It was announced on Wednesday that Ferrari had retained the services of Kimi Raikkonen for 2016. After much speculation about the Finn been replaced by his countryman Valtteri Bottas, the news came as a shock to the fans and the media. It was expected that the Williams driver was to partner Sebastian Vettel for next season, and if not him, then there was talk of also Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Riccardio. So why did Ferrari keep Kimi?
First of all to consider is the stability that Raikkonen brings to the team. This is his sixth season at the Maranello outfit, and even though it is in two spells, he knows the team well, as they do him. Keeping Kimi on board means keeping a stable ship for 2015, as they don’t have the pain of an outgoing driver who puts in less effort. If they had replaced the Finn then it would be the third consecutive season that they had changed their driver line up, which has an effect on development. Having a consistent driver line up, helps the team work on next year’s car, as they know how to cater for the need of the individual driver, and where he exactly feels the need to improve is. A new driver coming in on 2016 will not have any say on the car until the first test, in Barcelona next March , and by then there is little time to change it, especially as there is only two pre-season tests for next season. Another point about the development side is that technical director, James Allison, knows Raikkonen well, from their time at Lotus, and shown there is a good partnership on understanding what is needed to be done to improve performance.
Second of all is the driver they want to replace Raikkonen. Luca di Montezemolo said that Jules Bianchi was been prepared to be the next driver to grace a Ferrari. Tragically, with his passing after his horrific crash in Suzuka, that is now something that will never be. Ferrari now have to reassess and carefully consider their next driver choice. The expected move was for Bottas, as previously mentioned, but there seems to be a stumbling block for two reasons. First of all is he still contracted at Williams for next year, and signing him would cost a lot of money. Second is the question of his talent. Even though he is ahead of his team-mate, Felipe Massa, by the halfway point of the season, it only by three points. The Brazilian is ahead on qualifying results however, and considering that many perceive that Massa is in his twilight years, it not impressive reading for the Finn that he can hardly shake him off. The other two options, according to media reports, was Hulkenberg and Riccardio. With Riccardio, the assumption that he was never considered was to keep stability. After his dominant display over Vettel in the Red Bull last year, his arrival may have unsettled the German, who has found a new lease on life at Scuderia Ferrari. With Hulkenberg they would have a driver of the same age of Vettel. Ferrari were aiming for the future with Bianchi, and having two drivers in their late twenties wouldn’t be seen as carrying on that philosophy.
So who will be the next driver to don the famous red top? If Ferrari are looking for the future, then the most exciting young prospects are at Toro Rosso, in Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Both drivers are in their rookie seasons in F1, and both have impressed so far. The focus has been on Verstappen, who at 17 years old is the youngest ever driver to be in F1, but Sainz, at the veteran age of 20, deserves attention too. Verstappen is 13 points ahead at this stage of the season, thanks largely to his fourth place finish in the last race in Hungary, but both drivers have been evenly matched and hugely impressive during the season. Is it possible that Ferrari are now looking at Toro Rosso, which is Red Bull’s youth project, for their next driver? They are two reasons why this is highly likely. First is that Red Bull owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, has reportely threatened to quit the sport, due to the poor performances in the last couple of seasons. This has caused unstabilty at the team. Not only are Red Bull not looking like a top team in competitiveness, but they carry no certainty on their longevity in sport. Ferrari are the complete opposite. They are in an upward transition, and have emerged as the new challengers to Mercedes, with a view of toppling them off the throne they sit on. Ferrari are not only guaranteed to be in F1 for the foreseeable future, but also looks they can also guarantee a competitive car, which Red Bull can not in either aspects. Ferrari can also tempt these two young drivers on another factor. They get to work with a four-time champion in Vettel. The opportunity to learn from one of the sports’ greats, at a top competitive team, would be a strong incentive for either pair to jump ship and join the Maranello outfit. It also will give Ferrari a solid foundation for the future, which is something they were working on with Bianchi.
In summary, keeping Raikkonen helps keep the team stable and develop their 2016 campaign. It also lets them see who next year has the real potential in the sport, and make their decision on the future of Ferrari. The critics may question it, but keeping on Kimi might prove to be one of Ferrari’s best decisions ever.
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