Kimi Raikkonen would abide by team orders to help Sebastian Vettel win F1 championship

Kimi Raikkonen says he would obey team orders to help Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel keep alive his hopes of winning the 2015 Formula 1 world championship if required.

Vettel finished second in the Russian Grand Prix to become championship leader Lewis Hamilton's closest challenger, albeit 66 points adrift of the Mercedes driver with a maximum of 100 remaining.

Raikkonen, meanwhile, is out of contention for the title as he sits 179 points behind Hamilton.

"We know what are the rules and it's a normal thing," said Raikkonen.

Bahrain Grand Prix

Hamilton describes shock Ferrari move as 'hardest decision I've ever had to make'

23/02/2024 at 15:35

"I'm not in the championship fight and if it comes to that it's fine.

"It's a normal thing, we try to make the maximum for the team.

"He is still in a fight, so there are no issues."

Raikkonen jumped Vettel at the start in Russia, but Ferrari let the pair fight and Vettel eventually got back past for third - although they did come agonisingly close to touching.

Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said he had no intention of asking Raikkonen to relent in order to help Vettel get the strongest result - but hinted that may change as the season draws to a close.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel celebrates after winning the race

Image credit: Reuters

"We were happy to leave it like this," he said.

"We were not considering the championship in that part of the race and then they swapped positions by themselves. There's no need at that time.

"Of course at the time we have a need we will reconsider the situation differently.

"But in Russia, we had no need. It was a nice race, many things happened, and thank God we had an interesting race."

When asked when Ferrari would start employing team orders, Arrivabene added: "Our approach is going to remain the same.

"We will tell you in Austin what we are going to do."

Arrivabene admitted Vettel overhauling Nico Rosberg for second had kept Ferrari's title thoughts alive.

"In the numbers, Seb can make it," he said. "But we need to be humble and to be concentrated race by race and then we will see.

"The door is still open in the numbers."

Formula 1

Verstappen says Hamilton could face 'awkward, weird' last season with Mercedes

15/02/2024 at 23:54

Formula 1

'It is very surreal' - Hamilton reflects on Mercedes career ahead of Ferrari switch

00:00:54

|

14/02/2024 at 17:31

Season 2024

'Emotional' Hamilton determined for success ahead of Ferrari move as Mercedes launch new car

14/02/2024 at 17:32