quoteMontmelò, 7 May – It was nice to have a good result in Bahrain and now we keep working always with the same approach, always trying to improve. It is also nice to come back to European races: here we have some upgrades but we don’t know what the others are doing, so let’s wait and see what’s happening in the next races. The car package is quite good this year and the we’re all working very well together: The team gives me and Sebastian the same chances and obviously we try to beat each other for the Drivers’ championship, but in a good and fair way, in the interest of the team. It is clear that we also want to win the manufacturers’ title and for this purpose, having two cars always there in the points is crucial. Compared to Mercedes there have been improvements, but we know we’re still behind. We need to work to further improve the whole package.
Maranello, 7 May –The European part of the Formula One championship is about to get underway after the first four races were all staged far from the Old Continent. The teams know the Barcelona circuit well, given that Montmelò was home to two of the pre-season tests.
Iñaki Rueda, in charge of strategy for Scuderia Ferrari, explains what are the most significant challenges posed by this track:
“Montmelò is traditionally very hard in terms of tyre wear and degradation, which actually explains why, over the past few years, we have seen quite an increase in the number of pit stops.
However, one has to take into consideration that the need to make more stops also provides a good opportunity for gaining places: at a track where it’s difficult to overtake, one has to know how to play with the number of pit stops to get ahead of one’s competitors. It’s a well known fact that all the teams turn up for the first European race with cars that feature many updates, practically new cars compared to what we saw in Bahrain. As for ourselves, we hope the updates we are bringing will let us get even closer to Mercedes.”
quoteKimi Raikkonen pleased with improved situation at Ferrari in 2015 "There’s a difference how the team’s being run this year," insists Kimi
Kimi Raikkonen, a revitalised force so far in 2015, has praised the way the new-look Ferrari are being run by Maurizio Arrivabene, claiming there is a big difference in the situation at the team compared to last season.
Ferrari, F1’s most successful team, endured a year of unprecedented turmoil in 2014 as their president, lead driver, two different team principals and a host of key technical personnel all left Maranello during their worst season for two decades.
Amid the off-track turmoil, 2007 world champion Raikkonen struggled badly on his return to the team from Lotus and finished a career-worst 12th in the standings with nearly three times fewer points than team-mate Alonso.
However, with the Scuderia emerging as a force to rival Mercedes so far this season, Raikkonen has returned to his best form, particularly in race conditions, and last time out in Bahrain beat new stable-mate Sebastian Vettel to claim his first podium since 2013.
And while stopping short of suggesting he wasn’t given parity alongside Alonso, Raikkonen made clear that Arrivabene was running the team differently to his predecessors and was keen for both of his driver to perform strongly.
“The team boss is different and you can have a different relationship with a different boss,” said Raikkonen.
“I know Maurizio from before [when he worked for Ferrari sponsor Marlboro] and we had a very good relationship and, yes, there’s a difference how the team’s being run this year and how things are being done inside the team.
“I think it’s only a good change and it’s the only way how it should be run and be good for the team.
“In the end in the team there’s two cars and, yes, we fight for the Drivers’ Championship as the drivers, but the team wants to win the manufacturers’ championship and you need to have two cars for that. In the end Ferrari wants Ferrari to win and they will give us both the same chances and fair treatment. So it’s up to us. We try to behave as well as we can against each other if we have to race, we try to beat each other, but in a good way and in the interests of the team.”
Asked if the current situation hadn’t always been the case, Raikkonen replied: “It’s different than last year and it’s a lot better.”
Although Raikkonen is seemingly enjoying a stronger relationship with Arrivabene than his short-lived predecessor Mattiacci, Ferrari’s new team principal has still made clear in recent weeks that the Finnish veteran has to earn a contract renewal.
Ferrari have an option on the 35-year-old’s services for 2016 and Arrivabene said at the last race in Bahrain that he was in no hurry to tie up Raikkonen for next season as “I don’t want the driver to fall asleep, I want to keep him up”.
Speaking on Thursday, the driver himself said he was happy to wait for Ferrari’s call.
“It is their decision and obviously it depends what they feel is right or wrong. I don’t think about it, let’s wait and see,” Raikkonen insisted.
CEbMuq5W8AEXHvp.jpg large.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) CEbNlBNWYAAwXEB.jpg large.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) no idea what they have to do there but I don't think they like it
They usualy have eggs, potatoes, onions, some vegetables and chorizo! ... So Kimi didn't get a fair treatment last year, as we already suspected it. That's why Kimi is enjoying himself that much when he laps Alonso ... Finaly European races are here, so I will have FP2, quali and race at 6:00pm, hopefuly this are part of the 10 races our F1 broadcaster will show LIVE.
quoteVettel third and Raikkonen fourth in the first free practice session
Montmelò, 8 May – The Spanish Grand Prix, the first of the European races on the Formula 1 calendar, got underway this morning, with the first free practice session. Nico Rosberg was fastest round the Catalunya circuit, with a best lap in 1.26.828. Behind the German came his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton (1.26.898.) Next up where the two SF15-Ts of Sebastian Vettel (1.27.806) and Kimi Raikkonen (1.27.832.) Both men ran Hard tyres, as they tackled an initial evaluation of the new aerodynamic package.
More and more often do I read Hamilton not renewing his contract with Mercedes means he is close to join Ferrari and of course same kind of suppositions for Bottas etc. What to believe ? Anyhow Arrivabene is not clean with all these medias leaks.
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Thu May 07, 2015 9:01 pm (Last edited: Thu May 07, 2015 9:06 pm)
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They try to poison them! 
Kimi looked much happier before he tasted it 
that looks like Torta Española
Tania
