Kimi Raikkonen On Vettel Relationship, Also Wants Ferrari Stay In 2019

Kimi Raikkonen’s Formula 1 future continues to remain uncertain with the Finn waiting on Ferrari to find out if he has a drive with the Italian team in 2019.

The Finnish racer is keen to remain with Ferrari for at least one more season, but the final decision lies with the team after they only handed him a one-year extension in 2017.

Earlier in the year, multiple reports suggested that the Ferrari management were ready to allow Raikkonen to leave and replace him with Charles Leclerc, who is part of the Ferrari driver academy. The Monegasque driver has impressed in his ongoing debut campaign with the Sauber F1 team.

However, Leclerc’s promotion to the works team was being championed by former CEO Sergio Marchionne, who recently died after medical complications following a shoulder surgery. According to Autoweek, the new management is said to be more in favor of retaining Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel’s teammate for the 2019 campaign.

The Sauber driver’s promotion will be a major risk for Ferrari due to his relative inexperience in the sport, while Raikkonen has shown that he is still capable of racing at the sharp end of the grid. The Finn has finished on the podium in eight of the 12 races thus far, which includes five consecutive podium finishes in as many races leading up to the ongoing summer break.

After struggling to match up to his teammates in recent seasons, he is 43 points behind Vettel, who is battling for the F1 Drivers’ title with Lewis Hamilton. And Raikkonen’s consistent points haul has put Ferrari just 10 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ race – the closest they have been in five seasons after 12 races.

But Raikkonen admits he will have no influence on the final decision as it lies with Ferrari, who are yet to give an indication as to when they will confirm their lineup for the 2019 season.

"Of course I would like to stay, but it's Ferrari's decision alone," Raikkonen told German publication Sport Bild, as quoted on Autoweek. "I'm waiting just as much as you are."

The 38-year-old admits that he enjoys the working relationship he shares with Vettel and said their openness with each other only helps the team perform better.

Ferrari have stayed away from imposing team orders this season, but Raikkonen made it clear he has no qualms about helping his teammate if he has a better chance of winning the championship.

"Even if we crash, there's no issue after a conversation," the 2007 world champion added. "He's a guy who will say it's his mistake and I'm the same. It's much better to work in that atmosphere, and it also makes the car faster. We both have the same goal -- to make Ferrari world champion."

"At a certain point in the world championship, the team takes precedence. I did not arrive yesterday,” Raikkonen said.