Why do you believe that?

There was no vetos, there was no one being cowards, the reasons everyone knows already, probably the very simple fact is, they both had certain requirements, and they wasn't able to meet in the middle. Pretty much end off. At the time of Kimi negotiating, I don't think Button was available, Button has advantages and disadvantages to Kimi, maybe not as fast, but will be will to do the PR thing, brings no1.

Because Hamilton said he would be happy to keep Kovalainen as a teammate.

Cleaned up. Please keep it civil and on topic, this is about the reported move to Mercedes, not a driver bash-fest.

Yes, if I was in his shoes I wouldn't mind Heikki either, nicest guy on the grid imo.

then why didn't McLaren just keep Heiki? it's not like he's not available. If Hamilton has such clout.

schmidt's F1 blog..the curse of managers (18.11.09..before the mercedes deal broke out..still an interesting read)

Sebastian Vettel has been right. . He dispenses with a manager.Perhaps, therefore, he loses one or two million in a contract is signed, but the money comes back two or three times because he first saves the 20 percent commission, remains his own master, second and third, a little more about his job needs to reflect.

With Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen you get after the recent events on the driver market the impression that think with their managers for the driver.. And virtually incapacitate him.. Actually, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen would have sacked their manager. . They will come back next year even out. Both have maybe 2010 a few more dollars on the account, but that the medium made the wrong choice.

Even Kimi Räikkönen will curse his management again. the champion of 2007 wants to go. Geld ist ihm relativ egal. Money is his relative care. Okay, he surely would have served out to have 25-day PR, and he insisted on the use of one or the other rally. Good management had told McLaren that Kimi needs these freedoms for his soul. . The fact that he only brings excellence, and that is also in the interest of the team.

. "The art is to motivate Kimi to peak performance. If one creates, then you have had with him, perhaps the fastest rider in the field "Martin Whitmarsh told me in Valencia.This understanding would be a good time was negotiable.But if the management at cost 25 million U.S. dollars equals one Gage calls, although everyone knows that Raikkonen of Ferrari gets a severance payment of ten million, then that's a damned bad foundation. Especially when it comes a world champion, which is available for much less money.

If Raikkonen next year, driving the Citroen team, the Junior World Rally Championship, then his F1 career is over. No one will bring back one years after the Finns rally to Formula 1, especially when he always suspected that he surrenders without the straitjacket of Formula 1 to the very bright side of life, and that after a year of fun does not have the strength is to motivate yourself for the full-time job Formula 1.

I am amazed at how Vettel serves as his own manager. Does this mean that it is only him who does the end-to-end process of negotiation to signing to closure, or does he still employ the services of a lawyer?

a lawyer would be required at some point as vettel or anyone non related to law wouldnt undertstand the legal technicalities involved in the contract language.but for team offers/negotiations/settlements the respective teams would contact and talk with vettel directly as compared to raikkonen's case where robertson handles everything from scratch(with raikkonen's consent ofcourse).

Lewis dad serves as his manager, I think he is in IT not law, so it doesn't make much difference on that point.

but a lawyer must surely have been contacted at the point when the contract was handed over to lewis.a single meeting or so.

He has to have a lawyer, however he is just better VFM. If his "stock" is equal to Kimi's, and Kimi's management team take 20%, a team can get Vettel for 8 million whereas for Kimi to get the same they would have to pay out 10 million. Also it would probably make the negotiation process far more simple. He is a very shrewd individual is Vettel, and as he is willing to give up some of his time to do it, he is a clever young man.

20% seems too much to me.are they actually taking this much?..plus vettel must also be pretty well educated

I agree, I'm just pointing out, even Lewis has a manager like other drivers, both will have to employ the services of a manager.

I think Vettel probably feels secure and still trusting of Redbull.

Gerhard Berger never had a manager or agent did he? always negotiated everything himself. of course he would have used a lawyer, would be stupid not to, but he would have saved himself a lot of money doing things his way.

Actually, I've seen multiple sources citing 50% as the Robertsons' commission...

yup ive seen those too...even though robertson was responsible for his first contract with sauber (after just 23 open top races) and has a much closer relationship with kimi as compared to most driver/manager combos...it makes no sense to me.20% is too much.

Why have Colombo's posts not been deleted but mine have???All i said was this-Here is the real reason Kimi did not sign for Mclaren:


Secondly I also said that in 2008 fine the car did not suit his driving style but what about 2009??I remember him specifically saying the car is more suited to him this year.Come 2009-still no dice.

Third Haug wanted Rosberg in the other Mclaren car.Also Ross Brawn is going to have a say in the driver signing as well.So chances are looking remote on that front.

Lastly I said that his huge hat ,big glares and oversized suit are protective armor against his fans.

What is wrong with this post now??

too many thing wrong to go into details

Are you trying to say he had a bad 2009 season?

