Despite lingering doubts over the atmosphere within the team after Monaco, when Raikkonen felt the team took a certain win away from him in order to benefit Vettel, all concerned insist that all is well.

Having had their questions about team orders in Monaco carefully deflected, in Baku a slightly different tactic was tried, with reporters asking the Finn if he is willing to support his teammate's bid for a fifth title.

"Nothing has changed, we know exactly when things goes either way," said Raikkonen. "That's how it has always been and will be in the future. When it's clear I don't have the chance to fight for the championship I'll help Seb and I have no issues with that, as I did in the past. I think it's a very easy decision for everyone in the team.

"The first thing is to try to make sure we can be at the top with Ferrari," he continued, "that's the most important thing and then if Seb can win and I cannot. The first thing is to work for Ferrari and try to get the best possible position all the time."

While admitting that Vettel has been on top form this year, the Finn also agreed that a number of "little problems" had compromised the opening phase of his own season.

"I've had some bad races so far and obviously Seb has had good races so far and has been driving very well this year,'' he said. "I didn't start the season too well, especially in the first few races.

"It wasn't bad races," he added, "but not too good or where I wanted to be. Here and there I had some little problems, I have one DNF, and the last race was not ideal, but that's how it goes sometimes. And my team mate has had a very good start of the season, that's all."