29/05/2016
NEWS STORY
Sebastian Vettel has said he would prefer to have Kimi Raikkonen as teammate at Ferrari in 2017.
In a week that has seen Nico Rosberg added to the list of possible employees at Maranello, Sebastian Vettel has urged that Ferrari leave things as they are.
Retained following a lacklustre 2015, Kimi Raikkonen has shown glimpses of his old fighting spirit this season, indeed, he currently heads his teammate in the standings.
However, many, particularly in the Italian media, are calling for fresh blood, with Nico Rosberg joining Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo as possible contenders for the seat alongside Vettel.
The German, on the other hand, wishes to maintain the status quo.
"Every day I read a new name," he told Gazzetta dello Sport, "just as I read that I should have come to Ferrari a year later.
"I am fine with Raikkonen," he continued. "There is no teammate who could be less complicated, and he is not political. Between us there is respect, he is calm and I think it would be nice to continue together. But it does not depend on me."
Asked if he would be consulted by the team, he said: "Yes, but it is not for me to decide. However, I find it right that a driver is involved in the discussion with the team."