Jean Todt on Kimi
Q. You spoke very warmly about Kimi Raikkonen in your post-race comments in the press release.
JT: No I didn't. I made a general comment. I said that on the podium there were my three favourite drivers which is true, but it's nothing new. You feel it's new because you are speculating who is going to drive, who will be announced but if you take my comments two years ago, when I was told, by the same guys: who do you prefer among the new drivers?
I always said Raikkonen so if you have Schumacher, he's my hero, you have Massa, I'm very close to him, he does a good job. We've had him for five or six years with us and Kimi� so it's true that�. It's no other message.
Q. Rubens won't be very happy.
JT: It's not a question� maybe Rubens would be number four. Even if I hate making classifications, they were my three favourites, including Rubens in the list.
Q. Why is he? Why is Kimi one of your three favourites?
JT: Why? I tell you, because firstly he's among the three best drivers in the world. The three best, for me, are, even if I hate making a list because we are not talking about mushrooms or cleaning� but the three best are Michael, Alonso and Kimi, in my opinion, if they have a car.
All of them, if they don't have the car you cannot deliver and then you have a few others, four or five, who are not in my opinion at the same level. Among them, you have Felipe so that's one reason. Number two he's a normal guy, he's never finding excuses, he's never complaining and I like his style. That's all.
Q. Do you like him purely for his speed?
JT: Maybe you will see what I said after.
Q. He's one of the three best drivers in the world. Why?
JT: And I said to you...
Q. What about Felipe, for instance?
JT: He did a very good step forward over the years. Today he was very strong, he has been very strong very often. Now he's more confident because he's driving a good car, he has the team supporting him, but he still needs some experience to be consistent over a season but I think he has the skills to become very talented� he is already very talented, but he needs more.
Q. He showed in the press conference today that he's becoming a little bit frustrated at coming second. This is normal for a racing driver�
JT: Frustrated, he likes to win. He's never yet had the test of winning a race but he's a professional driver and he's reacting in a very professional way, but do you know a driver who doesn't like to win? But he knows that the current situation, he must bring as many points as possible and support the team for both championships.
Q. Speaking about the three best drivers in the world, can you imagine or are you worried about the situation where Ferrari may have none of those top three drivers next year?
JT: No. You asked me a question: if I'm worried? No, that's the final point. I'm not going to get into that because the next step you will ask me the names. The names will be announced in Monza, after the race.
Q. Jean, I'm sorry to press you on Kimi. Why is he among your favourites?
JT: I said that, because he's a humble guy, he's not talking, he's never complaining. Not Kimi. He never gives a mistake to the others and he's a great guy and I must say that in my previous career I've been working with Finnish drivers as a co-driver and I quite like their style.
Q. It sounds as though you've spent some time with Kimi�
JT: With Finnish people, yes. Finnish drivers. I never�no. Honestly, I didn't spend a lot of time with Kimi.
Q. How did you get this impression?
JT: Seeing him reacting. When you have a guy who is leading until the last corner and who retires, you can see when you have a guy who is not doing as well as he could expect and you can see, he never tries to find an excuse. A lot do. Like Michael.