298 replies to this topic

[artista]

According to das Bild, Red Bull is planning to sit Kimi in a Red Bull F1 car next year. The article was published one hour ago.

http://www.bild.de/s...03434.bild.html

Before somebody shouts at me: I know it is das Bild and I keep belonging to the group that thinks that Räikkönen is not going back to F1. I’m just the messenger

Edited by artista, 11 July 2011 - 22:27.

[artista]

According to das Bild, Red Bull is planning to sit Kimi in a Red Bull F1 car next year. The article was published one hour ago.

http://www.bild.de/s...03434.bild.html

Before somebody shouts at me: I know it is das Bild and I keep belonging to the group that thinks that Räikkönen is not going back to F1. I’m just the messenger

And the translation:

Red Bull’s Sensational Plan. Räikkönen, new Vettel’s team-mate?

11.07.2011 - 23:00
By HELMUT UHL and DOROTHEA JANTSCHKE

A mega-comeback is being prepared in Formula 1. The sensational Red Bull plan: Kimi Räikkönen (31) should drive next year next to Sebastian Vettel!

Everything is still top secret! But BILD learnt: at the highest level, the Finnish world champion from 2007 (with Ferrari) is being touted as the successor of Mark Webber (34).

The facts:

● Kimi Räikkönen left the Formula 1 in 2009. Since then he’s driving rallies for Citroën. His main sponsor there is – Red Bull. The Finn has a contract until the end of 2012 with the beverage manufacturer. Already in 2010, Kimi was in conversations with the bosses to be Vettel’s team-mate, but he wanted to keep on rallying. Now he seems to have changed his mind.

● Red Bull Motorsports-boss Helmut Marko told BILD two weeks ago: "Webber wants to drive in 2012 for us. But we have other options. I don’t want to talk about it now. "

● Webber himself has upset the bosses with his resistance against the team orders on Sunday at Silverstone ("Stay behind Vettel" - but he kept on pushing). He must report. Webber: "If they want to fire me, I have to accept that."

● Young drivers like Daniel Ricciardo (22/HRT) or Sebastien Buemi (22/Toro Rosso) are not ready yet. Marko: "We need a second winning driver to win the Constructors' Championship. It brings a lot of money. "

● McLaren's world champion Lewis Hamilton (26), who had brought himself into play at Red Bull, got rejected by the top boss Dietrich Mateschitz: "He definitely doesn’t drive for us."
But very likely Räikkönen! He recently confided to a Finnish journalist: "I have never said that my Formula 1 career is over."

And, Vettel and Raikkonen are friends. To the serious question, whom he would like as a teammate, Vettel recently said: "Kimi."

http://www.bild.de/s...03434.bild.html

Note: the bolded parts are also bolded in the original article.

Edited by artista, 11 July 2011 - 23:34.

[artista]

Oops, Callisto,

I had not seen your post. Sorry!

[Callisto]

Oops, Callisto,

I had not seen your post. Sorry!

no prob,i dont mind deleting mine

[Callisto]

i suppose kimi could find a driver to put in the iceone rally car if the article is true

[cilurnum]

According to das Bild, Red Bull is planning to sit Kimi in a Red Bull F1 car next year. The article was published one hour ago.

Yer seen it. We're going to need something more than a Bild article before this gets any credence whatsoever.

I do think Raikkonen would be a decent choice and Webber's one year deals do seem to have run out of steam, but it really would have happened before now if it was going to happen I feel.

[Hole]

Dear Bild.

Will Kimi take part in a team where he may be told: "Kimi, maintain your position"? Will he be granted to race completely free without team orders that may favor Vettel? (who has been part of RBR for a lot of years).

Also, we've seen lately how Honrer is so hopeful of Webber signing a deal with the team, rather than the opposite...

I just don't see it. I think Bild just want us to click in that link, that is what medias are all about. More readers, more money.

I think if Kimi returns it may be with Mercedes. Neither Schumacher nor Nico seem to be being favored against the other, and it's a team that may only improve with the smart Ross Brawn around.


pd: also, funny how Bild named Buemi and Ricciardo as drivers that may be promoted to RBR in the future, while completely ignoring the guy that is doing better than Buemi, and who is proving to be very solid in races (unlike Ricciardo that still has to prove that).

Edited by Hole, 11 July 2011 - 23:43.

[cilurnum]

i suppose kimi could find a driver to put in the iceone rally car if the article is true

Part of any deal with Raikkonen will be that he gets to go rallying in the three week break during the season or something so he'll still be driving it. However, he wouldn't be stupid enough to do what Kubica did and go on the rally he did.

