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Kimi Raikkonen is not the quickest option available to Ferrari for 2017 but guarantees team harmony by being 'number two' to Sebastian Vettel, reckons four-time Formula 1 champion Alain Prost.

Ferrari is still mulling whether to retain Raikkonen for a fourth season, as he continues to be outscored by team-mate Vettel.

Ferrari must drop Raikkonen if it's serious

Asked at the FIA Sport Conference in Turin whether he felt Raikkonen was the right man for the team, 1990-91 Ferrari driver Prost said it was "a difficult question to answer".

"Everyone can see the positives and negatives," said Prost.

"The positive sign for him to stay is a very good relationship with Vettel.

"You have a number one, number two - not on paper, but in fact.

"So for the ambiance it's not bad.

"I don't blame them and I don't criticise.

"For sure they will make the right decision."

Prost said although drivers elsewhere in the field might appear potentially quicker than Raikkonen, it was always hard to predict how they would fare under the microscope in a top team.

"There are one or two drivers on the market that could be quite good for Ferrari, maybe a bit quicker, but you don't know," he said.

"One thing you have to take into consideration is the pressure you get at Ferrari.

"Sometimes we see some good drivers in an average team and when they go into a top team, they don't perform the same."