To start with, Raikkonen seemed unfazed by the fact that his new driving partner will be the 7 time world champion Michael Schumacher and he said that it does not make any difference who is partnered with because they are out there to get the job done. He said "For me it makes no difference who drives the second car. I don't think it is 100 per cent sure that he will drive as he is still checking things out. But it will be nice to have him as a team-mate. It nearly happened before, I want to wish Felipe well again. He had an incredible accident on last Saturday and I think that he was on everybody's mind in the Scuderia Ferrari and the drivers on the grid. I know that his condition is improving constantly and I'm glad to hear that. I really hope that he'll be alright soon and get back on the track."
If that is his sentiments, then he definitely have a point to prove against his skeptics which includes Eddie Jordan who said "I've been massively critical of Raikkonen, and I think this is going to be the big wake-up call for him. You will see a new Raikkonen because he will not want to be disgraced by Michael Schumacher."
Niki Lauda, the former World Champion too said that it will be interesting now to see how Kimi will cope with Schumacher hot on his back. He said "the most interesting thing will be to see him up against Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari – who will be faster? Put it this way: Kimi has to get his act together or be shown up."
