May 10 (GMM) Rumours in the Barcelona paddock indicate that tension between Kimi Raikkonen and the Ferrari management is growing
Officially, the Italian team was willing to take the blame for the serious strategy error that left the Finn just sixteenth on the grid for the Spanish grand prix
But Raikkonen, 29, also admitted his own role. “I certainly wasn’t keen on doing another run,” he said of the Q1 debacle
It is believed the roots of the situation date back to a similar situation earlier this season, when Ferrari reacted to a similar error on Felipe Massa’s car by subsequently ordering much more conservative qualifying strategies
Raikkonen, however, is said to have insisted he have more control over his own qualifying strategies
As a result, tensions between the driver and his team are high, with the British tabloid Daily Star interpreting the situation as the threat the Finn “could be booted … if he doesn’t perform in Spain today”
The newspaper said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has told team chiefs that Raikkonen, despite his huge salary, is not expendable
Team boss Stefano Domenicali played down the rumours, insisting the onus is on Ferrari to give its drivers better equipment
“I am sure we have all the elements to come back,” the Italian said
