Ferrari have dismissed suggestions that Kimi Raikkonen is being lined up to replace Felipe Massa next season.
Reports have been rife that Ferrari are on the look out for a new team-mate for Fernando Alonso as Massa has struggled as the second driver this season, and Raikkonen has been linked.
However, a Ferrari spokesman played down such suggestions and says the team are focused on trying to revive Alonso’s push for the title.
“Right now, we’re really not giving any thought to the driver-market situation,” he said.
When asked about Alonso making a late surge for the title in the second half of the season, he added: “That is our priority. Drivers are not a problem for us even if we were to change Felipe.”
Alonso currently sits in third in the driver standings, 39 points behind the leader Sebastian Vettel while Raikkonen is one point further ahead in second place.
Ferrari may see the Finn as the ideal partner for Alonso next season, but for now all plans are on hold, while they look to close the gap on Vettel.
When the time is right an approach for Raikkonen could be made, while Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Force India duo Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil and Marussia’s Jules Bianchi, are also said to be in the frame.
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