41 replies to this topic

[Taxi]

well, even if it not officialy confirmed, Kimi is out of formula 1.

From 2001 to 2009 he gave us a lot of great memories and fantastic races. He's an unique guy: Cold and quiet, he never got himself into much political confusion. He was instintive, fast, racer and got himself on the top of the sport quite a few times. Lets remember those great moments in our top of his performances in and out of the track.

chronological:
- Arrived at the grid with 23 races under his belt. It was like a meteor. few belived his talent but he scores his first point in his first GP!

- His fantastic 2002 spa performance and going trough that Toyota smoke without blinking.

- Fighting for the championship with Schumacher at the age of 23, and almost getting it!

- Two battles in a row with Montoya in 2004: lost at germany, won at hungaroring.

- His Spa performance that year.

- Those magnificient recovery performances in 2005 when mercedes was letting him down, especialy France and Japan.

- The first qualifying lap of monaco 2005

- Monza and Hungaroring pole positions in 2006

- Keeping his head cool and his right foot down in 2007 to win the champinship in his 1st year with ferrari in a total demostration of professionalism.

- 10 fastest laps in 2008 inspite a car that was dificult for him to handle.

- His 2009 spa performance winning with a clearly slower car.'s


For now it'd good bye. He was my idol for the last 8 years and I even learned with him some lessons about how to behave professionaly.

I'll Miss You.

[WebBerK]

The best is yet to come.

I heard that Hollywood is casting for "Leaving Las Vegas 2"
[or Leaving Las Vegas... Again]

[Risil]

Funny how beating Michael Schumacher seems to be some kind of curse. Villeneuve never wins another race, Hakkinen disintegrates after 2000, Montoya is outlasted by Schumacher, Raikkonen never really looks comfortable after Mclaren, Alonso leaves Renault and goes mental...

While Felipe, Lewis and Jenson pay their dues and move serenely on...

[MegaManson]

You would think he has died given the first post

He will be back in F1 it is a 100% certainty IMHO

[BMW_F1]

@Risil, Alonso still has a great future ahead of him with Ferrari..

[Brawn BGP 001]

@Risil, Alonso still has a great future ahead of him with Ferrari..

I think it was a lighthearted post.

[GIBF1]

You would think he has died given the first post

[kar]

Unheralded, but his first stint at Silverstone in 2007 (when he was in the dirty air behind Hamilton). Absolute supreme car control and relentless pace. The on-boards showed the car swirling around on the absolute limits of adhesion. It was one of the most dramatic examples of car handling I've seen.

Edited by kar, 17 November 2009 - 22:47.

[The Jim Clark Five]

Kimi shall not grow old as those that are left in F1 grow old:
Age shall not weary him, nor the forums condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the twilight race in Abu Dhabi
We will remember him.

Edited by The Jim Clark Five, 17 November 2009 - 22:58.

[WorldChampion]

well, even if it not officialy confirmed, Kimi is out of formula 1.

From 2001 to 2009 he gave us a lot of great memories and fantastic races. He's an unique guy: Cold and quiet, he never got himself into much political confusion. He was instintive, fast, racer and got himself on the top of the sport quite a few times. Lets remember those great moments in our top of his performances in and out of the track.

chronological:
- Arrived at the grid with 23 races under his belt. It was like a meteor. few belived his talent but he scores his first point in his first GP!

- His fantastic 2002 spa performance and going trough that Toyota smoke without blinking.

- Fighting for the championship with Schumacher at the age of 23, and almost getting it!

- Two battles in a row with Montoya in 2004: lost at germany, won at hungaroring.

- His Spa performance that year.

- Those magnificient recovery performances in 2005 when mercedes was letting him down, especialy France and Japan.

- The first qualifying lap of monaco 2005

- Monza and Hungaroring pole positions in 2006

- Keeping his head cool and his right foot down in 2007 to win the champinship in his 1st year with ferrari in a total demostration of professionalism.

- 10 fastest laps in 2008 inspite a car that was dificult for him to handle.

- His 2009 spa performance winning with a clearly slower car.'s


For now it'd good bye. He was my idol for the last 8 years and I even learned with him some lessons about how to behave professionaly.

I'll Miss You.

I just cried. honestly. My face is covered with tears. I simply couldnt holdt it.

Bye Kimi

[scheivlak]

I think it's still possible he'll return in 2011.
But that is not a reason not to celebrate what he has given us so far ;)

Of course we all think first of races like Spa 2004, Suzuka 2005 or China 2007 (yes, all fantastic) or his heroic heartbreak races like France 2002, Europe 2005 and Spa 2008.

