64 replies to this topic

[BorderReiver]

While watching the Monaco Grand Prix today, I really began to accept for the first time that Kimi Raikkonen may well be World Champion this year. Up until today I never really accepted this fact deep down. I had thousands of doubts, too young, makes to many mistakes etc. But he was very professional today and drove very maturly to second place.

Now with the new point system (which I have to say I'm in two minds about, I like the 8 points places, but think that 3 points for a win would be better), and the new McLaren on the way, a Raikkonen WDC seems more and more possible.

Of course there is a long long way to go and a lot of things could change, but I was very impressed with Kimi this weekend. I'm not saying 100% that he will be Champion, in my mind it is much to early to stick my head on the block by saying that, but what does everyone else think? If the new McLaren is as close to Ferrari as it could feasibly be then, especially with the new scoring, Raikkonen's conistancy will stand him in very good stead.

What are your thoughts? Any of you willing to actually say 100% one way or the other? If so you've got more guts than I have. As for me, I'm abstaining.

[The RedBaron]

He could do a Roseberg this year......win just 1 race with whole bunch of podium finishes!

[AD]

Although not impossible, I think it'll be exceedingly difficult for Kimi Raikkonen or anyone for that matter to beat Michael Schumacher and his well drilled team to the championship.

Kimi definetly has all the qualities to be world champion , but not this year unless something goes drastically wrong for MS.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by The RedBaron
He could do a Roseberg this year......win just 1 race with whole bunch of podium finishes!

I agree that that is entirely possible, is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure. . .

[Rediscoveryx]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
Now with the new point system (which I have to say I'm in two minds about, I like the 8 points places, but think that 3 points for a win would be better)

I disagree with you, 3 points for a win is not enough

[Amrl]

I think it might just happen, if MP4-18 is reliable

He could do a Roseberg this year......win just 1 race with whole bunch of podium finishes!

Believe me he'll win with the MP4-18.

[Enkei]

I would love to see it happen this year, but fact is that the GA is still the fastest car around. So far Kimi has driven some extremely strong races, and most of that due to driving his car on the limit.
There is no question Kimi has the abillities to become WDC, he has proven he is a fast, clean, mature and fair driver. The only problem is Schumacher and Ferrari, untill the new McLaren starts racing, he must stay close to Schumacher and put him under pressure. So let's hope the new McLaren is a beast and a reliable one too, although I fear that will be the biggest issue since it's proven not to be McLaren's strongest point in the past. Forza Kimi

[michaelab]

Personally I think it's unlikely but it will be close. IMO I think KR (and DC) can expect a few DNFs when the MP4/18 comes out...if MS makes the most of those (ie by winning) then it could all be a done deal. I personally don't think the MP4/18 is going to be all that. At best it will be on par with the 17D.

It also depends on how the tyre situation plays out for the next few races. BStone and Ferrari have shown in the past an incredible ability to move up a gear in the last half of a season when under pressure.

Whoever wins (MS or KR - I don't think there are any other serious candidates) I hope they do in a way that they would have won with the old points system aswell because otherwise there will be no end of arguments about it and it will, in many people's eyes, be a devalued WDC. I like points going down to 8th place but there should be a bigger margin for the winner, even if it's only 3 points instead of 2.

Michael.

[kismet]

:

I'm a fan of the guy, but the fact that he's still leading the championship is almost surreal. Every time the WDC standings pop up on my TV screen after a race with Kimi's name still on top it feels like the world makes no sense whatsoever, like it's some gigantic practical joke and I'm waiting for the punchline, in vain.

[kismet]

I personally don't think the MP4/18 is going to be all that. At best it will be on par with the 17D.

Not much point in even introducing the new car then?

[Menace]

Originally posted by michaelab
I personally don't think the MP4/18 is going to be all that. At best it will be on par with the 17D.


Michael.

Dear Michael, please enlighten us why you think Mclaren would be dumb enough to use MP4/18 if it was "at best" on "par" with MP4/17d?

[Fortymark]

He seems very strong. It´s quite fantastic actually, he has the old updated car and leads the WDC with 4 points!

Kimi could crush the myth about MS fighting against superior machines.. This time it´s the other way around.

[Tank]

Voted no. He has the skills, he's could take it to Michael had he the machinery. Current McLaren is a mismatch (Monaco IS an anomaly), and the next one .. we'll see. But if it is at par with 2003 GA, things might be interesting. But McLaren reliability ™ will make a comeback, I fear, and that will make the year for Ferrari. Current points system means the now-classic Mercedes-McLaren gamble between absolutely crushing the opposition (if it even comes to that anymore, so suddenly, by just one new car) and parking the smoking car by the fence, will simply and just mean defeat in WDC & WCC.

