Kimi Raikkonen says he has no problem playing a supportive team role if it will help his teammate Sebastian Vettel win the 2015 title.
Indeed, with German Vettel now moving into second place behind Lewis Hamilton, some suspected Ferrari-branded ’team orders’ were already in play at Sochi last Sunday.
Raikkonen appeared to let the similarly red-clad Vettel past even before being asked to by Ferrari on the radio.
Turun Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, quoted Raikkonen as explaining afterwards: "He went past me when I was not able to take the previous corners properly.
"The rules say that I had to let him past. That’s all."
The Finn was referring to F1’s actual rules, where if a driver gains an advantage by driving off the track, he has to cede the position to his rival or face a penalty.
But Raikkonen also referred to the ’rules’ of engagement at Ferrari, a team that always emphasises the significance of the team above the individual.
"We know the rules," Raikkonen said, "so it’s normal. I am not fighting for the championship, so we will do our best for the benefit of the team."