7550 replies to this topic

[Sammyosammy]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 19:55, said:

i wonder how proud you'll be next time he is caught drunk sleeping on a park bench with inflatable dolphin... or when he's 'fiddling with his gearstick' somewhere

If he only wore his racing gear when doing those things - prouder than ever!

Get real people - let the new season come. Sooner the better

Edited by Sammyosammy, 28 December 2011 - 20:03.

[Eden]

I think I'm the last guy who would defend Kimi (in THIS FORUM) but I feel I need to say this for the record.

Berger is free to say what he pleases, but his comment regarding the "vodka" and the "self discipline" is very pretentious, self-righteous and classless. I think It's a comment that fits very well with former drivers with a lot of frustration.

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 20:55, said:

i wonder how proud you'll be next time he is caught drunk sleeping on a park bench with inflatable dolphin... or when he's 'fiddling with his gearstick' somewhere

I would not be proud but I would definitely smile and lol, perhaps I'd join him with my own costume and inflatable dolphin. This Kimi must be a nice pal to have a party with.

Take into account he's not harming anyone, nor doing anything immoral (at least for someone who is reasonable). Just having fun, so please, oh please, let's not blow things out of proportion (I know this is asking too much in Internet).

Edited by Eden, 28 December 2011 - 20:34.

[Taxi]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 21:55, said:

i wonder how proud you'll be next time he is caught drunk sleeping on a park bench with inflatable dolphin... or when he's 'fiddling with his gearstick' somewhere

I'll be proud everytime the driver I follow does what he likes and behaves as a common human being not like a PR puppy. Sometimes people don't understand why we like him. It's not only his driving, it's his attitude.

[Clatter]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 19:55, said:

i wonder how proud you'll be next time he is caught drunk sleeping on a park bench with inflatable dolphin... or when he's 'fiddling with his gearstick' somewhere

When did this happen then?

[fullthrottle]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 12:38, said:

if i remember correctly honda built brawn car for years and had honda big money behind it. and they had the gray area in rules that favoured them.
hill might be right, age is not question, but i still stay true to my opinion - Kimi who's mood changes as wind blows to win championship again.... not in f1

Your nick name says a lot about you.... so who care about what outsiders say

[flowerdew]

Clatter, on Dec 28 2011, 19:10, said:

When did this happen then?

http://en.espnf1.com...story/2564.html

[bourbon]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 13:03, said:

well apprently he has contract for 2 years with LR (if he doesn't want to get rid of that soon), i doubt Ferrari wants him back, macca has multi-year contract with button and probably will sign one with hamilton and rb has vettel and young talents coming up when webber decides to leave or is sacked after 2012, but kimi is occupied, right. which other teams has potential to win?

Just because you are sacked by "that" team doesn't mean you will be sacked from others and in fact, one can go on to obtain another championship elsewhere after a short sabbatical ala Prost. Sabbaticals seem to be the going thing for Champions after driving with "them" Prost...Schumi...Raikkonen... I wonder why...

[Outsider]

Eden, on Dec 28 2011, 22:33, said:

Take into account he's not harming anyone, nor doing anything immoral (at least for someone who is reasonable). Just having fun, so please, oh please, let's not blow things out of proportion (I know this is asking too much in Internet).

just for a question - it's moral for you to stick out your 'gearstick' in public place? i think i'm reasonable, but this was just something that was TOO much

[flowerdew]

Outsider, on Dec 29 2011, 00:34, said:

just for a question - it's moral for you to stick out your 'gearstick' in public place? i think i'm reasonable, but this was just something that was TOO much

...I don't think he actually did? Did he and I missed it? If he has, sorry - that's a problem. If he hasn't, then I think that asking his fans to speak of their hypothetical shame in the event of a totally imagined future happening is pointless.

Edit: yeep, just found message board gossip about an alleged 2005 incident. Gross if true. Was there ever any confirmation?

Edited by flowerdew, 29 December 2011 - 06:52.

