4865 replies to this topic

[MaxFan1]

Any FRESH news from Raikkonen's camp? Only Finnish press seems to care and their news are mostly old. The international(=british) press care only for their British wet dreams.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

[Oho]

Autosport just confirmed..

No ****, oh since when is such claim for Autsport to confirm?

[awake27]

MaxFan1

You still here trolling on every KR related things (=99% of your total posts)? Get a life.

Edited by awake27, 17 November 2009 - 12:44.

[Blue]

Any FRESH news from Raikkonen's camp?

At lest Heikki Kulta seems to believe Guardian, and only leaves a hint of if to the air.

[awake27]

Not true. The British media turn on anyone, remember lie-gate?

OK not only wet dreams, but kinky dreams, make-up dreams etc. Happy now?

[MaxFan1]

MaxFan1

You still here trolling on every KR related things (=99% of your total posts)? Get a life.

Just because I don't want Kimi in McLaren doesn't mean I'm trolling.

[timba]

Not true. The British media turn on anyone, remember lie-gate?

"But, but, but Davey TOLD him to lie!"

[craftverk]

OK not only wet dreams, but kinky dreams, make-up dreams etc. Happy now?

heh, maybe in your dreams ;)

"But, but, but Davey TOLD him to lie!"

http://www.dailymail...Grand-Prix.html

Edited by craftverk, 17 November 2009 - 12:49.

[awake27]

Maybe you dont get my sarcasm or I failed to do a sarcastic post. Anyway, enough off-topic from me although there isn't much on-topic either.

[HP]

This is a complete myth. Massa has completely busted it.

We knew that already from 2003. He came close that season by being a consistent points scorer, not be being extremely fast. Edited: Of course he didn't win the WDc that year.


He is very consistent, and one of the fastest out there.

And it's sad to most likely not see Kimi next season in an F1 car. He was devastating in the season with one tire for the entire race. He was best by a long shot in managing the entire race, and somehow I think next year we would have seen something similar from him.

If he is still there and at Mercedes, well I do hope he doesn't get flashbacks of earlier seasons, where Mercedes cost him possibly 2 championships.

Edited by HP, 17 November 2009 - 12:55.

[HP]

Autosport just confirmed what most have been speculating for quite some time now - that kimi's contract negotiations with mclaren have stalled due to salary demands . Based on what they offered Button I am guessing Kimi wanted a bit more than that and Mac said no thanks.

Which was possible by Brawn and Button not being able to agree on a salary.

[JamesHunt]

I will be utterly disappointed if he retires.

[noikeee]

Which was possible by Brawn and Button not being able to agree on a salary.

Good point, and that's quite ironic.

[craftverk]

He is very consistent, and one of the fastest out there.

And it's sad to most likely not see Kimi next season in an F1 car. He was devastating in the season with one tire for the entire race. He was best by a long shot in managing the entire race, and somehow I think next year we would have seen something similar from him.

consitency means speed now? prost was consistent, but not particularly fast. if you are a raikkonen fan you should know that it's not his speed which is his strength, its his race pace, much like prost

MP4-20 was probably the best car of the decade for its year, it had the best aero along with being able to use the michelins well without destroying them, the car was what made his image

Edited by craftverk, 17 November 2009 - 13:04.

[denthierry]

I will be utterly disappointed if he retires.

Same here. Gutted really.

[teewoods]

he deserved better than this.

Not after the $120m he took from Ferrari. He should thank his lucky stars and quit while hee is ahead. Better drivers like Mika got far less and did far more.

[Wolfie]

Hope this hasn't been here before:

F1-expert Erkki Mustakari from Urheilulehti still believes that Kimi Räikkönen will be seen in McLaren next season.

Eki, The Guardian told that Jenson Button would have a 3-year deal with McLaren. How do you comment the news?

I don't know what The Guardian bases it's information on but I wouldn't be startled by this news yet. My own understanding and belief is that Kimi is still negotiating with McLaren and I see as a more probable option that Kimi will be at McLaren and Button at Brawn next season.