[Callisto]

Part of any deal with Raikkonen will be that he gets to go rallying in the three week break during the season or something so he'll still be driving it. However, he wouldn't be stupid enough to do what Kubica did and go on the rally he did.

i dont think robert was stupid to do the rally he drove and got injured in,sh*t happens sometimes

[artista]

i suppose kimi could find a driver to put in the iceone rally car if the article is true

As a matter of fact he could. It's an option.

But IceOne is one of the reasons why I belong to the "he's not returning to F1 wagon".

He seems to be putting a lot of effort in the team. They have the winter base for the Motocross team close to where I live and he's been here several times during the winter. Moreover, it seems that he's quite often watching them in situ during the racing week-ends.

[artista]

...
pd: also, funny how Bild named Buemi and Ricciardo as drivers that may be promoted to RBR in the future, while completely ignoring the guy that is doing better than Buemi, and who is proving to be very solid in races (unlike Ricciardo that still has to prove that).

I would love to see Alguersuari in a Red Bull, sometimes my passport thinks for me; but truth is that the German speaking media has been talking about Ricciardo directly jumping to the second seat in Red Bull for a while now, and it was not Bild.

[Callisto]

As a matter of fact he could. It's an option.

But IceOne is one of the reasons why I belong to the "he's not returning to F1 wagon".

He seems to be putting a lot of effort in the team. They have the winter base for the Motocross team close to where I live and he's been here several times during the winter. Moreover, it seems that he's quite often watching them in situ during the racing week-ends.

i guess kimi is just building a motorsport empire,he could get a manager to take care of his iceOne interests

[cilurnum]

i dont think robert was stupid to do the rally he drove and got injured in,sh*t happens sometimes

Rallying was OK, but the time at which he did it (right in the middle of testing) and the rally he was doing with stone walls in close proximity was not the smartest thing.

[peroa]

Interesting, interesting.
It is BILD, but they have quite good sources in F1.
I wouldn't be surprised, really, but I don't thing he'll sign a No.2 contract.

[Vesuvius]

I do hope those rumours about Kimi coming back with Red Bull will be true. BILD was one of the first if not the first to release a secret to the public that one Michael Schumacher will make a comeback with Mercedes....so who knows, this could be true.

Kimi would get equal status with Vettel, Webber does have one as well.

regulations wouldn't be a problem for Kimi, as cars havent really changed much from 2009, tyres are knew and then there is DRS but other than that everything is almost same as Kimi is used to KERS already.

[bourbon]

Dear Bild.

Will Kimi take part in a team where he may be told: "Kimi, maintain your position"? Will he be granted to race completely free without team orders that may favor Vettel? (who has been part of RBR for a lot of years).

Kimi would not attempt to run Vettel off the road - that is the essence of allowing freedom in racing - that is the essence of earning a team boss's trust. It is like Button, you very rarely see him pull some dicey move against other drivers. Certain drivers are cast in that mold - others are not.

Also, we've seen lately how Honrer is so hopeful of Webber signing a deal with the team, rather than the opposite... I just don't see it. I think Bild just want us to click in that link, that is what medias are all about. More readers, more money.

Well while Kimi is liable to do anything, I agree that we've heard these rumors many times before. When it comes to Kimi, I have to see it to believe it. But whatever "it" is, - I will be seeing it for sure .

Edited by bourbon, 12 July 2011 - 05:02.

[glorius&victorius]

Horner commented 2-3 days ago that Kimi was out of the question since he "has left F1 already" or something along those lines... but that can also be taken as a "we wont pay for what you ask unless..."

Definitely Kimi would shut up and just drive. I am sure he can do a job equal to Webber.

It is always interesting when Vettel and Webber are in post-race conferences that Vettel listens very carefully to every word that Mark says.
Surely Marks words that "Fernando was the deserved winner didnt go well with some people in the other side of the garage", not to mention the "I didnt follow the team orders" bit.

I hope Kimi will get a go in the Red Bull but doubt it will ever happen, although he knows what a Newey built car feels like.

[glorius&victorius]

but the BILD article (if that is what you can call it) is nothing more than sensational speculation!

[Little Leaf]

I do hope those rumours about Kimi coming back with Red Bull will be true. BILD was one of the first if not the first to release a secret to the public that one Michael Schumacher will make a comeback with Mercedes....so who knows, this could be true.

Kimi would get equal status with Vettel, Webber does have one as well.

regulations wouldn't be a problem for Kimi, as cars havent really changed much from 2009, tyres are knew and then there is DRS but other than that everything is almost same as Kimi is used to KERS already.