[Outsider]

flowerdew, on Dec 29 2011, 08:47, said:

...I don't think he actually did? Did he and I missed it? If he has, sorry - that's a problem. If he hasn't, then I think that asking his fans to speak of their hypothetical shame in the event of a totally imagined future happening is pointless.

Edit: yeep, just found message board gossip about an alleged 2005 incident. Gross if true. Was there ever any confirmation?

http://www.people.co...02039-15105602/
it's tabloid, they probably add something to make it spicey but don't make just things up.. and from Räikkönen's side there was no claims that it isn't true

Edited by Outsider, 29 December 2011 - 07:02.

[flowerdew]

Outsider, on Dec 29 2011, 01:01, said:

http://www.people.co...02039-15105602/

Thanks! I'd found the article quoted but with no link. No one seemed very impressed with the source, though. Any confirmation?

Edit: just saw your edit In my experience (had a friend who wrote for one), tabloids do just make things up, and in most cases celebrities won't dignify the stories by acknowledging them, so not a lot can be read from Kimi not denying it. Doesn't mean it didn't happen, but I would need more to convince me that it did.

Edited by flowerdew, 29 December 2011 - 07:09.

[motorhead]

Outsider, on Dec 28 2011, 19:55, said:

i wonder how proud you'll be next time he is caught drunk sleeping on a park bench with inflatable dolphin... or when he's 'fiddling with his gearstick' somewhere

That´s quite normal that sometimes boys take too many drinks in their 20´s, obviously you haven´t enjoyed that. Maybe you should...

[wrcva]

I am not sure why people still want to idle on OT, and off-track historical rumors about a driver but even if it did happen - good for him. He paid his bill, and I hope he had some fun... obviously it did not make him any slower.

I would rather have a normal human driver having some off-track personal indiscretions at a night club than a squeaky clean image managed corporate PR puppet driver getting involved in actual on-track lying, cheating, blackmailing, and race fixing...

even jelly fish has more integrity and stronger backbone than some of the image handled corporate drivers who are still driving... let's leave it at that

Quote

excerpt from a GUARDIAN Article, 2005--...It says a lot about the way sport has changed that such an incident should turn into a back-page scandal. Before grand prix racing went corporate, the drivers were expected to get up to mischief. It was almost part of the job description.

Just as the Raikkonen revelations were going to press at the weekend, a group of men of a certain age gathered in a pub in Surrey to raise their pint mugs to the memory of a man to whom mischief was second nature. On January 22, 1959, three months after becoming Britain's first world champion, Mike Hawthorn died when he lost control of his Jaguar saloon while dicing with a friend's Mercedes on the Guildford bypass, near London.

Hawthorn had been a noted rakehell, which only enhanced his popularity. Nor was he alone. Like others of his generation, such as Harry Schell, Peter Collins, Stirling Moss and particularly Don Alfonso, the 17th Marques de Portago, he enjoyed getting into and out of scrapes, in the pretty certain knowledge that no one would rat on him.

This is a coarser, cruder age, and the story told about Raikkonen certainly fits that definition. But if he is embarrassed by the nature of the act he is said to have committed, someone should point him to Chris Nixon's double biography of Hawthorn and Collins, where one of Hawthorn's girlfriends is quoted thus: "I remember him telling me that he and Fon de Portago once went out with two beautiful girls and just when Mike was wondering which of them was going to be his for the night, Fon announced that they were not going to participate, they were going to watch."

They might also tell him about the two world champions who shared a Monaco hotel bed with a female ice hockey referee from Sweden. Or about the party at which Graham Hill danced naked on a table before falling off and impaling his nether regions on the stem of a broken wine glass. Or about the time James Hunt spun on the straight at Brands Hatch during the British Grand Prix not because there was a problem with his car's tyres - which is what he told his team manager - but because, according to some observers, he was still high on whatever cocktail of drugs and alcohol he had consumed the previous night.

Hunt, incidentally, once made the tabloids for inadvertently peeing on British television personality Esther Rantzen during a flight from Australia, having found all the toilets in use. He also shared with de Portago a cavalier attitude to personal hygiene, believing that the use of deodorants masks essential odours that attract women to men. The success they achieved in their short lives makes it a hard theory to knock down...source

back to 2012 please...

