Ferrari's Camilleri still pondering the future of Kimi Raikkonen

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Recently nominated Ferrari boss Louis Camilleri insists the Scuderia has not yet reached a decision on whether to keep Kimi Raikkonen in its driver line-up for 2019.

Camilleri, who took over the leadership of the House of Maranello earlier this summer after Sergio Marchionne's untimely passing, is rumored to be in favour of keeping the 38-year-old Finn onboard rather than promoting Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc.

However, given the latter's outstanding performance with Sauber in his maiden season of F1, the Scuderia may very well grant the second seat alongside Sebastian Vettel to the mercurial 20-year-old.

"We have not taken a decision yet," Camilleri told the media at Monza on Friday during his first press conference as Ferrari's new CEO.

"When we take that decision, and there is no timeframe, you will be the second to know."

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Camilleri, who enjoys a close relationship with Raikkonen, also insisted that team boss Maurizio Arrivabene would make the final call on the squad's 2019 driver line-up.

"I know Kimi very well, he is a dear friend and has been for a long time," said the Italian.

"As for the decision-making process, it is a team decision.

"Maurizio, who is team principal, will ultimately take the decision but he and I will discuss it, and once we are ready we will take it."

Among those waiting on Ferrari's decision for 2019 is Sauber's Fred Vasseur, who needs clarity before defining the Swiss outfit's own line-up for 2019.

The Frenchman insists he is in no hurry however to finalize the team's future plans.

"Honestly if you look at the past, we are quite early into the season," said Vasseur.

"If you look at last year and the years before, at this stage of the season more or less nothing was done.

"I don't know what happened during the summer, if there was a mosquito or something like this, but they [the market] got crazy. We have to take it calmly," he added.

"The most important thing for me is to stay focused on the current races, Spa and Monza are two important events for us, and I am trying to keep the teams and drivers in the right way, and it is not easy."

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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.