09-09-2013, 22:47
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24016050
Kimi Raikkonen the favourite to partner Fernando Alonso at Ferrari
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Kimi Raikkonen is the leading contender to join Ferrari as the team begin talks aimed at finalising their 2014 line-up.
The Finn is the favoured candidate to return to the team for whom he last drove in 2009 but Nico Hulkenberg and current Ferrari driver Felipe Massa are still in the frame.
Lead driver Fernando Alonso is not keen on Raikkonen joining but his relationship with Ferrari is tense after a turbulent year.
Hulkenberg could be a compromise.
Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen
Age: 33
Races: 189
Wins: 20
Podiums: 75
Pole positions: 16
Best championship position: 1st (2007)
There are widespread reports that a deal between Raikkonen and Ferrari has already been concluded, but a high-level source inside the team said on Sunday evening that was not the case, although he added that a deal was "close".
Talks to finalise the 2014 Ferrari line-up are beginning on Monday and are expected to conclude over the next few days.
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said in an exclusive BBC Sport interview with F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan on Saturday: "Listen, we have Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, [Paul] Di Resta. I have seen so many names [in the media].
"Now we will think very, very carefully, because we don't have a gun here [points at his head] to decide tomorrow or after tomorrow, but after Monza this will be something I want to decide."
Raikkonen also has the option to stay at Lotus, but has concerns about whether the team have the technical and financial resources to compete at the front next year.
They have lost their highly rated former technical director James Allison to Ferrari and there have been delays paying Raikkonen's salary this year.
The Ferrari team are keen to bring back Raikkonen, who won the title for them in 2007 but was paid off a year early at the end of 2009 to make way for Alonso.
Analysis
Image of Andrew Benson
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Fernando Alonso is said not to be keen on Kimi Raikkonen joining Ferrari, but the question is whether that is because he fears him on the track or because it will inevitably take some of the focus of his team away from him.
Alonso has dominated Ferrari since he joined in 2010 and all the team's efforts are directed at him.
That would no longer be the case were Raikkonen to join. In addition, signing Raikkonen would say to the world that Ferrari were perhaps not quite as committed to Alonso as they had previously been.
Seeing Alonso and Raikkonen battle it out in equal machinery would be a prospect many would savour - it would be fascinating to find out who would come out on top.
That will be debated endlessly - as comparisons between all the top F1 drivers always are. But one engineer who has worked closely with both is in no doubt.
"I think Alonso, pretty convincingly," he said. "Everywhere - especially qualifying and the first laps of the race."
At the time, the team preferred to keep Massa. The Brazilian had out-scored Raikkonen on points in 2008 and through 2009 until he suffered a fractured skull in an accident at that year's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Although there were question marks about his recovery, the team felt they could not cast the Brazilian adrift in the circumstances.
But he has been inconsistent for the last few seasons and the Ferrari team are said to want a new face in the second car.
Montezemolo, though, has championed Massa in the past and the Brazilian had a strong Italian Grand Prix at the weekend, out-qualifying Alonso and finishing fourth.
Alonso made it clear after the race that he would be happy for Massa to stay.
The Spaniard insisted he had "no preference" who won the drive, but said he would be "only happy" if Massa was retained.
"It is a team decision - all the names for me are the same. I have a huge respect for Felipe. He is a great professional driver working hard in the simulator and with the team."
F1 has been alive with speculation about the situation at Ferrari and there have even been suggestions that Alonso could leave, despite being contracted until the end of 2016.
The 32-year-old said at the weekend that he would see out his current deal and perhaps even extend it.
But Ferrari were not happy about critical remarks he made to the team over the radio during qualifying.
These came only two races after Alonso had been publicly admonished by Di Montezemolo following the Hungarian Grand Prix in July for appearing not to be totally supportive of the team.
Play media
Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso
Formula 1: Who will drive for Ferrari in 2014?
In the unlikely event of Alonso leaving, Raikkonen would join and would probably be partnered by Massa to ensure the team had at least some driver continuity.
Assuming Alonso stays, it is most likely that it will be either Raikkonen or Hulkenberg who partners him, with Massa an outside possibility.
