Inside Line: Marchionne calling the shots from his grave?

We know that the impressive Sauber rookie has ticked all the boxes and then some, but picking him would go against the mantra of hiring experienced drivers for the Scuderia. The 20-year-old has a mere 14 grand prix starts on his CV, but the abundance of talent is probably worth the risk.

Within the team and among the legions of Tifosi, a huge swathe of red want Kimi Raikkonen to remain for at least another year and some even until the end of 2020, the end of this version of the hybrid turbo era.

Among these are Ferrari's new CEO Louis Camilleri who, during his first visit to the F1 paddock in his new role at Monza, had a whole lot of nice things to say about the Finn: “I know Kimi very well. He’s a dear friend."

But at the same time was also quick to point out that there is no rush to make a decsision and that it would not be his call: "Maurizio is our team principal, ultimately he’ll take the decision."

Which in the corporate speak is 'the big boss passing the buck to the less big boss' and smacks to me of an announcement in disguise.

But at the same time it is understood that Camilleri was all for confirming his 'dear friend' Kimi for another two years, but from the shadows emerged two men short in stature but huge in influence, namely FIA president Jean Todt and his son Nicolas Todt.

As this Silly Season legend unfolds, it emerges that Todt junior had in his hand a pre-agreement signed by himself, the late Mr Marchionne and young Mr Leclerc which guarantees the Monegasque driver a place on the grid with Ferrari in 2019. Todt senior was "just looking" when he visited the red garage.

Thus Camilleri has one of two big choices to make with regards to his team's 2019 driver line-up:

Sebastian Vettel and Kimi have had a good partnership over the years, injected with mutual respect. Indeed much of the Italian Grand Prix weekend build-up had vignettes of the pair getting on famously amid a myriad of silly quizzes and challenges.

But I would venture to say that qualifying at Monza on Saturday has changed things a tad, perhaps deharmonised the status quo between the pair.

The first nail in the coffin of hitherto exemplary partnership?

There is no such thing as friendships among active F1 drivers or any professional race drivers, let alone teammates who are intent on beating one another every weekend. The buddy-buddy teammates invariably turn ugly.

Just recall Seb's initial paly-paly relationship with Mark Webber. Remember how Christian used to brag who wonderful it was to have such harmony?

Well, we all know the love and harmony Seb and Mark went south suddenly and never ever recovered. Are there shades of the same manifesting in the dynamic between Kimi and Seb?

One would expect Seb to have matured over the past six or seven years, but the precocious obstinance is still there as he proved with some bizarre interviews after the race, including the "we talk after" radio message after qualifying when he realised he was celebrating prematurely when in fact it was Kimi in top spot. Priceless fail!

He also claimed that race winner Lewis Hamilton left him no space when the Mercedes and Ferrari clashed at the second chicane on the opening lap of the race. He recovered from near last to finish fourth, while Hamilton won.

Later the German followed with the childish or provocative [you pick] aftermath chirp to reporters: "Clearly I wasn’t happy but I don’t tell you why."

Then, not done, he popped a condescending nod to his teammate's record-breaking achievement, "If he is starting from pole I guess he is allowed to win."

Come race day it got juicier as the pair hurtled into Turn 1 at the start, with Lewis Hamilton hounding them, Kimi got the ideal line through the Variante della Rettifilo and Seb had to get on the brakes to avoid a "silly mistake" as he put it, clearly hinting that his teammate had compromised him.

Sitting back in his Swiss mansion reflecting on what could have been in Italy, Seb will realise that Kimi's help went AWOL on the afternoon when he needed it most and his team did not back him as they have done in the past.

If there was ever a time for team orders from Ferrari, who are never shy to dish them out when the need be, would have been to give the all-important last run tow to Vettel in Q3, instead they gave Kimi the benefit and he plonked it onto the top spot! Go figure.

Reason for the Monza tale, amid the Leclerc to Ferrari story, is that maybe Seb will not be so intent anymore on insisting that the Finn is the best teammate for him.

Up until now, it is no secret that Seb does not want young and eager Charlie giving him a wake-up call, instead, he would rather stick to Kimi who he has nicely packaged in a box he can beat and use, well at least that is what he thought until the Iceman went solo in Italy.

In closing and back to the title of this piece, word is that not Seb, not Louis, not John, not Maurizio, no one can prevent Leclerc getting the drive without a costly and unpleasant legal war versus young Todt.

With that in mind Camilleri, shrewdly and without ruffling too many feathers, will conveniently honour Mr Marchionne's wish for the team.

Thus, this Silly Season legend ends with Charles Leclerc suiting up in red for Ferrari in 2019 and the Iceman melting into the sunset.