Jean Alesi believes that Ferrari’s decision to re-sign Kimi Raikkonen for 2018 is an attempt to maintain its current friendly and cooperative “atmosphere” for another season. This is amid claims that Raikkonen’s new deal paves the way for Sebastian Vettel to remain for next year.
Alesi tips Sebastian Vettel to sign next Ferrari contract
“He is very much a loved Ferrari driver,” Alesi told La Gazzetta dello Sport, referring to Raikkonen. “We are talking about a guy who really loves driving and is a real point of reference for the whole environment at Ferrari.
“Ferrari made giant strides this year and now has a winning car on almost every circuit. And then there is the team spirit that is the great work of Maurizio Arrivabene and Sergio Marchionne,” he said. “The decision to keep Kimi consolidates this atmosphere, as neither Vettel nor Kimi is jealous of the other.”
Alesi believes that Ferrari’s next move will be to confirm Sebastian Vettel for next season: “I think Vettel will renew as well,” he said. “A house is built upon its foundation, but I also think it’s true that if there is a driver other than Seb at Ferrari in 2018, he will also have no problems with Kimi.”
Alesi also agreed that both Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc are in the running for a drive at Ferrari in 2019, as well as mentioning his son Giuliano, who currently races in the GP3 Series and is a member of Ferrari’s driver programme: “I wish good luck to my son,” he said. “Seriously, both Leclerc and Giovinazzi have done very well, but I think it’s really premature to talk about 2019 now.”
Jean Alesi enjoyed a career in Formula 1 that spanned 12 seasons, five of which he spent at Ferrari where he secured 13 podiums and his one and only win at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix, which happened to land on his 31st birthday.
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