Team orders could play a big role in the second half of the 2017 Formula 1 season, Ferrari seem to have rules of engagement regarding what is permitted between their two drivers, but Kimi Raikkonen is not letting on to any secrets while at the saem time he will help teammate Sebastian Vettel in the title chase when and if the need arises.
Already Mercedes have employed team orders from the pit wall (in Bahrain) and Ferrari are suspected to have done so (in Monaco) and, no doubt, more orders are on the cards as the title race heats up in the latter half of the season, with Lewis Hamilton and Vettel slugging it out at the top of the standings.
Asked during the drivers press conference, ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend if he would help his teammate, Raikkonen responded, “I think we have very clear roles in the team — what we’re allowed, what we’re not allowed, and what the team wants us to do.”
“It goes by those rules and, I don’t know. I don’t know if I have any interest of, to do, to tell what we talk inside the team in here. I think Maurizio [Arrivabene] has said something.” Report here>>>
“Nothing has changed and we know exactly when things will go either way. That’s fine, that’s how it’s always been, at least in the teams where I’ve been. When I don’t have a chance mathematically anymore to fight for the championship, for sure I will help him. I have no issues with that, I never had in the past.”
“I think it’s just a very easy decision for all of us, at least in our team, and obviously the first thing is to try to make sure that we can be on the top with Ferrari. That’s the most important thing.”
“And then obviously if Seb can win, then fine. If I don’t have any chance then that’s how it goes. The first thing is to work for Ferrari, to put them in the best possible position.”
Raikkonen who lies fourth in the championship, albeit 48 points adrift of Vettel who heads the standings after seven rounds, and he admits, “It’s a big difference. When you have bad races, you adapt, and obviously Seb has done very good races so far and has been strong everywhere.”
“I was not starting very well the first races — I was not too bad, but I was not where I want to be. Here and there little problems, we have one DNF, the last race was not ideal.”
“That’s how it goes, unfortunately. When your teammate is on the podium more or less every time, a lot of points quickly. That’s racing<” he added ahead of his 260th grand prix start on Sunday.
Full transcript from the drivers’ press conferences here>>>
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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