IMO Vettel would blow Kimi away. More so than he is doing to Webber.

Kimi and F1 are finished as far as I can see.

[kismet]

Heh, Bild with their annual Kimi-to-Red Bull piece...

Seriously, they try that on for size every year and it's never true.

[Sammyosammy]

Heh, Bild with their annual Kimi-to-Red Bull piece...

Seriously, they try that on for size every year and it's never true.

Yeah but some great material for Kuvaja and Robertsons to keep the hero at the front of the media

[SteF1an]

http://www.bild.de/s...03434.bild.html
http://www.motorspor...rspruechen.html
http://www.spox.com/...-gespraech.html

[antifozy]

wtf....
I have to admit, it would be fun to see him back, but I really doubt though. Anyways, RBR is Vettel's team now, so not sure if Kimi will be allowed to fight with Vettel.

[topical]

Oh god, here we go again...will you guys never give up hope?
Why would Red Bull want a driver who got his ass kicked by Felipe Massa and costs a tonne of money? Makes no sense at all...

[CodeRacing]

Raikkonen is one of the most overrated drivers in the history of the sport. Were he to step into the Red Bull team next year, Vettel would crush..nevermind the aforementioned fact, but being out of an F1 car for two years doesn't translate to pace in said car when one returns (see: michael shumacher)

[TFLB]

No thanks. He's only be there for the money and is quite old now anyway. Give a young, promising driver like Kobayashi or Perez the drive. Also, I think people would be unpleasantly durprised with Raikkonen's level of competitiveness after two seasons away.

[orndorf]

I love these rumors,i heard Ferrari want him back too so he's got options.

[Wolfie]

Heikki Kulta also wrote an article on the subject

http://www.ts.fi/moo.../f1/238328.html

Räikkönen a candidate to replace Webber

Turun Sanomat 12.7 2011 06:32:07

Europe's biggest magazine Bild Zeitung published in their Tuesday issue news that at this point shocked the F1-world, by telling that Red Bull might be interested in hiring Kimi Räikkönen with a one year contract for next season to drive alongside Sebastian Vettel.

The story doesn't claim that Räikkönen would be coming back. The story doesn't claim either that Räikkönen would be the strongest candidate for Red Bull's second seat.

The team is looking for a short-term driver who can win races, since the WCC is highly prestigious to Red Bull.

According to Bild's editorial F1-staff, the interest to hire Räikkönen came from a very reliable source close to the team. They schedule Räikkönen to be Vettel's team mate only for year 2012, after which the team's own young drivers would have enough experience to switch to the main team.

A week before Silverstone GP Christian Horner said in Swiss Servus-tv that Räikkönen is not one of the options from which they are choosing Vettel's partner.

When viewers got to vote for their favorite driver candidate Räikkönen got almost as much support as Mark Webber, who's contract has been seen as practically certain. Webber got 26,2 and Räikkönen 26,1 % of the votes.

When it was certain in October 2009 that Räikkönen would leave Ferrari at the end of 2009, Helmut Marko who decides about Red Bull's F1-driver matters went immediately on Suzuka's paddock to inquire if the Finnish driver would be interested to switch to their team after Webber's contract would expire.

However that meeting didn't lead to closer negotiations over a F1-seat.

Räikkönen has said more than once that he will make his decisions for next year only after this year's races are over.

All the time his condition for a possible comeback has been that there would be a seat in a winning team and at the same time freedom to race for the victory. At the moment every driver starting from Lewis Hamilton would want especially to Red Bull.

In May Räikkönen assured in a press conference before the Nascar-race that he has never said his F1-career would definitely be over.

– There were many reasons why I quit. But I haven't said that it's final. At the moment I don't miss F1. I have wanted to do different things and have got great opportunities to try rally and now also Nascar. I have never said that I wouldn't go back to F1-level. There are no plans about what I will do next year, Räikkönen said at that time.

Turun Sanomat, Silverstone

HEIKKI KULTA

[artista]

Heh, Bild with their annual Kimi-to-Red Bull piece...

Seriously, they try that on for size every year and it's never true.

Well, they can't be accused of not being coherent

[FlashMaster]

Love it and Webber to HRT.

[ICEBALL]

No thanks. He's only be there for the money and is quite old now anyway. Give a young, promising driver like Kobayashi or Perez the drive. Also, I think people would be unpleasantly durprised with Raikkonen's level of competitiveness after two seasons away.