On what do you base that belief on?

When Mercedes-Benz finally makes their flashy entrance into F1 with their own brand it's certain that their plans won't fall on the reigning WDC asking a million or two more. To Ross Brawn a million or two millions could have been decisive matters but now when Merc is standing behind it all, Button staying in the team won't fall upon his demand of salary. Of course they know at Merc that Button isn't the best F1-driver in the world but he has big marketing values attached to himself. He would firstly be a WDC and if he would drive for Merc next season then the silver arrows would be numbered 1 and 2. The numbers itself have a big symbolic value.

You said that Button isn't necessarily the best driver in the world. Doesn't that go against hiring Button?

When Nico Rosberg comes to Merc then Merc will have a splendid duo for next season. A WDC and a young promising driver who even is 100 % German to Mercedes.

Could Kimi be Mercedes surprise card for next season's 2nd driver?

Of course everything in F1 is always possible but Merc buying Brawn didn't come as any surprise to anyone - and you can be damn sure it didn't come as a surprise for Kimi. When Kimi said that it's either McLaren or a year off he knew for sure that Merc is buying Brawn and if he had thought that the new Brawn-Mercedes would be an option he would definitely had used other words.

Why don't you see Brawni as an option for Kimi?

Simply because Kimi thinks that McLaren is the only car he can boot Ferrari in the head with. It's absolutely certain that Kimi won't go anymore as a pig behind the others, he is only and I repeat, only, going there to win. And for that he needs a car he believes in as much as the goat believes in his big horns.

If it still would happen in this roulette that Button would go to McLaren, would it mean that....

Yes. It would mean that Kimi Räikkönen would not be seen in F1 next season. An option like that is a big threath to the whole sport and I'm sure one small British gentleman named Bernie Ecclestone will do his everything so that Kimi would continue in F1. It would be devastating for the sport if this season's WDC would be beaten over and over again in McLaren and his marketing value would vanish into thin air. I've been around for some time and you bump into Kimi's face all over the world in the biggest advertising sheets but where have I bumped into Button? Only on the paddock.

[zarooch]

WTF really? :/

In anycase, I'll enjoy Button's career ended by Hamilton and Button shown his worth!@ moreover on the other side I'd luv to see baby crying and fighting with his other 'couple' mate.

I'm sort of 'ok' now that Kimi is gonna leave F1. But i really wanted to see him at McLaren

[Piif]

Not after the $120m he took from Ferrari. He should thank his lucky stars and quit while hee is ahead. Better drivers like Mika got far less and did far more.

It's not his fault if Ferrari wants to pay him that much, is it? I have to admit, I would probably watch a lot of F1 if Kimi left the sport this way. It's different when you retire, but to get ousted because a spanish bank brings in their millions to get a spanish driver in the team is just an all-time-low.

[Oho]

Better drivers like Mika got far less and did far more.

Well actually Mika pretty much got everything he wanted, or he thought so though it turned out he retired a bit prematurely, he was not by any length squeezed out of the sport more like the opposite.

[craftverk]

It's not his fault if Ferrari wants to pay him that much, is it? I have to admit, I would probably watch a lot of F1 if Kimi left the sport this way. It's different when you retire, but to get ousted because a spanish bank brings in their millions to get a spanish driver in the team is just an all-time-low.

Ferrari bought the hype, as did many people, even me.

Maybe it's because he was beaten twice by a man who was on half his salary? Of course not.

[zarooch]

Hope this hasn't been here before:

F1-expert Erkki Mustakari from Urheilulehti still believes that Kimi Räikkönen will be seen in McLaren next season.

Eki, The Guardian told that Jenson Button would have a 3-year deal with McLaren. How do you comment the news?

I don't know what The Guardian bases it's information on but I wouldn't be startled by this news yet. My own understanding and belief is that Kimi is still negotiating with McLaren and I see as a more probable option that Kimi will be at McLaren and Button at Brawn next season.

