Sauber F1 team principal Frederic Vasseur has said that a former world champion like Kimi Raikkonen could bode well for his team.

There has been speculation that Raikkonen is a contender for a team where he made his F1 debut. However, Vasseur firmly stated that the team’s 2019 line-up decision will be based on “performance”.

Ferrari have the right to name one of the two drivers at the outfit. As of now, Sauber’s third driver Antonio Giovinazzi could be the obvious candidate. This is because no other driver in the Scuderia’s junior programme are as qualified.

However, there were whispers that the seat could be warmed for Raikkonen. Speculation says that this is a strategy to keep the Finnish veteran within the Ferrari family. But only if he is willing to prolong his career into 2019.

Vasseur insisted that ability will be the only factor that will decide who gets the seat.

“It is a problem for the rich?” he asked. “I don’t care, I want to have the best guys into the car, this is the most important for the team, and no sacrifice with performance.

“It is much better to have a world champion than someone who won nothing.”

He added: “I am just focused on performance. The most important for me is to have the best line-up for next year and the future. That is my only concern.”

According to Vasseur, Raikkonen’s earlier foray with Sauber had no bearing on any decision. His choice will not be influenced by relationships with drivers he knows from his own junior programmes.

“Honestly, it would not be a good approach. The most important for me is that in the driver selection and choice, it is important to have a common approach and not because I ran with a guy in F3 15 years ago, or he drove for Sauber 10 years ago.”