Jerez test pacesetter says no 2016 deal wouldn't be 'end of the world'
Monday 9 February 2015 15:20, UK
Kimi Raikkonen says he is relaxed about his contractual position at Ferrari, admitting it wouldn’t be the "end of the world" if he wasn’t retained for 2016.
The Finn is preparing for his second season back at Maranello with the aim of vastly improving on his 2014 campaign when he recorded the lowest championship finish of his F1 career and was trounced by then team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen’s return to Ferrari after a four-year gap was publicly announced as a two-year deal, although the former world champion revealed at Jerez that there is the option of a third year.
But the 35-year-old, the oldest driver on the grid, says he is just happy to wait to see how the new season pans out.
“There is an option on the contract. It’s up to me, up to the team to do a good job this year. If it goes badly and I don’t sign it, then I don’t sign it. It’s not the end of the world,” Raikkonen said at the Jerez test where he set the fastest time of the week.
“The aim is to do well and there are good signs. Everybody’s happy and I’m sure we can do a good year and we will see what happens in the future. I don’t worry about it. We will find out at some point.”
Amid mass upheaval at underperforming Ferrari in recent months, Raikkonen has a new team-mate for 2015 in the form of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.
Unlike many drivers in the current era, the pair are friends away from the circuit and Raikkonen says the German driver has fitted in well to his new surroundings.
“We have a good relationship and can push the team forward,” he added.
“Obviously we try to beat each other on the circuit, but I’m sure we will have some fun. The atmosphere already in the team is very good and hopefully we get some good results this year. That will only help the situation. So far so good, but it’s early days.”
The Sky Sports F1 Online team will be providing live commentary from all four days of both Barcelona tests. Sky Sports News HQ will also have live updates from trackside.
