If Horner says Kimi is not interested in coming back, I don't think Williams are going to get that interest. The visit is probably to do with buying some shares from the recently 'public' Williams or some other partnership with his IceOne racing.

I see it that way too. It would be soo unexpected if Kimi came back in a team that currently is only ahead of the three new teams. And senseless taking into account what Kimi used to say about wanting a competitive car, etc.

May be also that as a human being he is he may have changed his mind and wants to come back in a crappy team just for fun?

Were Williams even huge fans of Raikkonen? (Obviously they would be more than happy to get a driver of his calibre now) I don't recall them ever praising him.

I dont think it really matters whether they have praised him or not

While I would like Kimi to be back in F1, I must admit, the last two years were very peaceful for me when it came to watching F1, I really didn't care who won, and enjoyed it far too much. Not looking very likely this year at least, but I do hope he secures at least one podium in WRC before he is done. He has put so much effort in it. I hope he gets something to show for it.

I think Raikkonen is one of the characters that is genuinely "missed" in F1, and i would like to see him back, in any team, the Williams thing all sounds a bit far fetched to me, but who's to say ?, If Schumi can do it i'm absolutely certain Raikkonen could, and he'd still be a great asset to any team.

I personally think he did the WRC thing just for himself, just to test himself and have some fun in a situation where he could enjoy himself, try and learn something new, and where he wasn't under any real obligation, excepting perhaps to Kaj Lindstrom.

I wished he'd completed a full season of WRC though, as his results will be skewed, and i can't understand why he didn't do the Oz rally, i think i read something about the costs of transportation but the fine & entry fee didn't seem to be much less, unless i've misunderstood.

So, another year, another Raikkonen rumour, perhaps one day one of them will be tue.

I don't think money is a problem for Williams. They give KR a decent salary+ a handful of share options - and with the interst KR will create/new sponsors the interest in Williams shares will shoot up and KR cashes in.

KR will love such a challenge.

The fine is 26000$ while taking part in Rally Australia goes into the several hundred thousand $.

At the end of last season and beginning of this year, when Dani Sordo was searching for a new team and Petter and Kimi were working to put together or continue with their private teams, the numbers that were going around (no official confirmation, this is all rumours and wispering, ok?) were: about 3 million for the European rallies and about 5 for the whole season including the 3 rallies overseas. Of course, it depends on how many spares, and blah, blah, blah, each "offer" included, but it can help to make an idea of how much it costs to go to Rally Australia, which is the most expensive of the 3 rallies overseas.

Petter Solberg has said just a couple of days ago, that he was also very close not to go to Australia.

Time to shed some light on this thread...

I have spoken to some F1 jouno's recently.. These are the FACTS as to Kimi's current status...

Kimi is bored with funding his own rally career and he's realised he's not yet good enough for anyone to pay him to drive WRC. So he's looking for something else. NASCAR??? He'll be on a learning curve of several years. Le Mans gives him a competitive car with a shout of winning the 24 hours and get paid. He would only come back to F1 with a competitive team, by all reports, none of them will take the punt. He'd really LOVE to come back with Red Bull, but from what i have heard, that ain't gona happen...

Now.. This is MY opinion...

We all want Kimi back in F1... there is "unfinished Business" as Steve Robertson put it after Button was announced for the 2010 Mclaren drive.. (Where Kimi wasd thought to be close to signing with..) "if" Kimi wants back in F1?? I think his only chance is to try and get into a car at the new Friday (rookie) test sessions that will replace FP1 next year.. There is also that big test at Mugello in early May.. After seeing the struggle Shuey has had adapting back to F1 being out for 3 years.. This might be putting team owners off somwhat?? But the real issue is Kimi's motivation?? This is the biggest question mark for all in the paddock?? From what i know.. I think Kimi did expect to be able to get that Red Bull drive at will, given how much Marko hunted for at Suzuka 09'.. (Webber was going to be demoted to Toro Rosso..) Fast forward 2011.. Red Bull now have a double WDC of their own making, hence the ground has "shifted"... Marko calls the shots.. And they are in search of another talent.. Ricciardo is next cab off the rank.. But he may turn out to be the same as the 2 Toro drivers?? "If" Button doesn't continue at Mclaren, or Lewis was to leave (both at end of 12'..) ONLY then would Whitmarsh consider Kimi...

