Ferrari relegates Räikkönen to role of Massa’s side-man

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Ferrari has effectively relegated Finland’s Kimi Räikkönen to the role of an assistant to the Italian Formula One team’s other driver, Felipe Massa in an attempt to aid the Brazilian to clinch this year’s drivers’ title.
      Last weekend Räikkönen, the reigning World Champion, finished out of the points in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, and in practice the 21-point difference that now separates him from the leader, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) of Great Britain, is regarded within the Ferrari camp as being beyond his reach, in spite of the fact that Räikkönen made up an almost equivalent margin at the back-end of last season.
     
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali was diplomatic with his choice of words, but the message was relatively clear.
      “I have always said that the team comes first. That is the most important thing and the drivers know it”, Domenicali said.
      According to Domenicali matters have been re-evaluated in the light of the Monza results.
     
”It is clear that from now on until the end of the current season Kimi will do his best to be as aggressive as possible, but at the same time he will take into account the fact that Felipe is closer to Lewis Hamilton in the points table”, the Ferrari boss stated.
      In practice Domenicali’s statement is believed to mean that in the race, if needed, Räikkönen will allow Massa to overtake him. Focusing on the other driver will also enable, for example, the selection of different tactics in the qualifying rounds.
     
Räikkönen does not seem too bothered about the relegation speculations.
      “I don’t know. Let’s see what happens”, was Räikkönen’s reply in an interview in the magazine Autosport when he was asked about helping Massa.
      “The situation is not great, but we will try to get things sorted out for the remainder of the season. Sometimes racing is like this”, said Räikkönen, whose last victory dates from the Spanish GP on April 27th.
      Massa in turn is not concerned about whether Räikkönen will assist him or not. “I do my job and don’t let anything affect it. Victory and maximum points are always my goal before the race”, Massa pondered.
     
In the constructors' table Ferrari still has a five-point advantage over McLaren. According to Domenicali, both drivers know that to Ferrari the team victory is what really matters.
      The F1 season will continue on the 28th of September in Singapore, where the first-ever night-time GP will take place.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vettel steals the headlines as Kovalainen takes 2nd in the wet at Monza (15.9.2008)

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