On what do you base that belief on?

When Mercedes-Benz finally makes their flashy entrance into F1 with their own brand it's certain that their plans won't fall on the reigning WDC asking a million or two more. To Ross Brawn a million or two millions could have been decisive matters but now when Merc is standing behind it all, Button staying in the team won't fall upon his demand of salary. Of course they know at Merc that Button isn't the best F1-driver in the world but he has big marketing values attached to himself. He would firstly be a WDC and if he would drive for Merc next season then the silver arrows would be numbered 1 and 2. The numbers itself have a big symbolic value.

You said that Button isn't necessarily the best driver in the world. Doesn't that go against hiring Button?

When Nico Rosberg comes to Merc then Merc will have a splendid duo for next season. A WDC and a young promising driver who even is 100 % German to Mercedes.

Could Kimi be Mercedes surprise card for next season's 2nd driver?

Of course everything in F1 is always possible but Merc buying Brawn didn't come as any surprise to anyone - and you can be damn sure it didn't come as a surprise for Kimi. When Kimi said that it's either McLaren or a year off he knew for sure that Merc is buying Brawn and if he had thought that the new Brawn-Mercedes would be an option he would definitely had used other words.

Why don't you see Brawni as an option for Kimi?

Simply because Kimi thinks that McLaren is the only car he can boot Ferrari in the head with. It's absolutely certain that Kimi won't go anymore as a pig behind the others, he is only and I repeat, only, going there to win. And for that he needs a car he believes in as much as the goat believes in his big horns. --- priceless.

If it still would happen in this roulette that Button would go to McLaren, would it mean that....

Yes. It would mean that Kimi Räikkönen would not be seen in F1 next season. An option like that is a big threath to the whole sport and I'm sure one small British gentleman named Bernie Ecclestone will do his everything so that Kimi would continue in F1. It would be devastating for the sport if this season's WDC would be beaten over and over again in McLaren and his marketing value would vanish into thin air. I've been around for some time and you bump into Kimi's face all over the world in the biggest advertising sheets but where have I bumped into Button? Only on the paddock.

mmm what? Bernie? What can he do regarding Kimi and McLaren :/ He can't say ok i'll pay Raikkonen's bill when mcLaren doesn't want Kimi

[maccaFTW]

Na, Kubica finish level on points with Kimi in an inferior car even though Kimi was driving a WCC winnin and a WDC capable car. Kubica would dispatch Kimi without a problem in the same car.

Raikkonen finished just behind Schumacher for the '03 title in an inferior car.

Raikkonen had tons of bad luck in 2007 and no doubt would have blown away Kubica's total in 2008 without it. Kubica's results are basically all he could have accomplished in the car.

[Oho]

It's not his fault if Ferrari wants to pay him that much, is it? I have to admit, I would probably watch a lot of F1 if Kimi left the sport this way. It's different when you retire, but to get ousted because a spanish bank brings in their millions to get a spanish driver in the team is just an all-time-low.

I find it odd how people who seem to think Räikkönen is no good hold his relative failure to up live to, from their perspective, unrealistic expectations of Ferrari against him.

[craftverk]

mmm what? Bernie? What can he do regarding Kimi and McLaren :/ He can't say ok i'll pay Raikkonen's bill when mcLaren doesn't want Kimi

who says they don't want him? they gave him an offer, he was the first choice for Heikki's replacement..

Raikkonen finished just behind Schumacher for the '03 title in an inferior car.

questionable

Edited by craftverk, 17 November 2009 - 13:18.

[Oho]

Ferrari bought the hype, as did many people, even me.

Maybe it's because he was beaten twice by a man who was on half his salary? Of course not.

Oh I only count once in 2008. Perhaps Massa would have beaten him in 2009 but he did not and that's a fact, well not holding my breath waiting for this to sink in.

