Kimi Raikkonen says Ferrari has been less political since Sebastian Vettel replaced Fernando Alonso at the team at the start of this year.

Alonso left for McLaren after Ferrari signed Vettel towards the end of 2014, coinciding with an overhaul of the team's senior management and the appointment of Maurizio Arrivabene as team principal at the end of the year. Speaking at a recent Ferrari event in Mugello, Raikkonen said the working relationship with his new team-mate is healthier than it was with Alonso.

"It is easier," he said. "I think we have very straightforward and open working ways in the relationship. There is not the similar politics that there was in the past and I'm sure that helps the whole team. We can work with the two cars doing different things and help not only both of us but the team and get a similar thing that we want from the car."

Asked in the Interlagos paddock to explain in more depth what he meant by the comments, Raikkonen added: "What's there to explain? It's what it is and that's how it has been. The team has grown closer and is working well together. All the changes that have been made have been the right ones, into the right direction. There has been a plan that everyone has been following. We still have quite a bit of work to be done, to be exactly where we want to be.

"The team is working better, as one team, I think you'll get the same answer from all the people if you ask them. It's one of the bigger reasons why we're getting the results."