Vettel: Keep Raikkonen, forget Hamilton
Vettel: Keep Raikkonen, forget Hamilton
Sebastian Vettel says he would rather remain at Ferrari with Kimi Raikkonen as his team-mate than welcome championship rival Lewis Hamilton to the team. Both Hamilton and Vettel joked about potentially joining forces ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, but Vettel has moved to shut down any serious suggestions it could happen.
Raikkonen says he remains fired up to race in Formula 1, despite widespread reports suggesting that this season could be his last in F1, with the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc all potentially available.
Vettel has long stood up for Raikkonen, who has taken to the podium each time he has finished a race so far this season.
READ MORE: Hamilton and Vettel talk teaming at Ferrari
READ MORE: Raikkonen hints at 2019 target
And the German once again talked up the partnership he enjoys with his veteran colleague, when asked if he would rather race with Raikkonen or Hamilton.
"I prefer Kimi, to give you my honest answer," Vettel told CNN.
"If you ask me if I'm afraid of [Hamilton] then no. He's not taller than me, I don't think he's heavier than me, so in boxing terms I'm not afraid.
"In the end you have to be prepared to race whoever comes along, I don't know what is his [Raikkonen's] plan in the future.
"But if I had to pick, I would pick Kimi, simply because there's no danger or threat of any politics or misunderstandings.
"Outside the track, outside the car, I find it a lot more enjoyable if you have mutual respect and just no unnecessary stuff to waste your energy on.
"I think it's always what you're looking for: knowing that you have a car that you can fight with, that you can trust, a team behind you that gives both of the drivers everything they have.
"That's what we want to be and ultimately, what we try to do is to bring Ferrari back to where it belongs not just for a race but after a whole year."
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- 22 minutes ago
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- 2 hours ago
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- 3 hours ago
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Today 18:58
F1 boss HITS BACK at star driver over schedule complaints
- Today 17:58
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860