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Vergne sets sights on Raikkonen's race seat at Ferrari

Vergne sets sights on Raikkonen's race seat at Ferrari

  • Published on 12 Jan 2015 08:36
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted he has set his sights on Kimi Raikkonen's 2016 race seat at Ferrari. The Frenchman, developed and groomed by Red Bull, was dropped by the energy drink company's second team Toro Rosso at the end of last year. He has rescued his F1 career with a test driver role at the sport's grandee team Ferrari, although the top reserve seat was already filled by the heavily Mexican-backed Esteban Gutierrez.

"Honestly," Vergne told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, "I prefer having the job of working on the simulator and doing something useful, rather than being the reserve. "Today, the role of a third driver is to be at the track without doing anything special. Not being able to help to the team would be frustrating, so I feel that mine is an important task," he added.

Vergne insists he has "no disappointment" at having been dropped by Red Bull, as his new challenge at Ferrari awaits and he heads to Maranello this week to visit the factory for the first time. It is suggested Finn Raikkonen could vacate his Ferrari race seat at the end of this year.

"I know I gave my best and that's why I have no regrets," said Vergne, referring to his lost Toro Rosso seat. "And now I'm at Ferrari which is also a great opportunity for 2016. If I was not able to race this year, I think what I have is better than being at Caterham or Marussia and always being last."

He admits that the arrival at Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, the highest-profile Red Bull-groomed F1 star, may have helped him secure the job in red. "I've known him since I was working on the Red Bull simulator when I was in F3," said Vergne. "I've always had a great relationship with him, as I do as well with Kimi. Surely the fact that he (Vettel) went to Ferrari did help, but I also know that my name was mentioned by others -- I talked a lot with Massimo Rivola, for example," he added. (GMM)
F1 News Sebastian Vettel Esteban Gutierrez Ferrari Marussia

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
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Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
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Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
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Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
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29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
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DE Sebastian Vettel 5
Sebastian Vettel
  • Country Germany
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (36)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, Germany
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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