"Sensitive" Raikkonen needs Ferrari support

Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene insists that Kimi Raikkonen can deliver this season, but the Finn has to feel that he has the full support of the team.

Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari signs autographs for the fans

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF15-T makes a pit stop

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal with Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

After being overshadowed by Fernando Alonso last year, Raikkonen has Sebastian Vettel as his new teammate, but the German has so far outqualified him in all three races.

Vettel has also scored three podiums, including a victory in Malaysia.

Kimi, he needs to feel the support of the team around him.

Maurizio Arrivabene

The Finn finished fourth in China after passing both Williams drivers on the first lap, and he was running close behind Vettel when the safety car emerged at the end of the race.

"They have different characters," Arrivabene said of his drivers. "Seb is a kind of strong guy, very committed, etc.

"Kimi, he needs to feel the support of the team around him, and especially the team principal.

"In Malaysia I was talking with him after the practice, and he knows me, we've known each other for many, many years. I said, 'Kimi, if you're attacking for nothing, expect me to react.'

"But Kimi likes this kind of relationship, when you talk with him straight into the face. He's called Iceman, but actually apart from this image of Iceman he's a guy who is very sensitive.

"If he feels that the team is around him and is pushing for him as it's pushing for Seb, then Kimi can give us very good results and perfect performances.

"The race in Malaysia, I mean we were jumping like kangaroos – even if it was Malaysia not Australia – for the victory, but actually if you look back and look at the race of Kimi it was wonderful.

"The new news in Ferrari is that we have a team now, and we have two drivers, two very good drivers."