed in part to Allison, who took charge of Ferrari’s technical team after previously working with Raikkonen at Lotus.
Robertson pointed to clear similarities between the 2015 Ferrari and the Lotus cars Raikkonen drove in 2012 and 2013, both of which were shaped by Allison’s engineering philosophy. During those Lotus seasons, Raikkonen returned to Formula One after spells in rallying and NASCAR, and quickly became a frontrunner, taking two wins and a string of podiums. The key, according to his manager, is the way Allison’s cars handle their tyres and provide the front-end feel Raikkonen prefers.
Allison's approach suits Raikkonen's driving style
“Both are good with the tyres. This Ferrari has the same signature as the Lotuses,” Robertson told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat. He emphasised that Raikkonen performs at his best when he can trust the front of the car, a trait he found lacking in the 2014 Ferrari but present in both the Lotus and the 2015 Ferrari. The Bahrain result, where Raikkonen finished second and briefly threatened Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, was seen as evidence that the car’s characteristics now align with the Finn’s strengths.
Allison’s arrival at Ferrari followed a period of underperformance for the Scuderia. His previous work at Lotus had already demonstrated an ability to produce cars that managed tyres well and offered drivers confidence at turn-in. For Raikkonen, whose style relies on precise front-end response, these traits proved decisive. The 2015 Ferrari’s improved tyre management and balance have been credited with reviving his competitiveness, reversing the doubts that surrounded his 2014 campaign.
Technical continuity from Lotus to Ferrari
Robertson’s comments underline the importance of technical leadership in Formula One, particularly in matching car characteristics to a driver’s preferences. The continuity between Allison’s Lotus designs and the 2015 Ferrari has provided Raikkonen with a familiar platform, allowing him to extract performance that was missing the previous year. As Ferrari continued to rebuild, Allison’s influence became a central factor in their improved results and renewed optimism within the team.