[MortenF1]

He has the ability, and the momentum going, but I fear reliability will rob him of it this year.

[maclaren]

Michael is certainly the favourite, as difference is only 4 points and Ferrari usually the faster car with strong driver.

Kimi needs all the luck available to win it but it's not impossible

[Piif]

I think he could do it but then again, he does lack the experience that might be the decisive factor later part of the season.

But if it is not this year, it will be some other year. I'm beginning to be more and more sure about that...

[jimm]

I doubt he will win BUT if the new Mclaren is fast it may help end the dominance of Ferrari. Especially if they have to pull out all the stops to win.

It reminds me a bit of 1991. Mclaren-Honda had been the dominate package and did end up beating Williams in the end. But in doing so, they compromised the following year and IMO it led to the end of the relationship with Honda which took until 1997 for them to recover.

[Williams]

In a way Kimi today reminds me of Schumacher in 94 and 95. In those years it was assumed that Williams, following winning seasons in 92 and 93 (one of them totally dominant), would beat Schumacher in the end. Yet somehow, because of an odd Williams mistake here, a tricky strategy by Ross Brawn there, and all the while Schumacher's grinding reliability and storied luck on the track, somehow Schumacher kept sitting atop or near the top in the points table, and at the end of it all he walked away with two championships. I am not going to re-argue the merit of those seasons, I am just going by my recollection of how Williams would show up at a race with everyone expecting them to win and and somehow would leave Sunday night with egg on their faces. Their favourite phrase seemed to be "there are still lots of races left in the season".

In this season Kimi has shown speed and reliability and while people keep waiting for him to slip up and for Ferrari to dominate, he still sits on top of the points table. I think that Ferrari has suffered from three strange races at the start that belied their true speed and potential, and I think that Monaco is an anomaly among races, and I think that all could be back to normal business in two weeks time in Canada. On the other hand Ferrari could continue to find ways to lose, Kimi could find a bit of luck here and there and McLaren's new car could make a whole new season of it.

The bottom line is: Kimi arriving in Suzuka with the lead or at least a shot at the Championship would not surprise me in the least. Even if there are still lots of races left in the season.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

I voted no, but he is certainly maximising all given opportunities (a very good sign), and now head and shoulders better than DC.

The next tracks/races will favour MS/Ferrari heavily, and the latter will be very hard to beat (mp4-18 or not), however if KR comes in second, which he could, then he should be very proud of the achievement.

It took MS nothing to nearly wipe-out KR's initial WC points advantage, and frankly if Ferrari stop making strategy and pitstop (twice on RB) mistakes (and didn't make driver mistakes early), then KR would be quite behind by now. But that is if, if, if, and...Atleast MS stopped making driver errors.

So vote is no. But soon...

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by Williams
In a way Kimi today reminds me... races left in the season.

Nice post Williams.

[Ricardo F1]

Unless the 18 comes on line soon and is fast and reliable - it's highly unlikely, much as I'd like to see it.

[Arrow]

Its mid season and kimi's still leading the WC with the old car.

So basically all he has to do is match that with the new car and hes WC.
I think its highly possible and almost probable.
Unless hes hit with major reliability problems i think he will win the WC.

He might not be the most likable guy but shes shown himself to be a excellent finisher and hes always fast,unlike DC who as usual has fallen into his habit of mass mediocrity.

[VAR1016]

There should have been a "not yet" option; or run the poll after the mid-point of the season.

I am fascinated by all the confidence in the new McLaren; why is this?

PdeRL

[gerry nassar]

Offcourse, Id love Kim to win it and its incredible to think that we have just had Monaco and he has led all year.

He has the speed and skill to win the championship but the Ferrari is still the best car and Michael is still very strong. However, what worries me most is the reliability of the MP-18

[Nikolas Garth]

I still think Schumi will get there with a race or two to spare, but I must say Kimi's consistency is really starting to impress me and win me over.

[Fastcar]

KR WC 2003 ? not quite may be has last chance though if Ron hires Fisico.

[OpenWheelGuru]

I would love nothing more than for the Championship to be decided at the last race of the season. However, I think that MS and Ferrari will start taking care of business in the next couple of races. Kimi is having a great year and is a superb driver, but I think that MS will turn it up a notch and win most of the remaining races. I hope I am wrong.

[Williams]

Originally posted by OpenWheelGuru
... but I think that MS will turn it up a notch and win most of the remaining races. I hope I am wrong.

I hope you are right about the first part, and not the second.

[ffiloseta]

IMO, Kimi can do it. Hope he doesn't, though.

