Raikkonen reports 'disrespectful' say Ferrari

Maurizio Arrivabene says it is "disrespectful" to suggest that Ferrari's timing of their 2019 driver line-up confirmation has had a detrimental impact on Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen's seasons. The Scuderia told Raikkonen that he would be replaced by Charles Leclerc next year during the Italian Grand Prix – which the Finn qualified on pole for, hampering his team-mate's title hopes.

Raikkonen took a tow from Vettel to secure pole and fought the German on lap one at Monza, pushing Vettel back into a scrap with Lewis Hamilton that resulted in him spinning to the back of the field.

Arrivabene dismissed the notion that Raikkonen's feisty approach at Monza was a response to Ferrari's decision.

"Both Kimi and Sebastian are two great professionals with years of experience on their shoulders," Arrivabene told Motorsport.com. "They are not two kart drivers who have just started hanging out at the track.

"What has been said about the timing of this situation are assessments which I find disrespectful against drivers who are great professionals.

"Then, let me say, if every time that Kimi receives news of this nature he responds with a pole position, then it would be worth doing it every weekend.

"I think it is important to clarify two things. Kimi has always gone well at Spa and Monza, and so Kimi was anxious to get from us an answer about his future.

"I think that communicating a decision like that is more appropriate on the eve of a race weekend on a 'friendly' track, rather than at a weekend that promises to be more fraught.

"Ideally it would have been better to communicate during the summer break, but we were not yet ready to do so. And after Monza meant it would still be on the eve of the Singapore weekend."

MORE: Vettel penalty is 'harsh' - Gasly
MORE: Arrivabene wants to appeal to Playstation generation