Formula 1’s Silly Season is in full swing and teams and drivers alike are trying to firm up plans for the 2018 season. Scuderia Ferrari announced earlier in the week that they had extended Kimi Raikkonen’s contract through the 2018 season. There was, however, no mention of the current point leader, Sebastian Vettel. Vettel has been leading the charge for Ferrari the last two years and while it is expected that his contract will be renewed, no confirmation has yet to be announced.
Sebastian Vettel wants to rebuild a dynasty
Sebastian Vettel is eager to rebuild the dynasty that Scuderia Ferrari enjoyed in the early 2000s.
At that time Ferrari’s lead driver was Vettel’s mentor, Michael Schumacher. Ferrari took the championship for five years in a row from 2000-2004. They were the team to beat then much as Petronas Mercedes is now. The last championship Ferrari won, however, actually came at the hands of the driver they just re-signed, Kimi Raikkonen, in 2007.
Despite the fact that Raikkonen was their last champion, it has been Vettel that has been leading the charge when it comes to victories this season. Vettel has won four races so far this year and leads the points for the championship, giving arch rival Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes a run for their money. Vettel now has to find a way to parlay his success in the first half of the season into the foundation of the dynasty he is trying to build.
The importance of team chemistry can’t be overstated
Team chemistry is an important piece of a successful Formula 1 team. The most talented team will not succeed if they are incapable of working together. One of the main things Scuderia Ferrari can do in their pursuit of the championship is to keep together their team, which happens to work very well together.
Rumors suggest that Raikkonen was possibly retained because he and Vettel get a long so well.
Team Principal Mauricio Arrivabene may want to retain the calm, comfortable feeling Raikkonen and Vettel promote with each other and the team. Arrivabene would like the focus to be on the racing, not the rumors that surround the team on a daily basis.
Despite that ideal, speculation suggests that the announcement that Sebastian Vettel will remain with Ferrari for the 2018 season will be coming soon.
The confirmation of a contract extension for Kimi Raikkonen has kicked Formula 1’s Silly Season into high gear. Drivers and teams are anxious to solidify their line ups for the upcoming seasons. Scuderia Ferrari is one of the teams that still have an open seat and fans around the world wait with bated breath to see if it is Sebastian Vettel or someone else who will proudly carry the Prancing Horse back to victory.