Kimi got lost in all the $$$ that came his way, and was bitter about his exit from F1... It has taken him 2 years to miss that "winning" feeling which is leading to some frustration... I think Kimi needs to PAY to drive in F1.. Or should i say set-up a contract that was similiar to N.Piquet when he drove for Benetton 20 years ago...

On behalf of all Kimi fans... The SUFFERING continues on............

Your take makes some sense. The one thing I would add is Raikkonen would want to rally simultaneously - not just one or two rallies for fun, but pretty much all the permanent fixtures. Sort of using F1 drive to fund his main interest rally.

KR and Williams do have a history. Back in 2001 Kimi once said he would be very interested in drive for the red and blue teams. When Kimi was looking at options in rally and F1 as the 2009 season was nearing, he did meet with Williams then also. They halted talk in good terms with Williams saying we would have loved to have Kimi if he had been a bit more in the front. Kimi let them know how much admiration he has for that team, and that the only reason he was reluctant to join them was he was not willing to drive midfield at that time. They have been in good terms since then. That would explain why Kimi want to buy some shares of the team, if not even drive for them to fund his rallying.

Let's hope he make a comeback in 2012 and in 2013 there could be a lot of switching...

It would be nice for Williams to have Kimi...He for sure can do something special for the team...and Mike Coughlan knows how Kimi wants his car...

besides Williams is doing a total review of the team...I hope, with or without Kimi, that they can be a winning team again...

Thanks Sith,

I’m usually quite sceptic when it comes to F1 guys talking about things that involve other series, because their belief about “nothing is better than F1 and everybody wants to be here” sometimes blur their minds.

Nevertheless, this journalist might have a point, who knows?

There’s one thing in what that journalist told you that I would like to explain to our F1-fans-friends so they really understand which the situation is. It’s the point about Kimi realising that he’s not yet good enough for anyone to pay him to drive in WRC.

It’s true, Kimi is not yet good enough for anyone to pay him to drive in WRC, but he would not be good enough, even if he won the next three rallies, simply because there’re no seats:

At the moment (14th September 2011, 9:51 Spanish time), there’re only four confirmed works seats in WRC for 2012: 2 in Citroën and 2 in Mini. 3 out of those 4 seats for 2012 are already given since 2010 (Ogier’s, Sordo’s and Meeke’s), and the 4th one is Loeb’s seat (who re-signed a few weeks ago). Ford has not confirmed yet that they will take part in the championship next season, everybody is crossing fingers they will, but there’s nothing signed at the moment. We could end up with Jari-Matti Latvala standing under the rain, without a car to drive, even if he has a contract for next season (which he has). Mikko Hirvonen, who's at the moment fighting for the drivers championship, doesn't have a seat for next season, yet.

VW will enter the championship in 2013 and they’re already searching for drivers in 2012, but they’re not an option for any of the youngsters (that includes Kimi), because they would not take part in rallies during 2012: young drivers, in evolution need competition. Moreover, what VW needs is people with many years of experience to help them during the tests they’re going to do next year.

Should that Le Mans thing not pan out as planned... There's always drag racing. I've read that Janne Ahonen is considering giving Kimi a call.

- this makes sense. thanks for the update. Williams rumor could have some merit then...because they are publicly traded (ie. Kimi driving for options to get back in the game, re-prove himself...while W gets some stock price boost for fielding a WDC).

Which creates the obvious problem: Kimi is rich but he's not rich enough to do 4-5 years on WRC on his own dime. I mean his first season was relatively easy, he raced on RedBull's dime, he was having fun but now?

All the reasons why Kimi is funding in his 'own' rally team... He's the only one who can afford to do so...He really doesn't want to it like this again next year..

I think he'll find his way back to where he belongs...

Mika was keen on a comeback with Williams in 04'... A meeting was set up with Frank at the Spanish G.P that year... To Mika's shock, Frank told him he was considering Button.. Mika was totally insulted, and that was that!

Good point. It's an amazing sad time when even former World Rally Champions are without seats in teams (eg Petter).

The Button thingy surfaced much later, in early august or there abouts. In the wake of the Button announcement David Richards flew to Finland during Neste Rally to discuss Häkkinen's possible signing with Bar with Häkkinen and Didier Coton but nothing came of it. Frank Williams later commented pretty tersely that Häkkinen should not have considered a come back only to fight boredom. I think it conceivable that Häkkinen was mulling over a firm offer on table from Williams when Button surfaced, after which Bar and Richards contacted Häkkinen as a conceivable replacement knowing he is contemplating come back. Later when the Button situation got messy, Häkkinen, had he wanted, would have gotten the left over seat but he simply withdrew entirely.

