Raikkonen Faces Pressure for Fast Start to 2016 F1 Season
Kimi Raikkonen’s manager says a strong opening to the 2016 campaign is vital as younger drivers eye his Ferrari seat for 2017.
Kimi Raikkonen enters the 2016 Formula One season under scrutiny, with his manager Steve Robertson confirming that a fast start is essential if the Finn is to secure his future at Ferrari beyond this year. Raikkonen, now 36, begins his third consecutive season alongside Sebastian Vettel and faces mounting competition from a crop of younger drivers eager to step up to the Scuderia.
Robertson told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat that both he and Raikkonen recognise the importance of the opening phase of the season. Raikkonen has struggled to match his team-mates’ performances since returning to Ferrari in 2014, first alongside Fernando Alonso and now Vettel. With Ferrari showing improved form in pre-season, the expectation is that the team could challenge Mercedes, putting extra focus on Raikkonen’s results in the early rounds.
Ferrari seat attracts rising talent
Speculation around Raikkonen’s future is fuelled by a host of drivers linked with Ferrari for 2017. Romain Grosjean’s move from Lotus to Haas is widely seen as a strategic step closer to Maranello, given Haas’s technical partnership with Ferrari. Daniel Ricciardo, whose Red Bull contract expires at the end of 2016, is another name in the frame, although his previous success against Vettel at Red Bull could complicate team dynamics if Ferrari were to consider him.
- Romain Grosjean: Moved to Haas, seen as a Ferrari feeder team.
- Daniel Ricciardo: Out of contract at Red Bull after 2016.
- Valtteri Bottas: Previously linked with a Ferrari move, remains at Williams.
- Nico Hulkenberg: Extended Force India contract, not pursuing Ferrari seat.
Valtteri Bottas was closest to a Ferrari switch for 2016 but stayed at Williams after the Italian team opted to retain Raikkonen. Williams technical chief Pat Symonds has publicly backed Bottas, while Nico Hulkenberg has ruled himself out of the running, having extended his deal with Force India through 2017.
Raikkonen’s position depends on early results
The pressure on Raikkonen is clear: with only a one-year contract in place, his future at Ferrari hinges on his performances against Vettel and the Mercedes pair in the opening races. Should he fail to deliver, Ferrari has a queue of alternatives ready for 2017. As the season opens in Australia, all eyes will be on whether Raikkonen can recapture the form that made him world champion in 2007 or whether this campaign will mark his last in red.