FFS, the guy kept Ferrari dreaming and he won with a car not even close to the top 3.

According to Abu Dhabi Sport channels interview the sheiks want Kimi to drive Mercedes. Mercedes Gp´s partner Aabar investments ( from United Arabic Emirates) CEO said that they want Kimi to Mercedes, becouse he is WC and available.

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1777562

Wow, a sensible post in the midst of all the hate.

Respect.

And their goes Merc's independent decision making in their own team.
Don't wanna p*** off the moneymaker, you gotta "sheik" it, "sheik" your moneymaker ...

Aabar's representative's full statement on the channel is quoted a couple of pages back in this thread.

Get down and boogie

Yeah, it's old news - Finns just so lazy slow (like Kimi).

Iltasanomat is tabloid, so it's just a rumor we have already knew.

interesting thing is TS hasnt reported anything about the merc/kimi negotiations since the news broke.not one article

Well it's quiet now because nobody has given any fresh statements regarding the situation in the past few days. Other than Mercedes saying that Schumacher won't be driving for them that is. But obviously it doesn't mean that nothing's happening.

i was referring to the fact that TS didnt even report earlier news on this subject..like haug's comments on robertsons contacting them,or robertsons comments or the latest fry comments on kimi being his first choice.i thought the later quote especially deserved a mention.

I think it is because he wants to hear the news from horses mouth before publishing them...Thats why Heikki Kulta is one of the most respected reporters out there.

Maybe they just dont feel the need to talk to the press after every phone conversation they have with Robertson.

He did say that Mercedes had contacted Kimi or his management. From Haug's comment though you got the idea that it was Kimi's management who called first. Well, I guess it doesn't matter who really called first. Heikki will be back when there's new revelations to share with us. He doesn't tend to just repeat what everyone else is already saying.

I said earlier that Mercedes won't pair Nico and Nick. Come on, if they want to kick off big they need at least one top driver.

If Kimi doesn't sign they'll probably try to get Kubica, and this would be huge! A serious contender for the title.

It's very simple. If someone DARES to make sceptical or critical comments towards our beloved hero KIMI RAIKKONEN, the fastest entity ever born in the universe, then he is just a troll with different names.

Kubica still tied with Renault which could leave circus around NY. Will Brawn/Mercedes wait until than? Kimi are best choice from all sides. Also more attractive to sponsors and Mercedes. But Kubica should definitely be second in the list, Nick third.

He wasn't given any information. And looking article about Robertsons they would try to hide truth rather shares it with smiles: remember after visiting Mclaren and after Button visit they still repeated about negotiation with Mclaren.

Colombo, even You realize, that Kimi didn`t make the pick, it was Ferrari.

Montezemolo became a Santander man, with Alonso under his arms, next couple of years. What a hero he is!

He signed the final contract in 2006. That makes it 3 years.

"Kimi was beating his teammates then. He has struggled to beat Massa. His confidence might have..." Again, inventing reasons rather than solid reasoning. We all know people have their own understanding of Kimi. Does not explain the simple logic that he has been talking with McLaren all this while. If at all, a long continued talk failing would hint at Hamilton not liking Kimi there more than the other way around. But I don't suggest things like that, do I? Then, why do Kimi skeptics imagine the more unlikely scenario?

Kimi's case is different. Kimi really may not ended up in F1 if not for his managers. He was struggling to get good machinery until his late karting years. Kimi's managers are what he calls his 'British family'. He could not afford to rent an apartment when he came out of Finland, and was staying in his manager's apartment when he raced junior series in Britain. Kimi-Robertsons relationship is unlike any other driver-manager relationship. Unlike the talk in press, the Robertsons would never do anything that harms Kimi. They are shrewd, but its about Kimi's interests rather than money. Having known Kimi's story of racing career, I would never believe Robertsons compromised Kimi any way. Apart from his driving, they are his biggest strength because they know his pulse and get exactly what he wants.

Nah, the only influence Santander has was that they made it possible, financially, to bring forward a Ferrari decsion by 1 year.

And it looks like the mega rich Middle-Eastern part owners of the new Mercedes GP team are going to fainancially facilitate bringing Kimi to Merc.

So what goes around, comes around...!!!

The Räikkönen situation is starting to get annoying (which is not good for his reputation). He already said good bye to F1 in 2010 and there are a couple of indications that he only wants to drive for a high salary and is not motivated to fight for places outside the podium. Kimi is a solid driver, but probably it would be better to give the second seat to someone who really wants it.

SpaMaster your Sig.
The Kimi Hate-ism is of more worshiping level than Kimi Fanboy-ism here.

Noup. Only idiotic ones

Maybe in la la la land.
Everybody in formula 1 paddocks know that it was only about money.

You clearly didn't understand my post then.