[Outsider]

motorhead, on Dec 29 2011, 11:47, said:

That´s quite normal that sometimes boys take too many drinks in their 20´s, obviously you haven´t enjoyed that. Maybe you should...

i don't find it normal to flash with my private parts anywhere or let people see me drunk asleep on the street. and just so you know - i'm not a gearstick owner

[rm111]

Outsider, on Dec 29 2011, 10:28, said:

i don't find it normal to flash with my private parts anywhere or let people see me drunk asleep on the street. and just so you know - i'm not a gearstick owner

He was **** faced in a strip club, its not as if he whipped it out in a childrens park or something. We have all done silly things we wish we hadnt while drunk. Whats the saying? something like a life without regret is a life not lived. I would much rather Kimi still let rip than turn into one of these corporate dullards and sit all alone in switzerland watching cool runnings and reading about himself on theses forums.

[Taxi]

Two world champions in a Hotel with a Swedish girl... Hum.. Piquet and Rosberg? Hakkinen and Villeneuve?

[artista]

Outsider, on Dec 29 2011, 11:28, said:

i don't find it normal to flash with my private parts anywhere or let people see me drunk asleep on the street. and just so you know - i'm not a gearstick owner

I find judging people I don't really know pretty dangerous, to be honest. So, a tabloid says 7 years ago that something has happened and it must be true and enough to decide how a person was and how he is at the moment.

First, I don't think I have the right to judge somebody I don't know.

Second, go and try to guess what's true and what's not. You don't have go back that much in time to find clear examples of how far away reality is from what media say, even the serious media, not to talk about the tabloids. Just this year, and just regarding Räikkönen (there are examples for other drivers too) we had:

a) the whole F1 media, including "serious" ones telling us how Räikkönen had left the WRC and changed to Nascar, what left those of us who follow the WRC wondering what the F1 guys had been smoking, again.

b) The same whole bunch telling us how Räikkönen had been excluded from WRC, which was not true, of course

c) And what about the snowmobile crash? Yeah, the real story involved a snowmobile and Räikkönen on the snow, hand first. The rest of the story... well, the video is in the internet.

These are just a few examples. If you don't mind, I won't use what a British tabloid said 7 years ago to decide if I like how a professional driver drives.

PS. I have seen my friends, all of them normal guys (scientists, lawyers and so on), sleeping drunk on banks and other things while they were twenty something. As they grew older, they just matured, begun to drink less and are absolutely normal and responsible adults. There is a moment in life for each thing.

[wrcva]

Taxi, on Dec 29 2011, 06:13, said:

Two world champions in a Hotel with a Swedish girl... Hum.. Piquet and Rosberg? Hakkinen and Villeneuve?

could be Hunt & Barry Sheene

[Mauseri]

King Six, on Dec 27 2011, 16:57, said:

He'll get bored in a non-front running car and probably leave sooner rather than later, dunno why everyone is hyping this guy. I wouldn't want him in a midfield team, yeah he's fast but his attitude stinks.

[Outsider]

artista, on Dec 29 2011, 15:21, said:

I find judging people I don't really know pretty dangerous, to be honest. So, a tabloid says 7 years ago that something has happened and it must be true and enough to decide how a person was and how he is at the moment.

First, I don't think I have the right to judge somebody I don't know.

Second, go and try to guess what's true and what's not. You don't have go back that much in time to find clear examples of how far away reality is from what media say, even the serious media, not to talk about the tabloids. Just this year, and just regarding Räikkönen (there are examples for other drivers too) we had:

a) the whole F1 media, including "serious" ones telling us how Räikkönen had left the WRC and changed to Nascar, what left those of us who follow the WRC wondering what the F1 guys had been smoking, again.

b) The same whole bunch telling us how Räikkönen had been excluded from WRC, which was not true, of course

c) And what about the snowmobile crash? Yeah, the real story involved a snowmobile and Räikkönen on the snow, hand first. The rest of the story... well, the video is in the internet.

These are just a few examples. If you don't mind, I won't use what a British tabloid said 7 years ago to decide if I like how a professional driver drives.