[mach4]

Would he become the youngest WDC ever if he makes it?

[felttip]

Wasn't there a poll just like this a month ago?

Williams has improved their FW25, and they seemed to have solved many problems with the car from the beginning of the season.

Ferrari are not likely to make the same strategic mistake that they made in Monaco.

Renault's development seems to have slowed, but they still have a competitive car that may score podiums at tracks like Hungary.

McLaren needs to continue developing their current car, the 17D, while bringing out the 18. The fact that they keep pushing back the release date indicates that McLaren is having problems with the car, and this doesn't bode well for KR.

I voted no, but my degree of certainty isn't very high. If the MP4-18 turns out to be much better than the others, KR definitely has a shot.

[Jodum]

Originally posted by BorderReiver


I agree that that is entirely possible, is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure. . .

I actually like how the new points system works, it rewards reliability over someone who wins a couple of races and does not finish another bunch of them. Kimi has won one race but has finished all on the podium except the Spain in which he DNF (which was not his fault), while Schumi has won three races but was not on podium in one (rd 1) and DNF another (Brazil), Im also not counting the fact that Kimi has a larger amount of 2nd places than Michael.

I hope that Kimi would win a few more races this year, but if he doesnt but continues to be a very reliable finisher, then I would have no problem with him winning the WDC with only one win.

[Hotwheels]

I tend to think No - BUT wuld love it if he does win it.

As for some of the posts, talking about 1 win only -- what is actually better ?? CONSISTENT drive the year around , he has been on the podium EVERY race he has finished (all but 1 ) and hence consistency should also be regarded as a factor -- considering his opponent is the Racing God himself with a car he is in love with.

[speedy]

Well, Kimi is still leading and now there are already 7 GPs behind. If Ferrari continue with their arrogant attitude (look at their Monaco strategy, they underestimated their rivals - look what Mr Montezemolo said about drivers before the Monaco GP, look what Schuey said about the new Mcl car...) they are on a road to disaster. And yes, Kimi has a realistic chance to take the title this year.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by michaelab
I personally don't think the MP4/18 is going to be all that. At best it will be on par with the 17D.

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!

[HSJ]

Originally posted by kismet
:

I'm a fan of the guy, but the fact that he's still leading the championship is almost surreal. Every time the WDC standings pop up on my TV screen after a race with Kimi's name still on top it feels like the world makes no sense whatsoever, like it's some gigantic practical joke and I'm waiting for the punchline, in vain.

Yeah, bit it's also AWESOME! I mean think about it. If before the season started we'd have been told that KR would be four points ahead of MS after Monaco, having lead WDC since Sepang, and with the OLD car against the mighty F2002 and F2003, would we have believed it? Any of us?

For the sake of argument let's say KR indeed wins the WDC title this year having the old car for the first half of the season and the new car for the second half. That against the F2002 for the first 25% and the F2003 for the rest 75%. Against MS and the (currently) most powerful team in F1. Now has ANY driver EVER won the title against such odds? Certainly not in the past couple of decades, but I think possibly never. Not that it will happen necessarily of course...

[Smooth]

I don't think so. He has had a couple of impressive drives, and has been fairly consistent, but the two tracks that really favor Michelin enough to negate the Ferrari car advantage are now past (Sepang and Monaco). Ferrari should start to romp beginning in Canada. I hope the new McCar is enough to keep it close to the end, but I expect it to have some reliability problems. Either way, Schumacher to take #6.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by mach4
Would he become the youngest WDC ever if he makes it?

Yes. He'd beat Fittipaldi's record by almost two years. He has the chance next year as well, but in 05 he'd have to win the title by July I think, which isn't going to happen.

[dan2k]

Kimi has been one lucky bastard, and at the same time lighting quick.
Result? Leads the championship.

Australia he was lucky to finish 3rd, because of safty cars.
Had Montoya not been hit in Malaysia, Kimi would not win but instead Montoya.
He was also lucky that in Brazil, both Michael and Juan crash their car due to bad luck.
Then in Imola, Montoya and RB having the problem allowing Kimi to finish 2nd.
This Monaco race is the first time, that he got a result without any good luck.

Can you onestly tell me HJS, that Kimi hasnt been one lucky bastard?
Common!
But I have a feeling Kimi will become world champion this season!
Just looking at everything that has happened so far this season, it seems like its just mean to be.
Kimi is getting these good luck for a reason, and Schumi not winning races is a sign also.
Who knows.

[Enkei]

Originally posted by dan2k
Kimi has been one lucky bastard, and at the same time lighting quick.
Result? Leads the championship.