He is only 1 year older than Alonso so no big deal with his age. Also give him the status that Webber has now and I think people would be pleasantly surprised with Raikkonen's level of competitiveness after two seasons away.

Edited by ICEBALL, 12 July 2011 - 08:28.

[goingthedistance]

Red Bull seem to roll out the Kimi threat whenever they are pressuring Webber to sign on the dotted line.

[differential]

If he comes back he'll get owned.. hes been away from F1 for too long to be quick within the first season again.

[Trippleight]

If Kimi had his choice of teams and a huge pay check I'm still not sure he would return to F1.

[One]

Red Bull seem to roll out the Kimi threat whenever they are pressuring Webber to sign on the dotted line.

[TFLB]

He is only 1 year older than Alonso so no big deal with his age. Also give him the status that Webber has now and I think people would be pleasantly surprised with Raikkonen's level of competitiveness after two seasons away.

I'd still rather see a young driver get the seat rather than a driver in his 30s.

[BRK]

Not again.

But yeah, it would be interesting to have him back, another world champ on the grid for a total of seven title winners in one season.

[cilurnum]

Red Bull seem to roll out the Kimi threat whenever they are pressuring Webber to sign on the dotted line.

Why would they need to pressure Webber into signing? That's nonsense.

Webber won't sign now, that's the interesting thing. Webber usually blows a lot of hot air around Monaco.....for a one year deal. That hasn't happened. I've always been suspicious about these one year deals that Webber has that seem to cause more than their share of trouble and why they didn't just sign a three year deal.......three years ago.

[One]

If Red bull were serious, then they would have NOT said it in public.

If it were true, then teams know that what they have to do to prevent Red Bull from domination.

It does not sounds all logical to me.

Terrible Red Bull they are playing badly.

[One]

Edit, Red Bull has not said anything about Kimi naturally, but there is no smoke where there is no fire,.. it must have come from somewhere, like PR agent of Red Bull... just my guessing...


Unless the deal was already signed. If so, Red Bull are terrible with Webber almost unethical...

[zawisza]

Part of any deal with Raikkonen will be that he gets to go rallying in the three week break during the season or something so he'll still be driving it. However, he wouldn't be stupid enough to do what Kubica did and go on the rally he did.

1.

2. May 30, 2009 - http://www.rallybuzz...en-rally-crash/

3. Actually I suggest you shouldn't talk about other people's stupidity.

[Vesuvius]

There must be something correct then because Heikki Kulta wrote about it as well, maybe they are considering him but it is all about Kimi if he wants to comeback or not.

[One]

One thing comes to mind, ever since the beginning of 2008 it was: Alonso to Ferrari - in the Spanish papers, right?

[Dunder]

I love these rumors,i heard Ferrari want him back too so he's got options.

No chance.

[cilurnum]

Why would Red Bull want a driver who got his ass kicked by Felipe Massa and costs a tonne of money? Makes no sense at all...

What, you mean the last driver to win a World Championship for Ferrari? It never ceases to amuse me, the people who jump on that particular bandwagon and paint over the inconvenient facts.

[artista]

One thing comes to mind, ever since the beginning of 2008 it was: Alonso to Ferrari - in the Spanish papers, right?

But there's a little difference. Alonso wanted that car.
In this story, we even have the statements of Marko saying that when they offered the F1 seat, Kimi's answer was "could I have a rally car instead, please?"

I'm pretty interested about a little part of the Bild article. Where they say Räikkönen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2012. I had not heard about it before. Okaaaay, they also forgot to tell us that they had a contract for this season.

Edited by artista, 12 July 2011 - 08:51.

[Jordana]

What, you mean the last driver to win a World Championship for Ferrari? It never ceases to amuse me, the people who jump on that particular bandwagon and paint over the inconvenient facts.

[cilurnum]

I love these rumors,i heard Ferrari want him back too so he's got options.

Nope, no chance. Alonso had his pick of who his team mate was going to be because Ferrari were going to pay Raikkonen a lot of money regardless, and guess who he picked?

[DarthWillie]

Bild is a horrible paper, except their F1 section. Almost always spot on. They where the first to report the Schumacher replacing an injured Massa story, first with the Schumacher to Mercedes story etc.

Webber is no teamplayer so needs replacing. Kimi is always fast in Newey cars, Kimi likes Newey and Newey is a Kimi fan. Could happen, I hope it happens.

[Little Leaf]

Oh god, here we go again...will you guys never give up hope?
Why would Red Bull want a driver who got his ass kicked by Felipe Massa and costs a tonne of money? Makes no sense at all...

Exactly.

Maybe they want him for his exciting interviews and personality?