PS. I have seen my friends, all of them normal guys (scientists, lawyers and so on), sleeping drunk on banks and other things while they were twenty something. As they grew older, they just matured, begun to drink less and are absolutely normal and responsible adults. There is a moment in life for each thing.

i don't mind people letting themselves to be loose from time to time, but doing that one must realize who he is and how much attention he'll get for his actions, that's called taking responsibility. lewis wrote a f-word containing post in twitter and everyone were going at him saying how bad example he is (not that i am lewis fan or so, i did it too). double standards ah?
btw wasn't it Räikkönen himself who said multiple times that he doesn't care about f1 and doesn't even bother watch races, because he's in WRC and so commited to it
actually he's been partying in my city too, so there are not only tabloids saying things. and i understand that some (probably most people) like to add something to their stories, if he isn't acting like he is, then no-one wouldn't haev anything to talk about
he himself has created a vision of himself that where the wind blows, so does Kimi think, Ferrari offered him a lot of money not to drive for them, okay then, i don't care about f1, LRGP offeres him good amount of money and he is interested again...

[artista]

Outsider, on Dec 29 2011, 20:27, said:

i don't mind people letting themselves to be loose from time to time, but doing that one must realize who he is and how much attention he'll get for his actions, that's called taking responsibility. lewis wrote a f-word containing post in twitter and everyone were going at him saying how bad example he is (not that i am lewis fan or so, i did it too). double standards ah?
btw wasn't it Räikkönen himself who said multiple times that he doesn't care about f1 and doesn't even bother watch races, because he's in WRC and so commited to it
actually he's been partying in my city too, so there are not only tabloids saying things. and i understand that some (probably most people) like to add something to their stories, if he isn't acting like he is, then no-one wouldn't haev anything to talk about
he himself has created a vision of himself that where the wind blows, so does Kimi think, Ferrari offered him a lot of money not to drive for them, okay then, i don't care about f1, LRGP offeres him good amount of money and he is interested again...

I'm on the iPad, can't write as long as I would like to, sorry

But a couple of things: Räikkönen has never denied that he likes partying, he has never pretended to be a saint, I don't see where is the problem.

About the LRGP thing, I'm a rallying fan and I'm going to miss him a big deal in the championship, especially seeing how he was progressively closing the gap. BUT, just a few days ago, we were not even sure there was going to be a championship in 2012 after the guy who manages the rights was arrested and bailed for fraud and the company took under administration. Moreover, the manufacturers (except Citroen) don't have money to pay for the works drivers and Mini even can't go to all the rallies and had to step Meeke down of the car. It's sad but that's the real situation of the championship. Moreover, If Räikkönen had continued, he would have had to keep on putting millions a year from his own pocket without the chance to use the material he needed or test as much as he needs for a young driver (that's what he is in rallying standards). I can understand pretty well that he goes wherever he has the chance to be, at least, paid. And if hevmisses wheel o wheel racing, it even makes sense. Nevertheless whenever he is asked, he still only has good words about rallying

PS. Sorry for the possible typos

[OSX]

grunge, on Dec 27 2011, 13:54, said:

Damon Hill Reckons Raikkonen Has "A Couple of More World F1 Championships" In Him
27 December 2011



Damon Hill believes Kimi Raikkonen has "a couple of more world championships" in him, and reckons returning to the sport at the age of 32 should not be a problem for the Finn.

Raikkonen left Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season to compete in the World Rally Championship, but he will make his comeback next year after signing a two-year deal with the Lotus Renault team.

The Finn, regarded as one of the quickest drivers of his era, won the title in 2007 with Ferrari and has 18 grand prix victories to his name.

Former world champion Hill thinks Raikkonen's return is good for Formula 1, and he believes the Finn can still be champion again.

"It is great - and good luck to him," Hill told AUTOSPORT. "He is going to have to show that he has still got it, which he has got a good team to show that in, and he is still young.

"He has won a world championship already, and I had only just got into F1 at his age, so he has definitely got a couple of more world championships in him."

