Villeneuve: “Ferrari are crazy for hiring Raikkonen”

Jacques Villeneuve has criticized Ferrari's decision to hire Kimi Raikkonen for 2014. “At Ferrari they are completely crazy,” the Canadian told Bild newspaper.
“Raikkonen is fast but he doesn't work with the engineers, he doesn't develop the car and he doesn't go to appointments with the sponsors” explained Villeneuve.

Villeneuve is not the only one to have criticized Ferrari's choice to pair Raikkonen with a driver with a Latin temperament like Fernando Alonso.

“If Kimi starts to stay ahead of Fernando in qualifying we'll see some good things” declared Jenson Button. “Because Fernando is not the fastest but overall he is exceptional. It's fun for us to watch from the outside, but will he make the team stronger? I don't think so,” he added.

Former Ferrari driver Rene Arnoux is convinced that the new Ferrari pairing will be problematic.

“It will last 3 or 4 races” declared the Frenchman. In terms of character, Alonso is weaker,” he explained to Gazzetta dello Sport. “Do you remember him with Hamilton at McLaren? The peace was short-lived, and although I am the first to wish I was wrong, to win the constructors' title you need two drivers and two very strong characters. But, of these two, one is hungry while the other doesn't care. Every Sunday there is a possibility that the couple will explode. Yes, as a neutral spectator, I like Ferrari's choice” he smiled. “Raikkonen seems more mature now. For sure, his character is still the same, but since he's been at Lotus he seems more consistent."

“Grosjean is still a medium-level driver so it seems that Lotus has focused exclusively on Kimi,” he added.

According to Arnoux, Raikkonen's arrival in Ferrari will also reveal Alonso's true value: “He certainly has a bad temperament (Alonso, ed.), but this can also be a quality in battle. But not when it is used within the team, creating difficulties and divisions. Frankly, I want to see if Alonso really has the qualities that many say. In Barcelona he had a beautiful, masterful race, but for several races he did nothing."

Many criticized Ferrari's choice as Raikkonen is not known for his qualities as a test driver: “I hope that Raikkonen's public relations will be victories, and a contribution to the team in terms of a diligent presence in Maranello. Alonso can't do all the work alone."