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Ferrari ‘dreaming’ of Raikkonen win

"It could be a dream because he was working so hard during the last three years."

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has reiterated his faith Kimi Raikkonen can return to winning ways in 2017 having seen him come close in Monaco and Hungary despite his last Formula 1 race win coming over four-and-a-half years ago.

Raikkonen, Ferrari's last F1 world champion back in 2007, returned to the Italian manufacturer for 2014 and despite grabbing 11 rostrums in that time the Finnish driver is yet to make it on to the top step of the rostrum - a run going back to the 2013 Australian Grand Prix when he was driving for Lotus.

After heavy criticism from Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne, speculation surrounding Raikkonen's future at Ferrari was put to rest when he secured a new one-year deal alongside Sebastian Vettel for 2018 and Arrivabene feels he has one of the strongest driver line-ups on the F1 grid.

Asked whether he thought Raikkonen could return to winning ways with Ferrari, the team boss believes it could happen before the end of the current season having come close at Monaco and Hungary despite losing out to Vettel on both occasions.

"He demonstrated that he could be capable to do it in Monaco," Arrivabene said. "Also in Hungary he was nearly there. I would be happy if Kimi is going to win a race during the course of this season.

"For me, it could be a dream, because he was working so hard during the last three years and I think if he is going to win I can be happy."

Zdroj: crash.net