Let's mention just three favourite races that are not always mentioned:

- The 2003 USA GP.
When it started to rain, there were two races: the Bridgestone race and the Michelin race.
Kimi was in a class of his own in the Michelin race - at a quintessential "make or brake" moment..... He stayed in the WDC hunt where Monty faltered.
I wasn't a Kimi fan before 2003. Didn't like the chilling cold Ronzo McLaren atmosphere. During 2003 I began to appreciate him more and this race in particular convinced me that he was something special anyhow.

- The 2005 Monaco GP.
Kimi was leading when that stupid Albers guy blocked the entire track, causing a safety car situation. Most drivers pitted and closed right behind in the queue behind the SC. Kimi stayed out and had to race quite a few laps seconds faster than anybody else to be sure to have enough advantage to pit and remain first. He was untouchable that day.

- Spa 2007: beaten in quite a few races before this one he simply had to win this one to stay somehow just slightly in contention for the WDC. To me, it was clear this was not just a straight fight between Ferrari and McLaren but that Massa gave it all to keep Kimi at least under pressure. Again, Kimi was simply faultless.

Edited by scheivlak, 17 November 2009 - 23:36.

[gerry nassar]

Guys keep this as a discussion of Kimi's great moments. If you only plan to flame away or dont want to contribute - stay away.

Nice post Scheivlak!

I'd have to say:

- Spa. Its amazing how he's faired there every time he has races.

- Suzuka 2005. Stunning performance with a last minute overtake on Fisichella to take victory.

- Australia 2003. Took the fight to Schumacher and would have won his first race if not for a faulty speed limiter.

- Fuji 2007. Sublime performance carving through the field in trecherous conditions.

- Bahrain 2006. After a mechanical problem in qualifying relegated him to the back of the grid. He went through the field and finished ahead of teammate Montoya who started 4th!!

- Monaco 2005. For the same reasons mentioned in Sheivlaks post.

- The 2005 season - had to put up with engine failure after engine failuire in quali, had to recover in races and never said a bad word about the team or complained.

- Just missing out on the 2003 WDC while driving an old car.

- His performances in the latter half of 2009 have put that car in places it should not have been.

[sleenster]

Guys, can we please stop it with the eulogies.

[Simon Says]

Kimi failed to be the successor of Mika so he was a huge let down imo, he never come close to how good Mika was.

But atleast he won a WDC

The season that I'll remember mostly of Kimi was 2005. He really was in a leaggue of his own that year. It's a shame Mercedes blew up all the time Andrian Newey and Kimi should work together again but this time with more reliable engines at Red Bull

Edited by Simon Says, 18 November 2009 - 00:06.

[The Jim Clark Five]

[Dolph]

Kimi failed to be the successor of Mika so he was a huge let down imo, he never come close to how good Mika was.

But atleast he won a WDC

The season that I'll remember mostly of Kimi was 2005. He really was in a leaggue of his own that year. It's a shame Mercedes blew up all the time Andrian Newey and Kimi should work together again but this time with more reliable engines at Red Bull

Well, Renaults engines did tend to blow up in 2009 Red Bulls.

[m1lan]

Monza 2005 - Kimi took pole position with 5 laps more fuel than Montoya, but he started 11th on the grid due to an engine change, and he had a very good chance to win a race, but a deflated tyre forced him to take a necessary pit-stop.

Brazil 2007- Fastest lap on lap 66, only 5 laps to the end of the race, Kimi and Massa led with a comfortable margin on Alonso, yet only 5 minutes and he is champion, but he is driving a fastest lap.

Silverstone 2004 - Pole position and the first podium finish of the season for a McLaren.

[Yellowmc]

Spa - Just in general, whether it's his setups or his balls, he always goes well there. Even in 2008 when he was in a slump or in early 2009, people pointed at Spa and said he would do well and he did.

[primer]

Rather than any specific race or incident, I would say Kimi's initial Mclaren years were his best in F1. I would rate those drives over his Ferrari WDC effort. Not only did he have the measure of his team-mates, he was seen as a no-issue driver who always got 100% from the car.

Edited by primer, 18 November 2009 - 01:06.

[BullHead]

Well.. against the odds he took the WDC from ALO and HAM. It was a good victory.

[Classic Ferrari]

Things I'll remember.

King of Spa in any car

WDC

One of, if not the fastest drivers in F1 proved with each car he drove

[Henrytheeigth]

Ill never forget his going for a **** comment at Brazil 06...

[FenderJaguar]

Difficult to say. All of the 2005 season. Especially Suzuka - that is the stuff legends are made of. Seeing him raising his game when Montoya joined McLaren (who I was more of a fan of actually) and Kimi being so dominant in the McLaren. Nurburgring - going for the win and flat out with that terrible frontwheel - no fear - seeing it break on the last lap. Total dominance at Barcelona. Monaco - not getting to the pits - having to make up for it on track and doing it. It was a great car but Kimi did something special with it.

Those engines blowing up. Those penalties on the grid for engines blowing up. The comeback drives.

