I have faith in Ferrari: Raikkonen

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is confident that his team can put an under-par current season behind them and improve next season.

Raikkonen, who re-signed for Ferrari from Lotus this season, has scored just 27 points from 11 races and has failed to finish ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso in any of the races. 

But Raikkonen is confident that Ferrari, who replaced Stefano Domenicali with Marco Mattiacci as team principal in April, can turn the fortunes around next season.

“I have 100% belief in the people at the factory,” said the Ferrari driver.

“We have the tools and the people to do the job and what we are supposed to do. I’m sure we can be where we should be, hopefully by next year. We have to do a lot of work, but like I said, we have the people and the tools and I don’t see a reason why we shouldn’t be at the front again, but obviously time will tell.

“With a new team boss [Mattiacci], he didn’t have much knowledge of F1 when he came in, but he has a very smart head and I think he’s doing good work and good decisions and he can get the best out of people. I think he’s the guy that we need.”

Meanwhile, former Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean is not surprised to see Raikkonen struggling and has suggested it is due to the tyres.

“I know what he doesn’t like and I think this year’s tyres don’t suit him very well,” said Grosjean. “He needs a good front end and there tyres don’t give him that feeling. It’s hard to explain but it just changes a little bit your confidence.”