Ferrari wanted to get pressure off Kimi Raikkonen with 2017 F1 deal

Traditionally, Ferrari waits until Monza to reveal its complete driver line-up, although last year it brought the announcement forward to just after the summer break.

It announced Raikkonen's deal to stay alongside Sebastian Vettel into 2017 on Friday morning at Silverstone.

"We have two good drivers, that was not an issue for us," said Arrivabene.

"We remove all the pressure from the shoulders of Kimi.

"In the last two or three races, every time Kimi sat in a press conference, they asked about the contract.

"I know his nickname is the Iceman but he's a human being.

"Even the Iceman is a human with emotion and I think he could feel the pressure.

"This decision was confirmed yesterday in a phone call from the president.

"In a couple of hours we had with Kimi, we turned a page and we look forward to working very hard where the problem is."

Raikkonen is level on points with Vettel, has scored four podiums this season and is the only driver in the top four to have scored more points after nine races than at this point last year.

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne recently said it was up to Raikkonen to prove he deserves a seat and Arrivabene said the Finn did just that.

"We're very proud and happy with the work that Kimi is doing since the beginning of the season," he said.

"He was asked to show his commitment so he deserves confirmation for next year."

Arrivabene added that an early announcement also allows the team to fully focus on improving the car and taking the challenge to Mercedes.

"Normally, we do a press release in Monza but we're a new team, we change the tradition and we are confirming now as we want to be focused and concentrated on car development and not confirmation or not confirmation of drivers," he said.

"We're looking for the interests of the team and the interest of the team was not looking for other drivers but concentrating on car development.

"We need a good atmosphere in the team and the driver helps to keep this atmosphere.

"Due to the fact the team is still quite new, we need to keep the same commitment for everybody without inserting into the team elements that can disturb or could disrupt this balance."