Spa 2004 - well I guess most of his races at Spa. Spa 2008 when the rain came at the final laps. Spa 2009.

His first start with Sauber and getting points.
Imola with Sauber 2001 when the steering wheel came off. His comments afterwards.

Japan 2003.

The pole at Silverstone 2004. The 2007 season and the strong comeback. The strange season 2008 where it looked at one point that he could run away with the championship and didn't. What happened?

Starting to write this the thing I noticed is that I got the feeling that he sometimes "overperformed" and gave the audience more than what the average driver does. And that overperforming once in a while is more exciting than seeing drivers do the same average thing every other weekend.

If he finds his passion for F1 again he might be back - but I doubt it.

[hello86]

Oh what an emotional first post You made me cry actually

Well thanks Kimi for all the wonderful years. Will never forget the feeling I had at October 21th in 2007. What a day this was.
Will supoort you whereever you drive.

Thanks for being so unique and never playing a marionette.

Well I think it´s time for you to go on in live! Starting a family!

[hello86]

Ill never forget his going for a **** comment at Brazil 06...

[Sausage]

When my grandma died I didn't shed a single tear. But now this, Kimi no... please no

[karina_k]

Kimi on pole Spain 2008

Point and shoot

[zarooch]

Kimi I'll miss you, but I'll always support you. :bye:

Edited by zarooch, 18 November 2009 - 06:12.

[KiloWatt]

Spa 2004 without a doubt. Ice-cream at Malaysia (?). Heeeeheeee, loved the "Ice-cream man" comments on this BB.

(But guys, come on, crying? He didn't die...)

Edited by KiloWatt, 18 November 2009 - 07:10.

[blizzzzard]

Spa 2008 pretty much sums up his carreer for me. Good riddance.

[Henrytheeigth]

One may even say



That he had a fiery end to his career!

[wingwalker]

This was memorable, and by 'memorable' I mean 'batshit insane'

[Wade]

I was about to post that Hekki/Kimi pitstop. That and the others.

..............................

[Orin]

Through the smoke during Spa quallies.

Fighting Montoya in a tricky car - getting the tail out round the last corner at Hockenheim during qually and saving it, only for Montoya to do the same but bin it.

Pushing on at Nurburgring with the worst flat spot I've ever seen - and still putting in the lap times until the tyres exploded.

Taking Fisichella at Suzuka on the final lap.

Fighting Hamilton at Spa in the wet in order to keep his fight against Massa alive.

It's been an excellent career, and one topped with a WDC.

[xman]

Monza 2009 was special moment for me, I was at the grandstands and I was somehow guessing that this will be Kimi's last season at Ferrari and then Kimi scores a podium with that dog of a car F60 (special greets fly out to Lewis! ) and then I ran towards the podium to celebrate Kimi, it was great atmosphere and great to celebrate with other tifosi.

I couldn't guess that it would be Kimi's last season in F1. Kimi will enjoy rallying more so I don't see him coming back.

Thanks Kimi!

[Taxi]

That race at spain in 2006, when mclaren mecs sais it was one of his best races ever. We gave Montoya some 50 sec diference.

[klover]

Spa 2008 pretty much sums up his carreer for me. Good riddance.

Spoken like a true hater

Then the entire grid should get a riddance

[Colombo]

A driver in Chris Amon or Ronnie Peterson mould (better than former, lesser than latter: brilliantly quick on his day but irritatingly uninterested for too long periods and for too many important things.
By no means a great, but produced occasional great races. Spent almost whole career in top teams but had only 2 really good seasons in F1: 2003 and 2005. When the car was not good enough, he let it go. WOn the WDC in suspicious circumstances but overall deserved on WDC but no more. Hardly ever really styed on focus as he should have.

I wouldn't agree he would be missed, except by his fans. It's good that another place for a young and upcoming driver got vacated.

GC

Edited by Colombo, 18 November 2009 - 14:40.

[Odvan]

He will be back in F1 it is a 100% certainty IMHO

For what? I believe after couple of month and rally he will forget about F1 with all circus **** and F1 forget him.

Edited by Odvan, 18 November 2009 - 14:33.

[Odvan]

I'm probably not a truly fan but Australia 2007 - first race for Ferrari, fast but didn't suit him properly car - and right from the start hat trick.

Edited by Odvan, 18 November 2009 - 14:48.

[Taxi]

I always remember his passing on Alonso at sileverstone in 2005. He was light and fernando heavy and kimi was yet to stop. But the way he did it was amasing cos he pointed the nose of the car left and then went right very fast while alonso was still going the other side.

[Fabs]

Raikkonen can be fast... Raikkonen can be talented..

But he is no example of professionalism..

Professionalism is about Prost, Senna, Schumacher and Alonso..

Kimi is a fast driver who doesnt care that much.. and this is why Ferrari was so disappointed