Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says the Italian squad is in no hurry to confirm its 2016 driver line-up, as Kimi Raikkonen’s future at Maranello remains the outstanding issue.
While team-mate Sebastian Vettel is locked in for several years, the Finn’s contract runs until the end of the current campaign but includes an option for Ferrari to extend it for 2016 depending on his performance.
Raikkonen has experienced a mixed first half of the season, with Vettel scoring more than double the points the 2007 world champion has amassed so far. Despite Arrivabene growing weary of answering questions about 2016, the Ferrari boss was once again asked to comment on Raikkonen’s future after the 35-year-old’s strong race in Budapest eventually came to nought following a MGU-K issue.
“It’s interesting, because when I answer this type of question, you tell me that I am always giving you the same answer, but without thinking that you are asking the same question all the time,” said Arrivabene.
“I said last time to your colleagues here that our goal is to focus on the car and we have time to talk about the driver later. Having said so, I have to say that Kimi was having a great race [in Hungary]. Full stop.”
Raikkonen currently occupies fourth in the Drivers’ championship, one point behind fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas, who has been consistently tipped as his replacement.
A couple of weeks ago, the Italian press even reported that Ferrari had agreed on a €12million release fee with Williams in order to secure the 25-year-old’s services.
But with still nine races to go and other strong candidates lining up at the gates of Maranello, Arrivabene admits Ferrari is unlikely to make a decision about its 2016 line-up any time soon.
“During the summer break, normally you are doing a break, so you are not deciding, working or thinking. You are swimming, climbing, going on a mountain bike or whatever. Otherwise it is not a break, it’s work!”
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