Kimi Raikkonen admits that being confirmed at Ferrari for the 2017 Formula One campaign early in the season “makes life easier” for him.
The Scuderia made the news official ahead of Friday practice for the British Grand Prix, thus putting to rest rising speculation about the Finn’s Formula One future.
Last year, Ferrari had waited until late August to re-sign Raikkonen for 2016.
Reacting to the announcement, the 2007 world champion said: “Obviously I’m happy, that was always the aim and it makes life easier for us too, as we don’t have to keep answering the same questions. We can just put all the effort on the racing side now.
“Obviously it helps the confidence the team has in me and I have on them. But it doesn’t change anything from out work and we keep trying to achieve better results all the time. But it’s easier when everybody knows what’s happening next year.”
Although Raikkonen has shown much improved form this year, it has been suggested that the 36-year-old’s healthy relationship with Vettel helped tip the scales in his favour. Raikkonen, however, begs to differ.
“I don’t think it’s the reason I’m staying here – if we are friends or not,” Raikkonen offered. “Obviously if I wasn’t doing my job properly I wouldn’t be here, but that’s not the case. They’re happy, we’re happy, that’s all there is to it.”
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