[craftverk]

Oh I only count once in 2008. Perhaps Massa would have beaten him in 2009 but he did not and that's a fact, well not holding my breath waiting for this to sink in.

at the very least, the fact that Massa was as close to Raikkonen has he was proved that Ferrari could not justify his massive salary...

[HSJ]

People can disagree with me on this but I'm telling you, the man himself is known worldwide and not only because of being a WDC or driving a Ferrari and I don't know if Button can replace him in that sense.

What I would like to know is the feelings of the McLaren engineers, would they prefer to have Jenson or Kimi in the car. I kinda suspect the answer isn't Jenson.

Then again, I'm quite excited about the possibility of having Kimi work with Brawn (who I always thought was the most important guy behind all those titles at Benetton and Ferrari) in a Mercedes Benz F1 team. unfortunately Kimi may not share my excitement on that one.

Button will be a fool to go to McLaren and partner Lewis. His reputation will be in tatters very soon if he does. But Button has always been a bit arrogant and thought too much of himself, I say this even though I've liked the guy since day 1. It has been his undoing before, and could be again.

[klover]

consitency means speed now? prost was consistent, but not particularly fast.

Post of the week, for sure

[lukyluke]

It´s a win-lose-win-lose situation for everyone. =; o )

Kimi is the new James Hunt: after winning the WDC doesn't care much and cashes all he can. Certainly Kimi cashes much more than Hunt but possibly drinks less - I mean doesn't deliver a true free-careless character as Hunt did.

Button wants to be the new James Hunt: after winning the WDC cares only to cash as most as he can. A mini Hunt as he cashes much less than Kimi and doesn't have really a character know of.

Mercedes and Brawn get Heidfeld at a low price compared with Button and the performance will be the same.

Mclaren get number 1 in their cars - I wonder why they need that unnoticed number these days? But also guarantee no wars between drivers and Hamilton gets another free bonus with no rivals - Kimi could be a threat.

Ferrari/Santander could be the big losers as they will have to pay a lot of millions to Kimi if he does not drive in 2010. But they could end winning if Alonso performs as expected by both parties.

Rubens is finally free from his mentor/torturer -Mr R blablabla Brawn ;-) and have a new fantastic job as Williams number one and 300 gp's in his pocket very soon. Also terribly good for a team like Williams - experience can teach Hulkenberg.

[JamesHunt]

I still can't believe that Robertsons are gonna to lose this.

[Blue]

Lol, Wolfie, Mustakari sounds like a pro, are you sure you made a direct translation.

[craftverk]

Post of the week, for sure

Thanks

Not taking anything away from Prost, his strengths were during the Grand Prix but in raw speed he was too often outqualified by the likes of Mansell and Alesi but beat them during the race.

[kismet]

I'm annoyed that instead of trying to prove Ferrari wrong, Kimi has seemingly chosen to prove them right. And although it's just the kind of stunt I've come to expect from him, I'm still a bit

That said, it's obviously his decision, not mine. As long as he's happy to end his career like this... *shrugs* I don't necessarily believe he is, though, because it seems he wouldn't have made some of the comments he's made if he didn't think there was at least a very good chance that he was going to end up at McLaren. There were interviews where he seemed to be hinting that it was almost a done deal, just waiting to be announced. Apparently not.

[highdownforce]

Thanks

Not taking anything away from Prost, his strengths were during the Grand Prix but in raw speed he was too often outqualified by the likes of Mansell and Alesi but beat them during the race.

Something that doesn't make him slow at all.

[craftverk]

Something that doesn't make him slow at all.

Who called him slow?

[hello86]

I'm annoyed that instead of trying to prove Ferrari wrong, Kimi has seemingly chosen to prove them right. And although it's just the kind of stunt I've come to expect from him, I'm still a bit

That said, it's obviously his decision, not mine. As long as he's happy to end his career like this... *shrugs* I don't necessarily believe he is, though, because it seems he wouldn't have made some of the comments he's made if he didn't think there was at least a very good chance that he was going to end up at McLaren. There were interviews where he seemed to be hinting that it was almost a done deal, just waiting to be announced. Apparently not.

