Not everyone loves Kimi

Former Ferrari sporting director (1989–91) Cesare Fiorio has shared his views on the return of Kimi Raikkonen to the Scuderia. And it’s fair to say he’s not happy.

“I’m not a fan of the new hiring,” Fiorio told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I admire his talent, but I don’t agree with his lifestyle and his technical approach. I wouldn’t have gone for him.

“In my opinion it’s a conservative choice. I would have gone for an emerging driver rather than one at the tail end of his career.

“He doesn’t live like an athlete and to be champion in F1 talent is not enough. You need physical, technical and psychological effort and, from what I know and have seen, he’s the type of guy who takes his bag and leaves shortly after the sessions.

“I don’t know how much technical contribution he can bring.”

Regarding the relationship between Kimi and current number one driver Fernando Alonso, Fiorio doesn’t think there’ll be any dramas. “In my opinion Alonso is happy: his worth will grow by beating him [Raikkonen],” Fiorio added.

And while he was on a roll Fiorio took the opportunity to lay the slipper into Felipe Massa, as well.

“I think that it’s better to have two champions and having to deal with a rivalry problem three or even ten times a year, in the knowledge that both are able to win races and championships, than having a useless number two race driver,” he said.

When asked to expand on his views of Massa, Fioro replied: “I’m just saying that in the last four years Massa has waned a lot.

“His only strength was the single lap, but he has no race quality, has no rhythm, and he often fades in the races.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Ferrari]