Hill, who retired from the sport at the end of the 1999 season, said he would also like to see a "titanic" battle for the titles next year, the Briton hoping Red Bull's rivals can push the team harder in 2012 after a dominant 2011.

"We want to see someone upset the applecart, although I think Adrian [Newey] is fantastic, and [Sebastian] Vettel, [Mark] Webber and Red Bull Racing is a great team at the front – and they seem to be fun loving," he said.

"It is good to have that – but I know that they want to fight for it. They don't want it too easy. So a good titanic battle between three top teams would be fantastic to see."

Hill, however, said that despite Sebastian Vettel's dominance, the past season was thrilling.

He feels 2011 showed Formula 1 is in good shape, but he stressed the need to recognise the importance Europe has for the sport.

"Yes, I thought it was very exciting. It was a brilliant season. The sport is good, but there is still a lot that needs discussing. It is fantastic entertainment, but I just know that Europe and Great Britain is important to the sport.

"I think that is worth emphasising – it is not all about the bottom line. It is about going to place where people understand and appreciate the sport and they should not be denied access to it."

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/96841

[Outsider]

artista, on Dec 29 2011, 21:54, said:

Nevertheless whenever he is asked, he still only has good words about rallying

but not about f1, which he apprently has missed so much, only not in the time Ferrari paid him for not driving (i bet Ferrari paid him to say that he doesn't care aswell). kimbots can close their eyes to the truth and follow him whatever he's doing and find excuses to his strange behavior because he likes to party and is no saint, but be ready that this excursion in f1 might be as long (or short) as his trip to WRC was

[DrF]

Let's hope for your sake that it is.

[grunge]

RAIKKONEN RETURN ADDS SPICE TO F1

Sportinglife.com




Of all the drivers on the Formula One grid next season, there is one around whom interest will undoubtedly centre - Kimi Raikkonen.

The 'Iceman' returneth following two years attempting - and failing - to make his name in the World Rally Championship after departing Formula One at the end of 2009, seemingly disillusioned and disheartened.

Rallying was an itch Raikkonen had to scratch, especially as his love affair with F1 petered out after winning the world title in 2007.

There was an element of luck to his victory that year because with two grands prix remaining and trailing Lewis Hamilton by 17 points with just 20 available, his cause appeared almost lost.

Hamilton, however, contrived to throw away his opportunity rather than Raikkonen take it, but you have to concede he was at least in the right place at the right time to profit from the situation.

After finishing as runner-up in 2003 and 2005, the latter a mere two points shy of Michael Schumacher, his one-point success over Hamilton two years later was particularly sweet.

It should have signalled the start of a successful era at Ferrari after five years at McLaren, particularly after being freed from the corporate shackles that tied any driver to the Woking-based marque and then team principal Ron Dennis.

But 2007 was to prove his zenith because the following season the Finn ended up playing second fiddle to Felipe Massa's championship challenge despite a strong start in which he won two of the first five races, also claiming a second and a third.

And then, come 2009, Ferrari endured an abysmal year by their own high standards, failing to score a point in the first three races and totalling a meagre six after the opening five.

It was around that time rumours of Raikkonen's disaffection with F1 began surfacing, and coupled with the long-held claims relating to his poor feedback and wild partying, the exit door loomed.

Despite the fact he still had a season remaining on his contract, reputed to be worth £20million per year, Raikkonen was given a pay-off as Ferrari welcomed Fernando Alonso to the fold.

And so began Raikkonen's rally adventure, as well as the occasional dabble with NASCAR, effectively wasting two years of what would normally be the prime of an F1 career.

Now aged 32, Raikkonen has been lured back, with money, of course, being an obvious motivating factor as Lotus have spent a fortune in recruiting a man with genuine speed and talent.

Raikkonen, however, does not suffer fools gladly, so it remains to be seen as to the package that will be beneath him next year.

In their guise of Renault for the final time in 2011, there was an early suggestion the Enstone-based team could push the 'big four' of Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Looks, however, proved deceiving as they faltered alarmingly, never realising their early potential, and come the conclusion they only just held on to fifth place in the constructors' championship.