Australia he was lucky to finish 3rd, because of safty cars.
Had Montoya not been hit in Malaysia, Kimi would not win but instead Montoya.
He was also lucky that in Brazil, both Michael and Juan crash their car due to bad luck.
Then in Imola, Montoya and RB having the problem allowing Kimi to finish 2nd.
This Monaco race is the first time, that he got a result without any good luck.

Can you onestly tell me HJS, that Kimi hasnt been one lucky bastard?
Common!
But I have a feeling Kimi will become world champion this season!
Just looking at everything that has happened so far this season, it seems like its just mean to be.
Kimi is getting these good luck for a reason, and Schumi not winning races is a sign also.
Who knows.

JPM was lucky Kimi's limiter was not set properly, Kimi would have won instead
Malaysia was a great drive from Kimi, don't think Montoya would have been able to keep up
In Brazil Kimi was clearly faster and your man threw himself off the track, how can Kimi be lucky
In Imola Kimi was on a complete different strategy, Montoya was lighter and so it looked like he was faster, but he wasn't
In Monaco, Kimi was the faster driver too, although Juan wasn't slow either

[Vagabond]

Originally posted by HSJ

Yes. He'd beat Fittipaldi's record by almost two years. He has the chance next year as well, but in 05 he'd have to win the title by July I think, which isn't going to happen.

It's not possible to actually win a WDC before the end of a season. FIA can always strip you off your points, remember a threat to MS and Ferrari prior to US GP 2001.

[yr]

It depends on how good MP4-18 is, but so far things look great.
Kimi has the speed, knows how to overtake and defend, he's
great in wet and in changing conditions, he also never falls
asleep during races like say Trulli. But the most important
thing IMO is his Schumi-like consistency which means he is
always there, any track, any conditions, any grid position,
you can count on him being in podium or atleast very close.
This is what makes the difference. Drivers like DC, RB, RS,
JV or Fisi etc have all just plain avarage perfomances every
now and then. Also other drivers of new generation like
JPM, FA and MW have their mediocre races once in a while.
That is something where KR and MS really stand out from
other drivers.

[Simioni]

I think it´s quite remarkable what Kimi has been achieving this season, and IMO many are failing to give it the due credit. Here´s a driver, at 23 years of age, still holding the championship lead with an inferior car against none other than Michael Schumacher. It´s great omen for the future, whether he ends up winning it this year or not. He reminds me of Hakkinen, but with luck and opportunity which are allowing him to blossom a lot earlier, and will probably lead him into evolving into an even better race driver. It´s a pity he doesnt have a personality to go with it, but Kimi is showing he doesnt owe to anyone on the track.

[AndreasNystrom]

im getting a bit angry soon, with all this talk about Kimi doesnt have a personality.
I guess everyone who says that knows Kimi personally. I mean, its easy to play a role in the pressconferances. And to be someone different in real life.

If Kimi doesnt have a personality, its still better then to have a arrogant personality.

anyway, Kimi was so unlucky last season, with all failures on the car that cost him lots of points, so this year he should atleast have a reliable car!.

[VAR1016]

Originally posted by yr
Kimi has the speed, knows how to overtake and defend, he's
great in wet and in changing conditions, he also never falls
asleep during races like say Trulli. But the most important
thing IMO is his Schumi-like consistency which means he is
always there, any track, any conditions, any grid position,
you can count on him being in podium or atleast very close.
This is what makes the difference. Drivers like DC, RB, RS,
JV or Fisi etc have all just plain avarage perfomances every
now and then. Also other drivers of new generation like
JPM, FA and MW have their mediocre races once in a while.
That is something where KR and MS really stand out from
other drivers.

This is absolutely correct; although I think it's a little early to tell about Alonso.

PdeRL

[Tuxy]

I'm afriad he's inline to take it.

[ffiloseta]

Kimi is OK. Looks like someone I'd drink a few beers with.

[Frank Rijk]

I agree to my friend Enkei...

In my opinion Michael Schumacher has had quite some luck too in his career, just like Kimi Räikönen has had on a few occassions perhaps...

But I never hear anybody saying Michael Schumacher is one lucky bastard and that he has only won his WDC's by pure luck.

[Enkei]

Originally posted by Frank Rijk
I agree to my friend Enkei...

In my opinion Michael Schumacher has had quite some luck too in his career, just like Kimi Räikönen has had on a few occassions perhaps...

But I never hear anybody saying Michael Schumacher is one lucky bastard and that he has only won his WDC's by pure luck.

Welcome to Atlas Frank

[Niro]

Yeah, welcome to the board Frank! Nice job with those umlauts...if not so with the k's...