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Former Ferrari boss: 'Kimi should go'

LONDON, England - Pressure continues to pile on Kimi Raikkonen.

Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, amid swirling speculation about the Finn's future, left Silverstone after the 2015 British Formula 1 GP with the message: "What I want now is for Kimi to remain calm so he can do his job."

As far as the specialist Italian news media are concerned, however, Arrivabene is only ramping up the pressure.

WRONG DECISION

La Repubblica writer Marco Mensurati said: "Arrivabene made clear after the race that the strategic decisions in Britain had been made by the drivers. I understood it to mean 'Vettel is a genius and Raikkonen is stupid'."

Sport Mediaset's Giorgio Terruzzi agreed: "The intermediate tyre choice (made by Raikkonen) was wrong. Too bad, because until then everything was going well. The fact is Raikkonen already seems to be out of the house: unprotected and under constant fire."

Former Ferrari boss Cesare Fiorio thought it was time for the 2007 F1 champion to go. "Two years earlier I raised questions about his lifestyle and age," Fiorio told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "My doubts have been confirmed."

Former F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi agreed: "Kimi is no longer delivering what Ferrari needs. I would put a young driver in his place. Maranello's own academy has two promising youngsters - (Raffaele) Marciello and (Antonio) Fuoco."

RIVAL FOR VETTEL?

Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson commented: "We would like to know Ferrari's decision before Monza."

Pino Allievi, La Gazzetta's veteran writer, said the obvious favourite was Valtteri Bottas, although many believed the Finn has been out-performed by Felipe Massa so far in 2015. "If the Ferrari of the future must have a driver who has lost to the Ferrari of the past (Massa), it is better to wait and think before making a decision."

Fiorio agreed: "Bottas is the right age but pretty inconsistent. Felipe Massa really has the upper hand at Williams. I would like to see another top driver there, even if it causes problems with Vettel. Ferrari should try to get Hamilton and, if that fails, then (Nico) Rosberg."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2015 Formula 1 season. Fresh reports every day.
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