Sebastian Vettel says that he expects team-mate Kimi Raikkonen will be “allowed” to race for the win in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix after qualifying on pole at Monza.
Vettel was pipped to pole by Raikkonen in the final moments of the session, while championship leader Lewis Hamilton ended up third for Mercedes.
In what is becoming a two-horse race between Vettel and Hamilton for the 2018 drivers’ championship – with Vettel entering the weekend 17 points adrift – Raikkonen’s first pole of 2018 has raised the question of whether team orders will be applied by Ferrari in the race.
Asked whether Raikkonen will be allowed to win, Vettel responded; “If he’s starting from pole, I guess he’s allowed to win.
“It’s a long race. Obviously, he wants to win, I want to win. Hopefully one of us will win.”
Throughout qualifying, Raikkonen followed team-mate Vettel out of the pitlane and, therefore, benefitted from a distant tow which can be a powerful aid on Monza’s long straights.
Vettel added that the reason for this was “because we have an order that changes every weekend and this weekend it was Kimi to go second. Simple.”
Immediately after the final runs in Q3 and Vettel received confirmation from the team that he was second to Raikkonen, he replied “we will speak after” over the radio.
Vettel refused to comment on what he needed to discuss with the team.
Having finished only 0.014s clear of Hamilton, Vettel considered himself fortunate to have been able to simply seal the front row lock-out for Ferrari.
“To be honest it was not a tidy lap,” he said. “I think the other laps were actually better.
“I lost a bit in the first chicane, the second chicane, the Lesmos, pretty much a bit everywhere. I think the last sector was OK but also not fantastic.
“It was just not a good lap and not good enough. Obviously lucky to get second instead of third.”
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