Raikkonen backed to deliver at Ferrari

Rosberg believes that Ferrari are organised well enough to mould themselves to Raikkonen's needs, and all they need from him will be speed on track.

"He'll be brilliantly fast," Rosberg told Autosport magazine about how Raikkonen will fare as the replacement for Michael Schumacher. "It's almost stupid to ask the question.

"I believe he's the fastest driver in the paddock and that's all Ferrari needs from him. I don't believe Michael was the guy who held Ferrari together, as good as he was.

"The team can hold themselves together if they have a fast driver in the car. Jean Todt is a smart principal and he'll be able to build up a strong rapport with Kimi. It's a great move for him."

Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds believes that there is a danger of Ferrari suffering if there are poor results early in the season - especially with technical director Ross Brawn not there to keep things together.

"He (Kimi) has a hard job ahead of him," he said. "Ross has done a superb job with knitting the team together, making it a very clear, logical and targeted team.

"There is a great danger of that slipping away without Ross there. If the initial results are not up to expectations, then you will see their character. If anything like that started to happen while Ross was there, he would stamp on it and pull it together.

"Let's see whether than happens now. I don't think it will be easy, especially with the Italian media in there pushing and agitating. It's a hard job."

Schumacher's former teammate Rubens Barrichello added: "The people around Michael had so much belief in everything he said that they're all going to have to adopt a different philosophy without him and Ross there.

"That might be difficult for the team and for Kimi. The level of feedback he can give the team will be crucial in a time of change. If he wins straight away he'll be loved. If he doesn't, the relationship won't last long. If you win more the love is there."