Breaking news
Formula 1
Ferrari's 2014 lineup 'explosive' - Schumacher
"It will be exciting to watch" - Michael Schumacher.
GMM
Edited: Sep 13, 2013, 12:42 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sep.13 (GMM) Ferrari has put together a potentially "explosive" driver lineup for 2014, according to former team champion Michael Schumacher.
The great German, who became F1's most successful driver ever by delivering five consecutive titles to the Maranello team last decade, was referring to the appointment of Kimi Raikkonen to be current 'number 1' Fernando Alonso's new teammate.
Schumacher, who at the end of 2006 was pushed into his first retirement when Ferrari signed Raikkonen, said of the 2014 pairing: "For motor sport fans it will certainly be a blast, and make for a tough competition.
"It will be exciting to watch," the 44-year-old told Bild newspaper.
"But Ferrari with Fernando and Kimi -- it sounds like an explosive mixture," added Schumacher.
Another former Ferrari driver, four time world champion Alain Prost, also described the combination of fiery Latin Alonso and unflappable and odd Finn Raikkonen as "a risky move" for the Italian team.
"Speaking as a fan I would say it is good to have two number ones together," Prost told a French television broadcast.
"I think it's a choice born from a certain tension between Fernando and the Scuderia that has been clearly evident during the year.
"Now he will no longer be the undisputed number 1, at least not initially, and I'm not sure Stefano Domenicali has the ability of a Jean Todt or a Ross Brawn to handle a situation like this.
"In Italy the press applies a lot of pressure, so I presume that sooner or later there will be trouble," added Prost.
Before Raikkonen's Ferrari move was decided, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh refused to rule out making a bid to sign the Finn for 2014.
He told Finland's Turun Sanomat he is not sure Alonso and Raikkonen is an ideal combination.
"I cannot imagine they will be happy together," said Whitmarsh.
"Kimi generally doesn't care about who is at the wheel of the other car, but Fernando will not deal with it well.
"Of course, both of them are clearly among the best drivers in Formula One, so Ferrari has an incredibly strong lineup, but it could also put the team in a difficult situation."
The Italian press broadly agrees. La Gazzetta dello Sport, the influential daily, said Ferrari's 2014 choice is "bold but dangerous".
"They are two roosters in one henhouse, so they say, even if Kimi is not a rooster at the level of Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton.
"But it will no longer be a team at the feet of one driver," the publication added.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bottas not eyeing Lotus vacancy
Next article Vettel to be Ferrari's next signing - Webber
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Kimi Raikkonen
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
David Coulthard explains why Robin Raikkonen's rise resembles Max Verstappen's
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Red Bull signs Kimi Raikkonen’s son as junior driver
More from
Ferrari
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
6 h
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
Latest news
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
54 min
Kimi Antonelli wants special photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on his wall after F1 title
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
Winners and losers from politically-charged MotoGP Malaysian GP
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe