89 replies to this topic

[F1Fanatic.co.uk]

Plenty has been said about this topic in the discussion here:

http://forums.autosp...threadid=101768

But I wanted to get a perspective on what people think of the reigning champion and the possibility he might retire after what would be his ninth season.

(Mods perhaps merge this with the above thread?)

[Mauseri]

Unhappy as I like see him driving, more precisely winning.

[Josta]

With much the same way as I did when Schumacher retired. Kimi who???

[woftam]

If he decides to do something else then fine, it's his choice.
Good luck to him either way. Option 3 for me

[F1 Tor.]

I'd probably go and take a ****.;)

[Vilenova]

Well he has the personality of a wet rock but he sure can drive so it would be a shame for him to retire when he still has a few good years left.

But I understand that Lewis is the new hotshot and it might be scaring him out. j/k

[pingu666]

Originally posted by F1 Tor.
I'd probably go and take a ****.;)

abit meh, then id ponder buying shares in vodka companies

[David M. Kane]

I think he'll get bored at some point; but it cllearly shows that the non-driving stuff is really wearing on him.

[RiDE]

Good for him, but I honestly think he'll miss racing within a year.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't think I'd notice really. He wins and loses quietly, doesn't say much, doesn't get into many incidents, etc.

[Italiano Tifoso]

Originally posted by Vilenova
Well he has the personality of a wet rock but he sure can drive so it would be a shame for him to retire when he still has a few good years left.

But I understand that Lewis is the new hotshot and it might be scaring him out. j/k

Said in jest...right??

I think maybe Kimi scared Lewis last year, after all there was only one driver i saw choke on a sure championship victory.

As for Kimi, i wouldn't be too worried if Kimi left, first because Ferrari will have a solution in place and second because it gives other guys who seem to love the sport more then Kimi a chance to come through the ranks.

I will miss his talent though, but there will be other drivers coming through with great skill also. I'm still waiting for that extra special driver to come along once in a generation that has the total package like a Senna and a Schumacher. Alonso and Lewis are great but they are missing that special element which is hard to put a finger on.

Kimi for me was like James Hunt, great driver, big balls and just didn't give a **** about anything.

[PassWind]

Originally posted by Italiano Tifoso


Said in jest...right??

I think maybe Kimi scared Lewis last year, after all there was only one driver i saw choke on a sure championship victory.

As for Kimi, i wouldn't be too worried if Kimi left, first because Ferrari will have a solution in place and second because it gives other guys who seem to love the sport more then Kimi a chance to come through the ranks.

I will miss his talent though, but there will be other drivers coming through with great skill also. I'm still waiting for that extra special driver to come along once in a generation that has the total package like a Senna and a Schumacher. Alonso and Lewis are great but they are missing that special element which is hard to put a finger on.

Kimi for me was like James Hunt, great driver, big balls and just didn't give a **** about anything.

OMG Kimi has BIG BALLS?

[ViMaMo]

I'll be unhappy. Seems too early, his uncles are still around... Rubens and DC!

[osoul]

Opt. 1.

[Tenmantaylor]

He obviously has to decide what makes him happy. He's never appeared to be the most motivated F1 driver, theres hardly any difference in him after a win than if he crashed out.

I chose option three to reflect his own indifference.

[Owen]

I'd be indifferent. Don't get me wrong, the guy is awesomely talented but I'm not a die-hard fan that's all. If he went the media would finally get the 'Alonso vs Hamilton' showdown they always wanted.

[bogi]

Organize riots like one in Pakistan after Mohammad cartoons.

[Risil]

Originally posted by Owen
I'd be indifferent. Don't get me wrong, the guy is awesomely talented but I'm not a die-hard fan that's all. If he went the media would finally get the 'Alonso vs Hamilton' showdown they always wanted.

Depends on whether Ferrari hire Kubica, and if Massa continues to eliminate his wildness and inconsistency. Alonso may never find a winning team again.

[modamas]

I guess a lot people wouldn´t even notice that he´s gone

[Thanatos]

Too be honest, I'll be indifferent if he left - simply put (for me) he doesn't suit Ferrari...

After watching some laps from Schumacher, Alonso, Senna, Villeneuve even Mika on youtube recently, Kimi just doesn't make you excited about watching F1, yes he is sublimely fast, but you never get that feeling he can go the extra mile and do some wonder laps if needed, take a risk around the outside, or intimated someone into making a mistake.

He is either in front and pacing incredibly and going for the win or he's back in fifth, just waiting for the GP to finish so he can get to Switzerland

So he's moaning about all the corporate stuff he has to do during the build up to a GP weekend and that he only likes the driving - man, give me $1.5mil a weekend, I'll meet, greet and sign caps till my hand falls off!

[kar]

It's strange that a driver that has been considered one of the best in the sport since 2003 is not more divisive.

I mean 55% generally don't care if he goes one way or another, and those that do care, the majority don't care at the extreme range.

Hamilton, Schumacher, all would see the polar ends of this pole loaded with votes.

Anyway, I doubt Kimi would have it any other way actually so to him.

[Risil]

Originally posted by Thanatos

After watching some laps from Schumacher, Alonso, Senna, Villeneuve even Mika on youtube recently, Kimi just doesn't make you excited about watching F1, yes he is sublimely fast, but you never get that feeling he can go the extra mile and do some wonder laps if needed, take a risk around the outside, or intimated someone into making a mistake.

I think he did all those things in last year's Japanese GP. But I agree, unlike Jacques Villeneuve he has never gone the extra mile to win a race. Or the other four either, for that matter.

