Ferrari: Räikkönen and Alonso motivated to return
Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen are still as determined to assert their resolve, despite a difficult start to the 2014 Formula 1 season.
While Fernando Alonso was in a meeting with engineers to continue the development of the F14-T, Kimi Räikkönen explained his motivation: “I think it is unlikely that a current driver can regularly fight with the Mercedes. I want Ferrari to fight for the top positions, even if it’s difficult, especially for me, given my position in the standings. But I have been used to fighting, with the team always working on the development of the F14 T.”
The Finn seems motivated to play spoiler in the well-established hierarchy of this season. “Incredible work is underway, and I think it will solve our problems, but it takes time. If it happens before the end of the season, you will see the results because my motivation is intact,” said the Ferrari driver, who admits to being the same since 2007. “I have more experience than when I won the title, I also have a few more years, but I don’t feel them and I still have a great desire for rivalry. The rally? Of course, I would be delighted to do it again, but for now, I am completely focused on Formula 1,” he concluded on the Scuderia’s website.
On his part, Fernando Alonso remains pragmatic and believes that only hard work can help the prancing horse recover from this lackluster start to the season. An intense day’s work for the Asturian driver who, after the Monaco Grand Prix, arrived in Maranello to support the team in the F14-T development program for the upcoming races. According to the Scuderia’s website, the Spaniard arrived in the morning and participated in several meetings with the engineers to follow the progress of the development program outlined since the beginning of the season. In Maranello, there is a strong determination to make the F14-T a more competitive car, but also to ensure that every improvement is measured in terms of performance.
The afternoon was focused on simulator work to prepare for the Canadian and Austrian Grand Prix, the latter making its grand return to the discipline’s calendar. Alonso, accompanied by Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen, are the only three drivers who have previously experienced the Red Bull Ring circuit (formerly A1-Ring). The work was centered around aerodynamics and the power unit.
