From GMM
Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen has finally admitted he will drive to "help the team", the Scuderia Ferrari, over the last four grands prix of 2008.
Although mathematically still in the hunt for the title, the Finn's 20 point deficit to his teammate Felipe Massa means not approaching the final races of the season with a policy of driver preference would be arguably unwise for Ferrari.
But Raikkonen, 28, said as recently as this week: "Only when I no longer have a mathematical chance will I be totally at the service of the team."
In Ferrari's official pre-race documentation prior to round fifteen of the world championship, however, he has changed his tune.
"I think that we'll have the possibility to win in the four outstanding races and I will give it my all to make it and to help the team to reach its goals," he said.
Ferrari is clearly not going to declare Raikkonen a 'number two' driver to support title charger Massa, but even the language used by team boss Stefano Domenicali is now sounding much less ambiguous.
The Italian said Ferrari's two drivers met with president Luca di Montezemolo recently at Maranello, "who made it very clear that, as usual Ferrari's simple target come the end of the season is to win both titles.
"Both drivers will be working towards this target over the remaining four races, knowing that, as always for the Scuderia, the good of the team comes first," Domenicali added.
photo:Ferrari
Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen has finally admitted he will drive to "help the team", the Scuderia Ferrari, over the last four grands prix of 2008.
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| Kimi Raikkonen |
Although mathematically still in the hunt for the title, the Finn's 20 point deficit to his teammate Felipe Massa means not approaching the final races of the season with a policy of driver preference would be arguably unwise for Ferrari.
But Raikkonen, 28, said as recently as this week: "Only when I no longer have a mathematical chance will I be totally at the service of the team."
In Ferrari's official pre-race documentation prior to round fifteen of the world championship, however, he has changed his tune.
"I think that we'll have the possibility to win in the four outstanding races and I will give it my all to make it and to help the team to reach its goals," he said.
Ferrari is clearly not going to declare Raikkonen a 'number two' driver to support title charger Massa, but even the language used by team boss Stefano Domenicali is now sounding much less ambiguous.
The Italian said Ferrari's two drivers met with president Luca di Montezemolo recently at Maranello, "who made it very clear that, as usual Ferrari's simple target come the end of the season is to win both titles.
"Both drivers will be working towards this target over the remaining four races, knowing that, as always for the Scuderia, the good of the team comes first," Domenicali added.
photo:Ferrari