Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has sprung to Kimi Raikkonen's defence after the driver was sued for $1m in relation to sexual misconduct allegations.
A waitress filed the lawsuit against the Formula 1 driver over an incident that is alleged to have occurred in the wake of the Canadian Grand Prix two years ago.
Marchionne has claimed that his team has conducted an internal investigation into the claims and are convinced that Raikkonen is not guilty of any wrongdoing.
"We investigated the case internally and know that Kimi is not involved. We stand behind him and are ready to defend him at all costs," the Daily Mail quotes him as saying.
The claimant, who has accused Raikkonen of touching her breasts while he was drunk in a bar, initially recounted the incident online in 2016 but did not name the Ferrari driver until taking legal action.
Raikkonen has denied the allegations, claiming that he is the victim of a blackmail scheme and revealing plans to countersue for extortion.
"Our client makes it clear that everything this woman does is illegal," a statement from the driver's legal team read.
The waitress reported the matter to police in April this year.
Mark Langshaw
