The demise of Kimi Raikkonen's relationship with Ferrari and his apparent lack of motivation have, according to an unnamed Ferrari team member, been highlighted by Fernando Alonso's recent visits to Maranello.
Despite winning the World title in his first season with Ferrari back in 2007, Raikkonen's relationship with the Italian marque soon began to deteriorate.
The downward spiral first saw the powers-that-be question the Finn's motivation and his commitment. They later progressed to publicly casting doubts about Raikkonen's future at the team and whether he suited being a Ferrari driver.
"It's a matter of personality, because Kimi is the type of person that shows little emotion, he keeps everything inside," said Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo. "These things don't help with the exchange of information inside the team."
The end result was a mutual agreement between Ferrari and Raikkonen to end his contract a year early, allowing Ferrari to sign double World Champion, Alonso, as his replacement.
And although he's still contracted to Renault, Alonso has already paid two visits to Ferrari's Maranello headquarters, the most recent being last week when he spent two days there talking with the team's engineers and familiarising himself with the Fiorano circuit.
Alonso's second visit led to a thinly-veiled dig at Raikkonen's absence during his time with Ferrari.
"In the two days he (Alonso) has seen more of the Maranello factory than others in two years," a team member told Marca.
The Spaniard, though, knows he still has a lot of work to do to earn the respect of his new team members.
"I have to earn the trust and gain the confidence of the team and begin a good relationship with the engineers and mechanics," he said.
"That is what I am trying to do in these months, in order to arrive at the first race with a good understanding with the team so that we all feel comfortable together."
Meanwhile, new team-mate Felipe Massa, who will return to racing next season after an injury lay-off, said in a separate interview with Marca that he is not afraid of being upstaged by Alonso.
"Alonso is a great driver, everyone knows that, and I think we will have a good relationship off the track," he said.
"I think we can form the strongest partnership in the Championship. I think his arrival will change nothing in my career or within Ferrari: we are two great drivers, and his recruitment is good for the team."
