By signing Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari seems to have given up on its decades-old policy of having a leading driver and a supporting driver. While nobody knows what Raikkonen’s contract says, it’s hard to imagine two former world champions accepting to be No. 2. Ferrari’s most successful driver in history, Michael Schumacher, believes that the Alonso – Raikkonen partnership has the potential to be explosive.
The German, who has raced alongside both Raikkonen and Alonso during his long F1 career, said the two drivers working together at Ferrari could be successful, but may prove difficult to manage.
“Ferrari with Fernando and Kimi, that sounds like an explosive mixture,” Schumacher told German newspaper Bild. “For motorsport fans it will certainly be sensational and for the competition tough to crack. It will be exciting to watch,” he added.
Many F1 experts believe the team will be hard to manage, given that both Alonso and Raikkonen have enjoyed “number one” status in the past. They will now have to work together in order to give Ferrari its first constructors’ championship since 2008.
Coincidentally, Ferrari’s last drivers’ world title was taken by Raikkonen in 2007, at the end of his maiden season with the Scuderia. At the time, the Finn had Felipe Massa as teammate.
Ferrari’s team boss Stefano Domenicali responded to criticism by saying Alonso and Raikkonen represent the best combination one could have today in Formula 1. One thing is certain: signing Raikkonen will definitely be a boost for the team and the sport’s popularity.
By Dan Mihalascu
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