Giovinazzi says having Kimi as team-mate boosts his own reputation and motivates him to improve. Giovinazzi on Kimi.

Alfa Romeo Racing Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi admitted that having 2007 Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen as his team-mate boosts his own reputation and motivates him to improve. The Swiss team announced last month that 2007 World Champion Raikkonen and Ferrari-affiliated Giovinazzi will stay on for the 2021 season.

The pair have formed Alfa Romeo’s line-up for the last two years and have been closely matched in 2020, with Raikkonen 7-6 ahead in qualifying, and tied on four points in the standings.

Giovinazzi believes having Raikkonen alongside him at Alfa Romeo is more beneficial than if he was alongside a lesser driver.

“For me to have him as a team-mate I couldn’t ask for a better team-mate as he’s a great person first of all and he’s a really, really great driver. He has a lot of experience, he’s really fast, and motivated, and it motivates myself, just to push more, as to beat him is not easy. When I beat him it’s because I’m having a perfect day and this is good, it’s good for my career, my mentality as well, it’s important to have a strong driver beside you as you can improve faster and just be a better driver.” – he added.

Antonio Giovinazzi accepted that he still has substantial strides to make as a driver but that being next to Raikkonen will only assist his cause.

“Being a young driver I need to learn and improve race after race, this is my goal and main target for next season,” he outlined. To have Kimi still beside me is something that can help me improve as we saw what he did [in Portugal] on the first lap, he’s still a strong driver, with a lot of experience. I’m just focused on my job and when you do a mistake the most important thing is to learn from that. When you’re on the limit it can happen but the mistake tells you not to give up, I never give up on myself, always turn the page and do well at the next races, this is what I always did and will do for the next season.” – he explained.

Giovinazzi also emphasised that he has not given up on the possibility of racing for Ferrari in Formula 1.

“My dream is to maybe race for them in the future and I will always work for this,” he said.

“I know now for two years Carlos [Sainz] will be in that car but I’m fully focused on maybe taking that seat after two years.”