Yep that´s what´s so shocking about this. I mean just one week ago I was really sure that Kimi would go to Macca. There were sooo much signs.
And in the last few days everything has turned around! Pretty sad Goodbye

[MaxFan1]

I thought Button was the humble guy before this season. Lewis Hamilton obviously matured and got more humble after the first half of the season while Button again let it all go up in his head so like you i'm also hoping that he doesn't do something that might end his career since he will probably be humiliated by Lewis in Macca - if he goes there. Same could happen to Kimi too but he could take it in a different way.

Button has stayed loyal to the team for years, took a massive paycut, won them the WDC and WCC and the team refuses to reward him justly. On the other hand Kimi betrayed his team at mcLAren who did everything for him went to the dark side and claimed he was happier at ferrari which must have hurt his mechanics a lot. He got paid a lot but underperformed, got sacked and now with his stock low he's still demanding a fast car with high pay without the need to do PR events which brings the money to the team to develop the car.

I would say KR is the arrogant one out of the two.

[Rinehart]

I still can't believe that Robertsons are gonna to lose this.

I just don't see where the mythical brilliance of the Robersons comes from.

In 2006 when Kimi was at the top of his game and Luca wanted Kimi BAD and Phillip Morris was paying - anyone could have negotiated a bumper deal from Ferrari.

The pay-off from Ferrari was a simple legal matter, 'we'll go but you owe us the remainder of the contract'. To which Ferrari said 'fine no problem provided you don't drive for anyone else'.

So, now, the first time the Robertsons have got some real work to do, they need to negotiate Kimi into a seat at McLaren at a pay rate that doesn't financially penalise Kimi for taking a year off.

And their negotiation tactic has been to tell McLaren that they want a massive pay deal whilst telling the world Kimi is only interested in McLaren, all the while in the knowledge that there is another great option for McLaren, in one Jenson Button. As I see it, they don't have a great negotiating position.

Sorry, but I'm unimpressed. If the Robertsons were good, the Kimi-McLaren deal would have been done BEFORE the Ferrari announcement.

[klover]

Whether Kimi stays in F1 or not remains to be seen but Mercedes would be foolish to lose Button and the number 1 on their cars. They can milk the WDC/WCC status for a full year, surely in terms of exposure that must more than offset any demands that Button may have?

[vida]

Me neither and if the deal was done with Button wouldn't they already have come out to say that Kimi says arrivederci to F1?

I will accept it of course if it happens but right now we are only getting 'sure' information from the British press. Time will tell if this is just public arm twisting or the real deal.

I have prepared for the worst on Kimi's future... but hopefully we will get a goods news in couple days.. the lewis/kimi in mclaren supposed to be a trilling pair since they will fight against alonso/massa... would be a great lost if it didnt happen... finger crossed for Kimi.... a good news i hope...

[klover]

I just don't see where the mythical brilliance of the Robersons comes from.

In 2006 when Kimi was at the top of his game and Luca wanted Kimi BAD and Phillip Morris was paying - anyone could have negotiated a bumper deal from Ferrari.

The pay-off from Ferrari was a simple legal matter, 'we'll go but you owe us the remainder of the contract'. To which Ferrari said 'fine no problem provided you don't drive for anyone else'.

So, now, the first time the Robertsons have got some real work to do, they need to negotiate Kimi into a seat at McLaren at a pay rate that doesn't financially penalise Kimi for taking a year off.

And their negotiation tactic has been to tell McLaren that they want a massive pay deal whilst telling the world Kimi is only interested in McLaren, all the while in the knowledge that there is another great option for McLaren, in one Jenson Button. As I see it, they don't have a great negotiating position.

Sorry, but I'm unimpressed. If the Robertsons were good, the Kimi-McLaren deal would have been done BEFORE the Ferrari announcement.

