JANUARY 5, 2016

Boss wants more competitive Raikkonen in 2016

Maurizio Arrivabene has suggested Kimi Raikkonen needs to move closer to the pace of his Ferrari teammate in 2016.

Maurizio Arrivabene has suggested Kimi Raikkonen needs to move closer to the pace of his Ferrari teammate in 2016.

Ferrari toyed with the idea of replacing the 36-year-old Finn this year, but ultimately signed a new one-season contract with the 2007 world champion.

When asked about the drivers duringt Ferrari's stock market debut in Milan on Monday, team boss Arrivabene said: "(Sebastian) Vettel is a great driver and Ferrari needs him.

"Raikkonen went quite well in the second half of the (2015) season," he added. "What I wish, however, is that there is more competition between them."

Arrivabene said Ferrari's 2016 car is on track to debut at the first winter test in Barcelona.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the car, whose official designation and livery is yet to be announced, is set to have a vastly redesigned front suspension layout.

"The name and graphics are already done," confirmed Arrivabene on Monday, "and we will let you know (what they are) at the right time."

(GMM)