As one of an F1 record six world champions on the grid next season, Raikkonen will not want to come last of a bunch that also includes Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton, Jenson Button, Alonso and Schumacher.

But that is the very real prospect facing him, and if it proves to be the case, it then becomes a question of how long F1 will again be able to hold his attention.

[glorius&victorius]

I dont see where Berger comes from with his comments.. he was Mr. Party Man himself...

Even next to Senna in the best car (McLaren) on the grid he only got as high as 4th place in the WDC in both 90, 91.
Even Nelson Piquet in the Benetton finished ahead of him in 90.. and in 91 both Williamses including Patrese were ahead of him.

Berger only managed 10 wins, of which 1 was purely gifted to him by Senna.. so on his own he won 9 times.

Maybe those lack lustre results were more due to his lack of talent than the party life style.
Kimi with the same party life style still racked up twice as much wins plus a WDC.

Edited by glorius&victorius, 30 December 2011 - 09:22.

[Taxi]

glorius&victorius, on Dec 30 2011, 11:17, said:

I dont see where Berger comes from with his comments.. he was Mr. Party Man himself...

Even next to Senna in the best car (McLaren) on the grid he only got as high as 4th place in the WDC in both 90, 91.
Even Nelson Piquet in the Benetton finished ahead of him in 90.. and in 91 both Williamses including Patrese were ahead of him.

Berger only managed 10 wins, of which 1 was purely gifted to him by Senna.. so on his own he won 9 times.

Maybe those lack lustre results were more due to his lack of talent than the party life style.
Kimi with the same party life style still racked up twice as much wins plus a WDC.

You put it like Piquet was a mediocre driver.

[seahawk]

Quite pointless to compare different times in F1. F1 was more risky, but probably also less demanding outside the cockpit back then.

[glorius&victorius]

Taxi, on Dec 30 2011, 14:41, said:

You put it like Piquet was a mediocre driver.

indeed!

[Muz Bee]

glorius&victorius, on Dec 31 2011, 03:42, said:

indeed!

If you judged him on his final few seasons he was a mediocre driver, but even my lack of affection for the man and his political contortions wouldn't fail to rate any WDC even if he were the least of the 3xWDCs.

In that light I would say that Kimi did the least with his wonderful talent than WDC I can recall. He certainly had his share of mechanical misfortune at McLaren but his work ethic, or lack of, is legendary. I sometimes wondered if his rapid rise to top team (as we saw in even more immediate form with Hamilton) didn't contribute to his casual approach to the great opportunities he had been given. Maybe two years of hard graft will have added some hunger but we will fully need two seasons I expect, to see which way it may go. "Paid-driver" could become a derogatory term if he fails to live up to the expectations of fans.

[Mauseri]

Muz Bee, on Dec 30 2011, 21:38, said:

In that light I would say that Kimi did the least with his wonderful talent than WDC I can recall. He certainly had his share of mechanical misfortune at McLaren but his work ethic, or lack of, is legendary.

To be able to work hard is a talent as well.

You can't exactly blame Kimi, if all what he has been hyped to achieve, did not come true. It's not like he forced media to write the stories about him, good and bad. For me Kimi has proven to be a fast driver and good racer, and I'm happy with the fact that he is back racing, hoping that he has not lost any of that ability.

[Wolfie]

Quote

http://www.ts.fi/moo.../f1/294296.html

Vettel challenges Räikkönen in badminton

Turun Sanomat 31.12.2011 11:24:18

World Champion Sebastian Vettel throws a challenge to Kimi Räikkönen who is now returning to the playfield.

Vettel has finetuned his skills in badminton during the whole time Kimi has been in WRC. The men's challenge games in the badminton field have already been known for years.

Vettel has never won Räikkönen in badminton but according to his longtime game-buddy Tommi Pärmäkoski, Vettel believes he will also beat Kimi on the playfield in future.

– Sebastian asked me to say hello to Kimi, to tell him that he is ready whenever it suits Kimi. Sebastian has improved a lot during these two years and he believes that whereas Kimi is a bit rusty, he again is much more better than before. He boasts wondering if Kimi will even score one point anymore, Pärmäkoski said throwing more water on the challenge -sauna heater.