Ah, the internet and the armchair experts, everything is so easy
Please go ahead and pursue a career in driver management. When you reach half of Robertsons success, do not hesitate to let us know.

[MaxFan1]

I have prepared for the worst on Kimi's future... but hopefully we will get a goods news in couple days.. the lewis/kimi in mclaren supposed to be a trilling pair since they will fight against alonso/massa... would be a great lost if it didnt happen... finger crossed for Kimi.... a good news i hope...

teams don't want a trhilling pair. they just want to win. mclaren hasn't forgotten about having a "thrilling pair" in 2007.

[rko281]

untill the official announcements, I choosed not to think to much about any of the latest news.
For some reasons, I just can't see the Button to Mclaren happening .... it's a hunch, nothing more. Kimi to Mclaren seems more likely to me, but I'm not sure it will happen either.




P.S.Since the Ferrari announcement regarding the drivers for 2010, I have been thinking that it is a 50-50 for retirement/drive in 2010 for Kimi.

[Rinehart]

Ah, the internet and the armchair experts, everything is so easy
Please go ahead and pursue a career in driver management. When you reach half of Robertsons success, do not hesitate to let us know.

So we can't comment on anything here unless we're a senior figure within F1?

Besides, you have no idea what I do, but I can assure you the contracts are worth considerably more than a sportsmans retainer.

Your comment is so absurd its beyond reason.

[Anssi]

Sorry, but I'm unimpressed. If the Robertsons were good, the Kimi-McLaren deal would have been done BEFORE the Ferrari announcement.

They needed to get things sorted out with Ferrari first, and only after that could they go and sign a deal with some other team.

Had they done a deal with some other team first, and only after that get things sorted out with Ferrari, then Ferrari could have accused them of breach of contract, and even sued them for it. This, of course, is not what good managers want to happen for their driver.

Unless, of course, the contract with the new team has a condition that if the contract with Ferrari is cancelled, then that new contract with the other team will become into effect. But I am not sure how Ferrari would have reacted to that anyways, condition or not - if Ferrari would have found out they have made some sort of a pre-agreement with that condition with some other team, they would have had a much stronger negotiating position. They could have said "Kimi obviously wants to leave the team, what the hell is this" instead of it being "we want Kimi to leave the team, please could you be so kind and make it happen, please".

[Wolfie]

A small addition to Erkki Mustakari/Urheilulehti from yesterday:

If Button isn't good enough to Merc, will he become an unemployed WDC?

It could at it's worst mean that he would get a seat from McLaren and Kimi would be left hanging in the air. Räikkönen has already declared that if he doesn't get a seat at McLaren, then he will say goodbye to F1. It would be a sad thing for the sport because Räikkönen is as a driver in a completely different class than Button. He is also in a different class when it comes to being famous worldwide and Bernie Ecclestone has also noticed that. I wouldn't be surprised if Ecclestone's hands were somehow involved in this driver-carousell.

Where does all this leave Heikki Kovalainen?

You can't say anything else than that Kovalainen is only a chip in the driver-game. He has options but the more time passes, the less the options are.

Will F1 be next season without any Finnish drivers?

It's possible in the worst case but at this moment it's still unlikely.

[klover]

So we can't comment on anything here unless we're a senior figure within F1?

Besides, you have no idea what I do, but I can assure you the contracts are worth considerably more than a sportsmans retainer.

Your comment is so absurd its beyond reason.

Your comment about the Robertsons' "anyone could do it" is beyond reason indeed.

[Odvan]

P.S.Since the Ferrari announcement regarding the drivers for 2010, I have been thinking that it is a 50-50 for retirement/drive in 2010 for Kimi.

Yep. He could retire or couldn't.

But Finnish might not be so upset - they would see Kimi more than recently in more friendly surroundings.

[Rinehart]

Your comment about the Robertsons' "anyone could do it" is beyond reason indeed.

Grow up.