Montezemolo: Ferrari 'content' with Raikkonen

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has given Kimi Raikkonen a public vote of confidence. Raikkonen has struggled to match team-mate Felipe Massa's pace so far this season, despite earning significantly more money and being signed by Ferrari to effectively succeed the team's undisputed 'number one' Michael Schumacher.

Instead, however, even the usually loyal Finnish press is beginning to dish out criticism of Raikkonen's form in 2007.

The major newspaper Ilta Sanomat declared this week that, following the first four races so far, the German born Nico Rosberg - whose famous father is Finnish - 'is now our number one'. How fickle…

Raikkonen left the Circuit de Catalunya mid-race last Sunday, following an alternator failure whilst running third on lap nine.

He was later quoted as saying that his bosses gave him permission to hastily depart, despite the fact that it created the anomaly of the widely circulated post-race team photographs featuring Massa, boss Jean Todt, and even Michael Schumacher - but not Raikkonen.

"I asked the team if I could go quickly and I'm pleased they saw that giving me permission was the right thing to do," Raikkonen said. "I arrived home in Wollerau in time to see the final stages of the ice hockey world championship final, but Finland lost to Canada. Obviously, this just wasn't a good day!"

Montezemolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "We are content with Raikkonen. His retirement in the Grand Prix on Sunday was our fault. If his car had made it to the finish, he would be much higher in the driver classification than he is now."

Raikkonen is back in action for Ferrari today in the South of France.

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