– However Kimi is damn good and talented in every way, Pärmäkoski admitted.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Quote

http://www.ts.fi/moo.../f1/294298.html

Räikkönen gets a big window in Lotus' development work

Turun Sanomat 31.12.2011 11:52:27

The new year has begun - and I'm sure Kimi Räikkönen who is coming back to F1-circles feels his withdrawal symptoms get less and the challenges piling up in the familiar Grand Prix -stars' style.

Lotus-Renault's team manager Eric Boullier summarized last season's downhill telling that the biggest reason was top driver Robert Kubica's injury in a rally accident in the middle of winter testing.

They saw in Renault how big the impact of a leading driver like Kubica was when the team lacked a mentally top tough doer like him who was irreplacable with his commitment. They badly needed Kubica's experience and attitude in R31-car's development work.

It's not difficult to make the conclusion that last season's experiences had a substantial influence when the team owner Gerard Lopez and team manager Boullier sealed so quickly the deal with Räikkönen.

Räikkönen's negotiations with Williams toppled and the Finn turned to Renault before the GP-weekend in Abu Dhabi. The contract was published three weeks later.

– Kimi is a world champion and they expect him to take the team forward with his own input and by the challenge of young Romain Grosjean, Steve Robertson said.

The ability to strike was maintained during season 2010

In 2010 season's second race in Australia Kubica came in 2nd and he was 3rd in Belgium and 5th in Abu Dhabi.

Last season Vitali Petrov and Nick Heidfeld snatched podium positions in the season's two first races but after that came a steep fall and for the rest of the season Renault was then racing with Lotus who had no points.

If the design department in Enstone factory led by manager James Allison will once again bring a competitive car on the track, then it's on Räikkönen's shoulders to see that the development work goes more positively than it did last season. If the car is slow, then even Midas couldn't turn it's competitiveness into gold.

Räikkönen is ouzing enthusiasm for work. According to himself his motivations is higher than ever before.

– I am happy when an opportunity like this happened. Kimi really wanted to come back. When you are away for a while you notice how much you miss back. Kimi still has a lot to give to this sport, Robertson says.

Räikkönen's WDC is from year 2007. His latest victory is from Belgium in 2009. Next season they will have three tracks - Korea, India and Austin - where Kimi has never drove. Mostly he needs to get used to Pirelli's tyres which are completely different from those Michelins and Bridgestones he knows most about.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

[BlackCat]

Can some Finnish posters remind me – did Kimi go through the army service, finishing with sergeant stripes (vääpeli?) or am I mixing him up with Mika Kallio? It may seem OT, but if he has squad commander training, he is capable to decide is it worth to order the mechanics around or to use the not-quite-ideally-tuned car that is there...

[Jovanotti]

BlackCat, on Dec 31 2011, 14:02, said:

Can some Finnish posters remind me – did Kimi go through the army service, finishing with sergeant stripes (vääpeli?) or am I mixing him up with Mika Kallio? It may seem OT, but if he has squad commander training, he is capable to decide is it worth to order the mechanics around or to use the not-quite-ideally-tuned car that is there...

This comes to mind , I don't know about its authenticity though...

[SkorbiF1]

BlackCat, on Dec 31 2011, 15:02, said:

Can some Finnish posters remind me – did Kimi go through the army service, finishing with sergeant stripes (vääpeli?) or am I mixing him up with Mika Kallio? It may seem OT, but if he has squad commander training, he is capable to decide is it worth to order the mechanics around or to use the not-quite-ideally-tuned car that is there...

He did get the squad leader training. practically sergeant. (vääpeli is a bit higher in the order.)

[mursuka80]

Jovanotti, on Dec 31 2011, 15:05, said:

This comes to mind , I don't know about its authenticity though...

Its a real video. He is Corporal in Finnish Army.

[T-Mobile]

That video was just weird. I would have thought this might have come up more often.

I wonder if he ever got caught eating ice cream when he wasn't supposed to.

[Muz Bee]

Mauseri, on Dec 31 2011, 07:24, said:

To be able to work hard is a talent as well.

