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Alonso, Kimi scoff at friction talk
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Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso insist they will be able to cooperate as Ferrari teammates next season despite many predicting friction between two former world champions who are accustomed to being the No. 1 driver in their team.
The two drivers spoke for the first time yesterday — ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix — since Ferrari announced it had signed Raikkonen to a two-year deal from 2014, replacing Brazilian Felipe Massa.
Raikkonen said both he and Alonso were mature enough to be able to resolve any problems that may arise.
“I don’t see the reason why it would not work,” Raikkonen said. “We are all old enough to know what we are doing. ... If there is something, I am sure we can sort it through. It is not like we are 20-year-old guys any more. I might be wrong, but time will tell.”
Spain’s Alonso said he was kept informed of Ferrari’s pursuit of Raikkonen and gave it his blessing, so could not understand the many predictions of trouble between the pair.
“You keep writing these things, which is exactly the same as when I arrived here, with people saying it would be a disaster with Felipe, and after four years he’s one of the best friends I’ve here,” Alonso said.
Team principal Stefano Domenicali said predictions of friction between the pair were motivated by jealousy among other Formula One teams. “Maybe they have fear, because we are strong,” he said, adding that this was “part of the game, part of the psychological war of this environment”.
Raikkonen said money trouble at his current team Lotus was part of the reason why he opted to return to Ferrari.
“The reasons I left the team are on the money side,” the Finn said. “I have not got my salary, it’s an unfortunate thing.”
Sauber’s German driver Nico Hulkenberg was also strongly considered for Ferrari in 2014, but said he was not angry at being overlooked. “There was a chance there. There is no point in thinking about that too much — that is history now.
“The relationship (with Ferrari) is as good and positive as it was before.”
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