Raikkonen did not cost us Monza win: Ferrari

Ferrari have stated that it is disrespectful to claim that they lost out on a victory at their home grand prix in Italy because Kimi Raikkonen did not give it his all on being told that he would not be retained after 2018.

Vettel lost out on a pole position to Raikkonen and then proceeded to attack him before Turn 3, which caused the German to collide with Hamilton and turn around, which left Raikkonen to battle out the Mercedes cars alone, which he lost.

Ferrari boss, Maurizio Arrivabene, upheld the fact that both his drivers were experienced and professional racers. “Both Kimi and Sebastian are two great professionals with years of experience on their shoulders,” he told Autosport.

“They are not two kart drivers who have just started hanging out at the track. What has been said about the timing of this situation are assessments which I find disrespectful against drivers who are great professionals.”

He also had a wonderful parting statement about Raikkonen. “Then, let me say, if every time that Kimi receives news of this nature he responds with a pole position, then it would be worth doing it every weekend,” said Arrivabene.

The Italian boss has voiced his support for his drivers in the past too, which bodes well for the Scuderia as it means that they can rely on their leader to be confident.

Now that Ferrari have got that out of the way, the next question which arises is that of the decision to inform Raikkonen of his exit before arguably the most crucial race for the Scuderia, both championship-wise and of sentimental value.

The boss had an answer for that too. “I think it is important to clarify two things. Kimi has always gone well at Spa and Monza, and so Kimi was anxious to get from us an answer about his future,” said Arrivabene.

“I think that communicating a decision like that is more appropriate on the eve of a race weekend on a ‘friendly’ track, rather than at a weekend that promises to be more fraught.”