"Kimi and myself have the least ego problems in the whole paddock," says Vettel - but Button states his disbelief!
Wednesday 13 July 2016 16:19, UK
Sebastian Vettel is delighted Ferrari retained Kimi Raikkonen for another year and claims the pair have "the least ego problems in the whole paddock".
Ferrari have ended speculation surrounding their 2017 seat by confirming the Finn's new deal, with Vettel and Raikkonen now set to enter their third year as team-mates.
Unlike at rivals Mercedes, the Scuderia's former world champions seem to be in perfect harmony both on and off the track and Vettel is confident this will help the team going forward.
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"It's the right thing to do," the German told Sky Sports News HQ. "We are both pushing very hard. Our primary target is to catch the leaders, Mercedes, and there's plenty of work ahead of us. I think it's important, there's been a lot of talk, and it now goes quiet."
"Probably Kimi and myself have the least ego problems in the whole paddock, which I think is good for the team. We are working in the same direction and on the track we try to race hard - as we've shown in the past in the races where we have raced for position - but that's normal.
"Outside of the car there is no problem."
This seemed to surprise Jenson Button, partnered by Fernando Alonso at McLaren, to no end. "Come again?!," the British driver posted on Twitter.
Raikkonen will enter his 15th year in Formula 1 next season and has insisted that Ferrari will be his last team in the sport.
"I don't think the reason I'm staying here is because we're friends or not," he said.
"If I wasn't doing my job correctly I wouldn't be here, and that's not the case. They were happy, I'm happy, so that's only what happens."
Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean and Carlos Sainz were considered frontrunners for the seat before Raikkonen's new deal, while Sky Sports have been told that Ferrari are keeping their options open should Lewis Hamilton become available at the end of 2017.
Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says Raikkonen's extension was confirmed so early because Ferrari want to concentrate on improving the SF16-H and catching Mercedes.
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"We confirmed Kimi because, first of all, he deserves it," Arrivabene said. "We are looking for the interest of the team and the interest of the team is not looking for other drivers, but concentrating in the car's development.
"We have two good drivers and now we remove all the pressure from Kimi."