You can't exactly blame Kimi, if all what he has been hyped to achieve, did not come true. It's not like he forced media to write the stories about him, good and bad. For me Kimi has proven to be a fast driver and good racer, and I'm happy with the fact that he is back racing, hoping that he has not lost any of that ability.

I don't think the "stories" are the problem chap. It's the truth that Kimi has shown little relentlessness in his pursuit of F1 success. A bit like Montoya in his attitude of entitlement. Don't get me wrong, I like them both for their honesty and big-balls racing approach. Something that's sadly lacking in most F1 drivers today. If Kimi can truly motivate himself to a very high level I don't doubt he has the talent. But hard work is not, as you depict, a God given talent and he must find it for himself.

[hello86]

Happy new year everyone

Courtesy of Wolfie

Quote

http://www.ts.fi/moo.../f1/294296.html

Vettel challenges Räikkönen in badminton

Turun Sanomat 31.12.2011 11:24:18

World Champion Sebastian Vettel throws a challenge to Kimi Räikkönen who is now returning to the playfield.

Vettel has finetuned his skills in badminton during the whole time Kimi has been in WRC. The men's challenge games in the badminton field have already been known for years.

Vettel has never won Räikkönen in badminton but according to his longtime game-buddy Tommi Pärmäkoski, Vettel believes he will also beat Kimi on the playfield in future.

– Sebastian asked me to say hello to Kimi, to tell him that he is ready whenever it suits Kimi. Sebastian has improved a lot during these two years and he believes that whereas Kimi is a bit rusty, he again is much more better than before. He boasts wondering if Kimi will even score one point anymore, Pärmäkoski said throwing more water on the challenge -sauna heater.

– However Kimi is damn good and talented in every way, Pärmäkoski admitted.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

[swerved]

hello86, on Jan 1 2012, 13:14, said:

Happy new year everyone

Courtesy of Wolfie

To quote DC, "He's throwing down a man challenge. You can't turn down a man challenge.", and i'm sure Raikkonen will oblige him, and probably bring him back down to earth

Kimi (unlike the driver concerned in DC's quote) is not one to turn down a man challenge.

[BRG]

I've always thought that badminton was a more manly sport than triathlons....

[RedOne]

Jovanotti, on Dec 31 2011, 13:05, said:

This comes to mind , I don't know about its authenticity though...

LOL I can't recall ever seeing Kimi shouting this much nice video

[Taxi]

RedOne, on Jan 2 2012, 09:10, said:

LOL I can't recall ever seeing Kimi shouting this much nice video

I'm sure Kimi must like guns too.

[hello86]

RedOne, on Jan 2 2012, 09:10, said:

LOL I can't recall ever seeing Kimi shouting this much nice video

Well I can´t watch the video (hate you germany ) but look how angry Kimi actually can get (0.33)
http://www.youtube.c...652FAAAAAAAACAA

Well and I almost forgot this yummy arse

Edited by hello86, 02 January 2012 - 10:10.

[artista]

hello86, on Jan 2 2012, 11:09, said:

Well I can´t watch the video (hate you germany ) but look how angry Kimi actually can get (0.33)
http://www.youtube.c...652FAAAAAAAACAA

Well and I almost forgot this yummy arse

The FIA even used those images for their summary of the 2010 WRC championship

Can't look for it here, but there is also a scene from shakedown in Japan 2010, where he needs the fire extinguisher and the guy who holds it reacts too slowly. He ended up taking the extinguisher from the marshall's hands, using it himself while a photographer holds the car's bonett.

[Mastah]

Quote

andrewbensonf1 Andrew Benson
Kimi Raikkonen is due to have his seat fitting at Lotus this week - plans to test a two-year-old car in Jan remain but no firm dates yet

[Zava]

^ wow, so no R29 but the R30? I liked that car

[hello86]

Thanks for those news

[olliek88]

Quote

AlanPermane: The Iceman cometh.... (well, to Enstone tomorrow for a seat fit!)

[Starish]

Yea was just about to post those, we should flood him with request for pics.