Scuderia Ferrari has yet to announce its driver line-up for the 2018 Formula One season, but Sergio Marchionne‘s recent comments after the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix point once again to Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen remaining at the Maranello team.
Reports out of Italy suggested that a condition for Sebastian Vettel staying with the Scuderia next season was the resigning of his Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen. This has apparently been accepted by the Italian squad and a formal announcement is expected at the team’s home race at Monza, which is scheduled to take place at the beginning of next month.: “It is more than 50 per cent probable. They are great together. It is difficult to change this team now, so let’s see if we can keep both of them for 2018. I think they want to stay and the team is growing well, I don’t want to ruin it.” – Sergio Marchionne said, as reported by the Italian media after the last race before the summer break.
“We should be able to announce our drivers at Monza. Nothing is signed yet but we are talking to the drivers and the agreement may be close.” – Both Sergio Marchionne and team boss Maurizio Arrivabene praised Kimi Raikkonen for team role in Ferrari’s win at the Hungaroring track, as the Finn acted as a buffer between Sebastian Vettel and the pursuing Mercedes duo behind: “He was great. We are a single team at Maranello, all working together. Do not forget that he is the last Ferrari world champion and today he showed that. Only a champion like him could defend his teammate like a Viking, with no tricks and no deception.” – team principal Maurizio Arrivabene explained.
Commenting on rumors that Sebastian Vettel may have already signed a “pre-agreement” with rivals Mercedes, Sergio Marchionne appeared unconcerned by the prospect: “If he does not want to stay, then we will find a different solution and life goes on, because this is Ferrari. But if I look at Sebastian, then in a lot of ways he is already more Italian than many of us!” – the Italian-Canadian executive concluded, as reported by Italian national sports newspaper based in Rome Corriere dello Sport.
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