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.

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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."