Sebastian Vettel says he is learning from Kimi Raikkonen and recent results have masked how close the Ferrari team-mates are.
Raikkonen crashed out of the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks after a spin cost him a podium in Canada. While Vettel is now 48 points clear of his team-mate in the drivers' championship, the quadruple world champion says he is learning a lot from Raikkonen as he reiterated his desire to see the Finn remain at Ferrari.
"I am not responsible for picking who is driving alongside me," Vettel said. "I have a contract for next year, but I think I have said many times that I am very happy with Kimi. I have said since day one that he is very straight, becoming world champion in 2007 hasn’t changed him, so it is good for F1 to have him back. He is straightforward, there is no bullshit from him, that is the politics that I really enjoy.
"Seeing him as my team-mate it is the first time I get to see what he is doing on track. I know if you get the wrong results, that it might be quite obvious, but it is very close with each other. There are corners where he has the upper hand and corners where I have the upper hand, so it is a good challenge.
"There is a lot I can learn from him, there is a different approach to some things. We obviously have this season left, I don’t want the contract details for next year, but it would be nice to have him in the team for next year."
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