His car is without any sponsors. Couldn't he get some to make his adventure economically neutral?

Kimi would be a massive catch for Williams team both talent wise and PR wise. And ex-McLaren Chief Designer Mike Coughlan is in there now and he knows what kind of a car Kimi likes. Of course the real question is that would Kimi be willing to make such a move.

you guys are dreaming if you think any f1 team is intrested in kimi apart from the ones who are only after his cash...

he had no motivation at all in his last year he would rather have been anywhere at a formula one race... even if he came back we would soon se his cant be bothered atitude

This was a Piquet problem also (Nelson SR) the reason Benetton gave him a performance related contract. And Nelson having his best season in years in 1990

The "he can't be bothered attitude" is just a myth. He may not rally his team around him, but that's not who he is. And before someone brings up the ice cream incident, just ask yourself why should he be in his car if it has broken down

I'd say on the contrary his motivation seemed better in 2009 than in 2008. Frankly I have no idea what you base that comment on.

I wasn`t there but happen to know for sure that Norbert gave a call to Mika in Ahvenisto to find out what the f*** is all this Williams-talk.

The second half of 2009, Kimi's drives were phenomenal

True kimi had the second highest points score in the last half of the season ham was 1st

It appears that my speculation about Bottas having been there on Tuesday this week is meaningless in this speculation about Kimi and Williams as the rumour about Kimi having visited the factory is from last week. I didn't notice that for which I humbly apologise.

That doesn't automatically exclude the chance that people may have mistaken Bottas for Kimi, but I think that's highly unlikely as the comment in the other site says Kimi was shown every department and many people saw him. Assuming that information is correct, the chance for error in identifying the person is very small, and additionally, Bottas doesn't need a tour of the place as he's worked there many times.

It may be that Kimi visited the place to check it out as a possible team for him but it can all end there. All we can do is to wait and see whether there'll be any more to this. Business as usual.

Let's hope...it would be cool to see what he can do in a Williams-Renault (it still sounds like heaven). The moment it became Williams-Mecachrome it went totally wrong...

What is Williams doing, in terms of car? how far is it and what is the target? To Beat Red Bull? It should be otherwise taking Kimi on board would not make sense at all. New face get to choose what to take over what not to. Low gear box by Sam might get new life in its layout...

maybe therefore he visited Williams?

And second only because Webber clipped him in Brazil.

Hungary 2009, Valencia 2009, Spa 2009, Suzuka 2009, Brazil 2009, Monza 2009 - Those are all no motivation??

Serious bussiness then.*


*It's sarcasm btw.

He even carried on after getting fuel in his eye at Brazil, when he easily could have just said to the team that he doesn't want to drive.

well that's your thought...

Massa would have done better had he not had the accident.He was beating kimi that season till Hungary anyways.

sure. care to explain why Kimi's performances suddenly rose in the same moment as Massa bailed out - in a car that wasn't upgraded any more?

Are you suggesting Massa would be fighting for the title?

and why his engineers didn't understand where he get the speed out of that doggie car? it was even over the limit of what they could estimate...

Nevertheless there are 4 drivers who are able to do that vettel, alonso, hamilton and Kimi...and within the paddock everyone knows this...

This is about raw speed not the total package as a driver before I get some comments

Better than what? Better than how Räikkönen actually performed or better than how Räikkönen would have performed had Massa not had his accident?

Good post! You are very right. Kimi was impressive driving the F2009 tractor!

His victory in Belgium was memorable.

I was there in 2009 in the paddock and he was so great...

The thing is that Kimi never asked at the number one status...he just get out of his sleep,steps in the car, drives as fast as he can and go back to sleep modus...

and whether you like him or not...there's no one who ever said that he wasn't blindingly quick...

Oh please those types are dime a dozen in this thread alone, hell I am one of them....

Because the car was not as bad as the hype, and Massa had already got a podium in the previous race. Why don't you explain why Kimi's performance would suddenly rise the moment Massa was bailed out?

There is a myth that the F90 was a crap car, when in fact it was a good car, in which Massa was a podium contender in almost every race that season.

Kimi also had one, in monaco, point?
I think it is easy: as Massa bailed out, they had to give more attention to the "step son", Kimi, as he was their only chance, and suddenly Kimi's performances took an upward curve.

btw, no one said the F60 was *that* crap. it was the 4th best car of the season. a good car, but not a great one. and certainly not a 4-podiums-in-a-row car.

No kidding....