Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFerrari

"We work for the team", insists Kimi Raikkonen

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Kimi Raikkonen says that his allegiance is first and foremost to Ferrari, and that himself and team mate Sebastina Vettel enter the season on equal footing.

The Scuderia's impressive pre-season testing form in Barcelona has led pundits to believe that the red squad will be fighting with Mercedes from the get-go this weekend.

But many also believe that Ferrari's 2016 contender will prove to be a much better tool for Kimi Raikkonen to raise his game and challenge Vettel within Ferrari. But the Finn isn't taking the bait, and refuses to submit to any predictions.

"We try to win the championship and it is about the team and the drivers," says the Finn.

"We both have the same car and it is up to us to get the best from it. We work for the team and hopefully we get the results that we want.

"The plan is always to do better and obviously if the car works well and we get all the things that we want, it will make things easier.

"We will have to see where we are against the others but there are no special tricks to suddenly make it good or worse. I think if there were, people would have found it already but it is one of those things."

Asked whether Formula 1 could expect the return this year of the old spirited Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion dismissed any notion of change.

"I am always the same, it is only in your head that I have changed, but not in my life."

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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.