JUNE 10, 2016

Too early to reveal 2017 driver plans says Arrivabene

Maurizio Arrivabene has dropped yet another hint that Ferrari is seriously contemplating keeping Kimi Raikkonen in the team beyond 2016.

Candidates including Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Rosberg and Romain Grosjean are reportedly eyeing the potential vacancy but boss Arrivabene thinks Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel is working well as the current Ferrari lineup.

"I am satisfied with the work of both of them," the Italian told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

"I think it's too early to start making any decisions for next year. Look at MotoGP, with Ducati announcing Jorge Lorenzo for next year when this season's championship has only just begun," Arrivabene added.

"If you ask whether we have made any decisions for 2017, the answer is no," he said, "and even if we had done so, it would not be the right time to reveal it now."

In Thursday's official FIA press conference in Montreal, Raikkonen played down the rumours, saying only that he would be "happy" to stay at Ferrari beyond 2016.

But later, in an interview with F1's official website, he hinted that he knows more than that.

"I know what is going on -- and that is enough for me," said the 36-year-old.

"I know that will not stop any rumours -- but I also know that the future will prove many people wrong! But: my lips are sealed!" Raikkonen added.

(GMM)