Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFerrari

Raikkonen just as quick as Vettel, but...

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Based on points and outright results, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen appear at a fair length from each other this season with the German clearly enjoying an upper edge over his team mate.

But according to Ferrari technical director James Allison, the disparity in performance between the two drivers is not about speed but rather about mistakes, with the Finn showing some relative weakness in this department compared to Vettel.

"Sometimes Kimi is quicker, other times it's Seb," Allison said, speaking to Autosprint. "The difference is Sebastian never, or almost never, makes mistakes. This year only in Bahrain have we seen him make a few mistakes. But besides that weekend, he has practically never made any errors. Kimi instead, especially in qualifying, has had a few more slip-ups."

"I'd say the same thing if Kimi was here, and I think he would accept it. Sometimes you just need a small mistake to ruin a weekend, but the speed is there. Kimi knows that too."

Unfortunately, Raikkonen's speed probably won't be enough to help him secure another year with Ferrari as the Italian outfit appears set to announce his replacement in the coming weeks, with Williams driver Valterri Bottas emerging as a clear favourite to race alongside Vettel at the Scuderia next year.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.