Kimi Raikkonen the favourite to partner Fernando Alonso at Ferrari
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Kimi Raikkonen is the leading contender to join Ferrari as the team begin talks aimed at finalising their 2014 line-up.
The Finn is the favoured candidate to return to the team for whom he last drove in 2009 but Nico Hulkenberg and current Ferrari driver Felipe Massa are still in the frame.
Lead driver Fernando Alonso is not keen on Raikkonen joining but his relationship with Ferrari is tense after a turbulent year.
Hulkenberg could be a compromise.
Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen
Age: 33
Races: 189
Wins: 20
Podiums: 75
Pole positions: 16
Best championship position: 1st (2007)
There are widespread reports that a deal between Raikkonen and Ferrari has already been concluded, but a high-level source inside the team said on Sunday evening that was not the case, although he added that a deal was "close".
Talks to finalise the 2014 Ferrari line-up are beginning on Monday and are expected to conclude over the next few days.
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said in an exclusive BBC Sport interview with F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan on Saturday: "Listen, we have Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, [Paul] Di Resta. I have seen so many names [in the media].
"Now we will think very, very carefully, because we don't have a gun here [points at his head] to decide tomorrow or after tomorrow, but after Monza this will be something I want to decide."
Raikkonen also has the option to stay at Lotus, but has concerns about whether the team have the technical and financial resources to compete at the front next year.
They have lost their highly rated former technical director James Allison to Ferrari and there have been delays paying Raikkonen's salary this year.
The Ferrari team are keen to bring back Raikkonen, who won the title for them in 2007 but was paid off a year early at the end of 2009 to make way for Alonso.
Analysis
Image of Andrew Benson
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Fernando Alonso is said not to be keen on Kimi Raikkonen joining Ferrari, but the question is whether that is because he fears him on the track or because it will inevitably take some of the focus of his team away from him.
Alonso has dominated Ferrari since he joined in 2010 and all the team's efforts are directed at him.
That would no longer be the case were Raikkonen to join. In addition, signing Raikkonen would say to the world that Ferrari were perhaps not quite as committed to Alonso as they had previously been.
Seeing Alonso and Raikkonen battle it out in equal machinery would be a prospect many would savour - it would be fascinating to find out who would come out on top.
That will be debated endlessly - as comparisons between all the top F1 drivers always are. But one engineer who has worked closely with both is in no doubt.
"I think Alonso, pretty convincingly," he said. "Everywhere - especially qualifying and the first laps of the race."
At the time, the team preferred to keep Massa. The Brazilian had out-scored Raikkonen on points in 2008 and through 2009 until he suffered a fractured skull in an accident at that year's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Although there were question marks about his recovery, the team felt they could not cast the Brazilian adrift in the circumstances.
But he has been inconsistent for the last few seasons and the Ferrari team are said to want a new face in the second car.
Montezemolo, though, has championed Massa in the past and the Brazilian had a strong Italian Grand Prix at the weekend, out-qualifying Alonso and finishing fourth.
Alonso made it clear after the race that he would be happy for Massa to stay.
The Spaniard insisted he had "no preference" who won the drive, but said he would be "only happy" if Massa was retained.
"It is a team decision - all the names for me are the same. I have a huge respect for Felipe. He is a great professional driver working hard in the simulator and with the team."
F1 has been alive with speculation about the situation at Ferrari and there have even been suggestions that Alonso could leave, despite being contracted until the end of 2016.
The 32-year-old said at the weekend that he would see out his current deal and perhaps even extend it.
But Ferrari were not happy about critical remarks he made to the team over the radio during qualifying.
These came only two races after Alonso had been publicly admonished by Di Montezemolo following the Hungarian Grand Prix in July for appearing not to be totally supportive of the team.
Play media
Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso
Formula 1: Who will drive for Ferrari in 2014?
In the unlikely event of Alonso leaving, Raikkonen would join and would probably be partnered by Massa to ensure the team had at least some driver continuity.
Assuming Alonso stays, it is most likely that it will be either Raikkonen or Hulkenberg who partners him, with Massa an outside possibility.
Fernando es de otro planeta