Exactly what I've thought.

If this turns out to be true then this would have to be a very recent development where Mercedes have contacted Raikkonen today and met his demands in order to hire a star into their team for next season to fill the void left by Button's exit.

Important line in the second reporting:



Also, this reporter has once said (I saw it) that Toyota wouldn't exit F1 if they would get Raikkonen or another first-rank pilot, so they gave up when they didn't get him.

Button's contract was finalized pretty quickly, though. How long between him touring the McLaren factory and the official announcement?

5 days.

I don't think he started to negotiate with them when he attended the McLaren factory but even if so that took a couple of days, not hours. But if Kimi fans want to dream on, let them dream.

I'm a Kimi fan but I think the story is complete bullsh*t.

The Brazilian press? The main Brazilian papers denied the police were killing street children. Do me a favour. Even the Russian state paper Pravda, at the height of communism, had more credibility.

Some segments in Brazilian press 'loves' to show every kind of social barbarism... From the police, drug dealers, citizens, et cetera.
A dozen of newspapers (the cheaper ones) exist for this only purpose, usually very graphic.


But credibility for F1 news about foreign drivers is another thing.

If this is true, Whitmarsh must feel like a right ****!

Willi Weber declared there was 'absolutely no chance' MS was going to replace Massa,and barely an hour later Ferrari announced Michael as the replacement. Drivers will be drivers,they tend to do odd things,at times. None more so than Kimi Raikkonen.

Doesn't mean I buy this rumour,of course.

Well, Mercedes GP could have opened swift negotiations today (after the Button announcement) with Kimi's management to ensure his services for next year. They most likely would not have signed as fast as this but with enough will from both parties it could be done in a couple of days.

But of course this all pure speculation and as much as I'd hope for it to be true...

BBC, German and Finnish press, I would lend it my time, until I don't think its happening. When the german papers do pick it up, wake me up.

I'm sure it will Heidfeld as Hauge has almost said he'll get him sorted, so with McLaren out the way, thats only MercGP left.

If this is true Kimi must have been seriously pissed off with SF and Mclaren and decided stuff them i will kick their A**es next year out of spite.

Not sure if it is true though but i certainly hope it is.

Why ?

Haug's "surpise" has stuck with me.
Heidfeld would not qualify as a surprise.

Kimi at Brawn/Mercedes would have nothing better to do but beat the daylight out of four cars. Two red, and two with British boys in them. Problem is, not too long ago I have read on this BB that Kimi is signing for RBR... done deal... and now...?

What do you know about Brazil? Next you'll be telling me, Brazil doesn't have a unofficial cast system, second only to India and that it doesn't have the highest gap between rich and poor in the developing world. The main Brazilian press is a utter shambles, controlled by the rich, as a tool to cement their powerbase. If the Brazilian press is claiming this story, it should be taken as serious as the U.S publication the National Enquirer.

I think the surprise was Button.

Coming from you at the place with the worst sensationalist tabloid savage papparazzi press in the planet.. I say there's problems everywhere you look

I must say that Kimi has negotiated with Brawn during the season. Ross even mentioned that Kimi's demands were too high. It is completely believable that everybody thaought that Button at Brawn was a sure thing and therefore Kimi claimed McLaren as the only place to be. Now things have changed.

You must be angry about Brazil for some reason, and using a piece of brazilian news to let it flow in a motorsports forum. (dazzling) Care to discuss the actual content of the news piece, mr. International?

Pedro is this the guy ?

Link

But we don't deny it. We have the Red Tops and we have the broadsheets. Red Tops are gutter press, broadsheets have more journalistic integrity. One you keep for posterity on your birthday, the other is used in the cat litter. The source is dubious at best.

Same here, Kimi possibly but also I somehow see Mercedes getting Vettel out of his Red Bull contract.

Some suggested even MS

God, this day was awful for me as a Kimi fan. But could you make it happen for me, please?

Kimi said he was only interested in McLaren, but the birth of Mercedes might change that.

Imagine Robertson said about the sabbatical to have media attention away from Kimi, so they could conclude the contract.

Has to be. Makes total sense. Think about it...

And we have by far the best girls. ok
Anyway, I agree, I rate the source 7/10, actually I don't know the individual guy that well.

Lito Cavalcanti... I don't know, he is not a total "idiot", but since he is the only source for this, its hard to believe,
as for the guy bashing the brazilian media, there is many different segments... like anywhere in the world... but since we are talking about a "german" team and a finnish driver I would trust more in a source from this countries...

but will be great if it's true!

If everything that was published made sense, the news sites would be rather dull and empty

And the hope is continuing.

When it comes to Brazilian girls, I've got no complaints on that front. Our women don't compare, neither does our football. YET! The only reason I doubt the source, is because the Robertsons are on record stating Kimi will take a year out and that Mclaren was his only choice. For them to do a 360° turn and sign for Mercedes, what would have changed?

Really, what the **** is this? I don't anymore understand anything.

That´s what crossed my mind also. Heidfeld? No big surprise. Schumacher? Yes but everybody should know it by now. So who could it be? Kimi actually is my bet...

Maybe they thought Brawn wouldn't pony up the money and would fill the seats with Rosberg and Button anyway. Now in comes Mercedes and because Button unexpectedly goes to McLaren they suddenly have an empty seat and decide to throw money at Kimi. I dont know, it might be a possibility.

That's actually (what I gather) he was sacked and Galvão reported it. Then he got unsacked by Briatore and called Galvão out. Really.

That's the guy but what he's saying in the interview is that Kimi to Merc is a possibility but he thinks Kimi has his mind set on rally.

Im always the optimist but maybe Kimi had a change of heart. Maybe he saw the pain and heard the cries and anguish from his millions of fans and thought: "Wait - I cant do this to them. And Norby is a nice guy. He was in my wedding for Petes sake. And Mercedes is a great engine. And the car did just win both championships. Hmm. Maybe I was a bit quick when saying McLaren or nothing.. Oh, alright. I will give them a call. See whats up."

Kimi: Norby! Wassuuuuup!

Norbert: Ze Kimster! Wazuuupp!

Kimi: Norby, I been thinking about F1 and stuff.

Norb: Zay no more my friend! Button screwed uz, and I talked to ze guys. You are willkommen here at Mercedes!
But about your salary..

Kimi: Screw that. Just gimme whatever you offered Jenson. Im ****ing rich dont you know.

Norb: Haha. So you are. Now come on down and we will fit a seat for you.

Yes. Thats what happened Im sure of it

Can't believe how ****ed up this is getting

I Kind of like this..

Mercedes could afford kimi, unlike brawn.. so this is pretty interesting, but I don't buy too much in to it before it's reported more widely

that would be amazing

Yes that's the guy. He is obsviously a paddock insider and is usually reporting extra details about things, and knows his stuff. That's all I know.

I'm highly sceptical but that said I didn't believe any of the reports about JB and Mercedes so I am googling rapidly.
I think rally is more likely but once there is one report out there...

Times Online:

"In the wake of Button’s departure, Mercedes GP are also understood to be in discussions with Kimi Raikkonen’s management."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/for...icle6922340.ece

The way this season has panned out, this scenario is a plausible as any. I would never in my wildest dreams thought Button had the cojones to take on Hamilton.

Brawn would be reluctant to spend a lot of money on a driver. He can get Heidfeld for next to nothing and hire a dozen engineers or spend the extra cash on CFD hardware/software for example.

WOW - I think whats happened is that with losing Button to McLaren, MercGP have shat themselves with the realisation that they have no out and out team leader

This story is BS!