Italian press backs Kimi Raikkonen to drive for Ferrari next season. The Italian press heralded the way Scuderia Ferrari's current drivers work together.

The Italian press has backed reports claiming that the Maranello marque looks set to keep Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen at the team for the 2018 Formula One season. It is expected Scuderia Ferrari will announce the new deals for their two drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, at the Italian Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place at Monza, on September 3.

After the duo finished first and second at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, the Italian press heralded the way Scuderia Ferrari’s current drivers work together: “Sebastian Vettel won with Kimi Raikkonen’s help.” said Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports La Gazzetta dello Sport: “In truth, Raikkonen is the true winner, having played servant for Vettel because he could have easily overtaken and won. He will be at Vettel’s side for another year.” – La Gazzetta dello Sport added after the race at the Hungaroring track.

Corriere dello Sport calls the German and Finnish pairing a “dream team”: “Ferrari was invincible in Budapest thanks to the power of clear ideas.” – said the newspaper – “At Ferrari, it is understood that one wins the drivers’ title only if all row in the same direction.” Italian sport newspaper published in Turin Tuttosport added: “No one should be allowed to separate these two drivers.” And Corriere della Sera also added that: “Hungary reminded us that Formula One is a team sport. Kimi Raikkonen waived the victory and receives a contract extension, as Ferrari has a perfect duo that Sergio Marchionne will want to keep.”

Indeed, while Mercedes operated a questionable policy of driver equality with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in Hungary, former Formula One driver Mika Salo said the Scuderia Ferrari pecking order is just logical given the greater goal: “The points difference became so big at the beginning of the season that Kimi is forced to accept it.” – Mika Salo said, as reported on Tuesday by Ilta Sanomat, one of Finland’s two prominent tabloid size evening newspaper and the second largest paper in the country – “I don’t know whether Kimi could have passed Vettel, but for Ferrari (what happened is) ok as Formula One is still a team sport.” – the former Finnish F1 driver concluded.