Alonso and Räikkönen work perfectly well together at Ferrari
The partnership between Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari has generated a lot of buzz since it was made official. Many thought it would create sparks, but as the Spaniard confirms, the two men are working together to advance the team.
The first pre-season tests have just begun and an initial assessment of the teams’ strengths is already underway. While the Renault-powered teams are struggling, the others, equipped with Mercedes and Ferrari engines, are hard at work to already advance their single-seaters.
Within the Scuderia, there might have been concerns about potential ego clashes between the two main drivers, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen. The latter was the first to take the wheel of the new F14-T during the first two days, quickly followed by the Spaniard in the subsequent days. However, both men seem to get along quite well and are managing to work together, as Alonso confirms: “With Kimi, we spent a few days together in Maranello for promotional operations. It was part work and part enjoyment, but now we have to work even harder. Every evening, we get a report on each lap Kimi completed in the first two days and on each lap I did during the other days. We work together, as we have always done over these four years at Ferrari. Afterwards, we speak with the engineers each evening to solve potential issues we might be less aware of as drivers. In terms of performance, we do everything the team needs.”
Even if his first impressions at the wheel of the new car are rather good, Alonso believes there is still a lot of work to be done: « It has only been three days since the new car hit the track. We are really at the beginning of the preparation. We need to do as many laps as possible here [in Jerez] and in Bahrain because every lap is welcome given the changes in technical regulations and the information they bring us. We spent a few months without driving, just on the simulator… it really feels good to get back behind the wheel of the car on a sunny day, » he stated Thursday evening.
The double world champion doesn’t believe, however, that the test results are really significant, nor that the problems encountered by some are critical: « The media always make a big deal about these test sessions. It’s normal for everything to gain importance if you’ve had a good or bad day. In terms of preparation and approach, we need to aim for the Australian Grand Prix, and we still have a lot to learn before that. »
