Domenicali finds Räikkönen “much more mature”

La Team Ferrari was reassured in Jerez as it appeared to be one of the most reliable teams with 251 laps (i.e. 1111km) completed by Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen at the wheel of the F14 T. The new year started with some pressure, with the new regulations representing a very difficult technical challenge for the teams. The thirst to win is all the stronger as the Italian team is no longer able to win against Red Bull Racing, which also gave rise to tensions between Fernando Alonso and his team.

Ferrari has therefore decided to recall Kimi Räikkönen even if the 2007 world champion left the Italian team on bad terms. This choice surprised more than one since the policy of the Prancing Horse until now was to field a No. 1 driver in charge of winning the title. If a rivalry is to be feared between the two drivers, Stefano Domenicali assures that the Finn has changed. “I find that Kimi has become much more mature, he is much more linked to the team. He comes to Maranello almost every week to work with the engineers. He knows his merit, he knows what team he is with and what challenges he will have to face having a world champion like Alonso at his side. He has respect for him and he will have to adapt so that they work together. »

If the arrival of Kimi Räikkönen could be considered as a sanction imposed on the Asturian for having made negative comments on the lack of competitiveness of the F138, the Team Principal of the Scuderia ensures that Fernando Alonso remains an important value for the team. “Fernando is extremely intelligent and has managed to stay at the front with any car. He has an incredible ability to analyze races and I think he will take full advantage of the new regulations which require him to drive differently at certain times. We feel close to him, especially because we chose to invest in him a long time ago. »