[kar]

Originally posted by Risil
But I agree, unlike Jacques Villeneuve he has never gone the extra mile to win a race.

You mean NOT like Japan 05?!

[Risil]

Originally posted by kar


You mean NOT like Japan 05?!

Impressive as that was, Kimi did not win the race despite having to drive two more laps than the competition.

[K-One]

Originally posted by Thanatos
Too be honest, I'll be indifferent if he left - simply put (for me) he doesn't suit Ferrari...

After watching some laps from Schumacher, Alonso, Senna, Villeneuve even Mika on youtube recently, Kimi just doesn't make you excited about watching F1, yes he is sublimely fast, but you never get that feeling he can go the extra mile and do some wonder laps if needed, take a risk around the outside, or intimated someone into making a mistake.

Partly true, in Mclaren he was able to do those amazing laps and other good stuff, but seems that in his Ferrari period he hasn't had none on those magical moments at all. Dunno if it's more to do with Ferrari car or current regulations - maybe he is old and tired

I think it's more with the current rules that are preventing us to see good racing. What's F1 is with engine conserving, fuel conserving, saving tyres etc - all those things give us boring races

[kar]

Originally posted by Risil


Impressive as that was, Kimi did not win the race despite having to drive two more laps than the competition.

Heh!

:-) Personally my favourite Kimi drive was at Silverstone last year. At that circuit, in the dirty air, hacksawing at the wheel it was .

[Orin]

I'd be sad to see him go, a great driver and a great sportsman, even if he isn't very good with the media. F1's brimming with fantastic talent at the moment, but Raikkonen leaving would still be a loss to the sport.

[Lifew12]

Why, i wonder, would enayone be 'very happy' to see someone retire? Apart from his wife and family, I guess....

[kar]

Originally posted by Lifew12
Why, i wonder, would enayone be 'very happy' to see someone retire? Apart from his wife and family, I guess....

Someone who thinks their favourite driver has a hope in hell of getting the vacated Ferrari seat?

[Mika Mika]

Originally posted by kar


Someone who thinks their favourite driver has a hope in hell of getting the vacated Ferrari seat?

No chance, Sato allready has his name down

[Lifew12]

Originally posted by kar


Someone who thinks their favourite driver has a hope in hell of getting the vacated Ferrari seat?

Aaaah, Mark Webber fans......

[Buttoneer]

Kimi thinking of retiring? Maybe the Alonso to Ferrari rumours are true and he's running scared like Schumacher did before him? There's no 'I would cry and cry and cry' option for HSJ.

[djellison]

He's so dull and dreary infront of the camera most of the time. He makes a post-victory press conf. look like a funeral wake. I really wouldn't be sad to see him go.

Doug

[stormshadow]

For someone who shows no reactions to anythin whatsoever and never seems perturbed,
he sure seems to be worrying allot about the "other things" in F1 .........weird :

[Crazy Ninja]

I'd be happy enough cos if thats what he wants to do then . I dont know too many people that would wave goodbye to 25 mil a year cos they hate the commercial aspects of his job + decide their future on just what makes them happy. I reckon thats a pretty good attitude to have (although the millions in the bank do help i guess)

[mclarensmps]

I'd be unhappy, but not surprised.

[Frans]

I would pick up the phone and call Jos Verstappen to tell him there's a seat for him in F1 again!

[giacomo]

Originally posted by F1Fanatic.co.uk
How would you react if Raikkonen retired at the end of 2009?

I will empty a bottle of Koskenkorva to his health and his future.

Well, half a bottle.

[Jodum5]

As a big supporter of Raikkonen, I voted Niether happy or unhappy. I would be very sad to see him go but glad to know he did so on his own terms having reached his goals. Very few drivers have that luxury.

[Atreiu]

If his 2009 season is something like Damon Hill's 1999 season, then I'll be sad to see him stay a year longer than he should have. If his 2009 season is like Schumacher's 2006 season, I'll be sad because there would still be potential for more and he's a nice figure in the sport.

If it's someehat in between, then I guess it was simply the right thing to do.

[lukywill]

it´s a pity. how many f1 stars are you expecting to behave so great - powerful, unattached, and concerned - as raikonen?

[pasadena]

I wouldn't care. I don't think he brought extra value to the sport and I won't miss him.

[four1]

I voted "Neither..."
I could care less about any driver. To me, it's always been about the car. The red ones with the prancing horse logos.

[kismet]

As long as it's what he wants to do... Obviously, I'd be a teensy bit disappointed to lose the one driver I like and have any interest in but that's how it goes. *shrug*

[lukywill]

Originally posted by four1
I voted "Neither..."
I could care less about any driver. To me, it's always been about the car. The red ones with the prancing horse logos.

so horse above man in your esteem?

[Burai]

Neither happy nor unhappy.

He's won the world championship answering all of his critics (including me) in the process, provided some brilliant moments and never once compromised his values or beliefs to suit the PR men.

I'd be sad to lose a great driver, but happy that we did so on his terms with his reputation and health intact.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by lukywill

so horse above man in your esteem?

Just try to put a good man on a shitty horse.

[four1]

Originally posted by lukywill


so horse above man in your esteem?

Yes, horse of course.

[brunopascal]

I'd be very unhappy

I like Kimi a lot, both as a driver and for general behaviour. In particular that he never complains or make up excuses, which was the first thing about him that I noticed and liked.
Also, he one of very few drivers that can do really amazing things on track.

[lukywill]