Arrivabene backs Raikkonen as Ferrari's driver pairing shows strength
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene publicly endorsed Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn’s strong recovery drive in Malaysia, reaffirming his value alongside Sebastian Vettel early in 2015.
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene moved to publicly support Kimi Raikkonen after the Finn’s fourth-place finish at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, emphasising his value to the team despite a challenging start to the season.
Raikkonen entered his second season back at Ferrari under pressure, having struggled alongside Fernando Alonso in 2014 and facing questions over his future with his contract up at the end of 2015. With Sebastian Vettel joining from Red Bull and immediately taking a win in Malaysia, the spotlight intensified on Raikkonen’s performances.
In Australia, Raikkonen showed competitive pace but was hampered by problems in the race. He encountered more misfortune in Malaysia, suffering an early puncture, but recovered to finish fourth. Arrivabene, whose initial post-race comments focused on Vettel’s victory, made a point of praising Raikkonen’s drive when speaking to reporters later that evening.
Arrivabene’s comments underlined Ferrari’s satisfaction with its 2015 line-up after just two races, despite Vettel’s early advantage. The team principal described Raikkonen and Vettel as an ideal pairing, with Raikkonen’s recovery in Malaysia reinforcing his continued value to the Scuderia.
Raikkonen’s future and Ferrari’s direction
Raikkonen’s contract status remained a topic through 2015, with both team and driver non-committal about the following season. Ferrari’s public support was aimed at stability after a period of change, having replaced Alonso with Vettel and seeking to rebuild its challenge to Mercedes.
While Vettel’s arrival brought immediate results, Ferrari made clear that Raikkonen’s experience and team ethic were valued. Arrivabene’s endorsement echoed this, calling attention to Raikkonen’s role in the team’s progress and the balance he brought to the driver line-up.
- Raikkonen joined Ferrari for a second stint in 2014, reuniting with the team he won the 2007 world championship with.
- Sebastian Vettel replaced Fernando Alonso for 2015, immediately taking a win in Malaysia.
- Raikkonen’s contract was due to expire at the end of 2015, with his future undecided at the time.
Team harmony and performance
Arrivabene’s focus on team unity was a response to the turbulence of previous years. By backing Raikkonen publicly, he aimed to reinforce confidence within the squad and signal to rivals that Ferrari would not be destabilised by speculation over its drivers.
The pairing of Vettel and Raikkonen was viewed as one of the strongest on the grid in terms of experience and proven results. With both drivers scoring solid points early in 2015, Ferrari’s leadership was keen to maintain momentum and avoid internal distractions as it chased Mercedes’ dominance.
