53 replies to this topic

[primer]

No it is not what you think. Nudey pictures of Kimi haven't been circulated on the internet. Yet.

This is something much worse.

Kimi has been outqualified by Felipe Massa. On a track like Sepang. Sepang has a bit of everything really, Somewhat challenging slow-ish corners that invite drivers to make mistake during entry and test the traction control on the exit. Then there are parts of track that basically help you measure the size of your balls because they require so much committment. While Sepang will never be a classic like Silverstone, to me it is a good track to get a feel of driver's speed and talent.

Which makes me wonder about today's result.

1. Has the much hyped speed demon Kimi Raikkonen finally been exposed to be a bit of a second tier driver? The Iceman melted into a pathetic puddle in the warm and humid climate of Sepang?

2. What caused Kimi to be slower? Was he contemplating about the design and location of his next tattoo?

3. Can we expect Felipe Massa to outqualify Kimi in future as well?

4. Given that in the past Ferrari have backed one driver over the other, what should Ferrari do if they have to make any such decisions in the future? What should they do if this becomes a regular feature, Massa schooling Kimi on the track?

5. Does it make any sense to be paying Kimi his huge salary when Massa can deliver better result on lesser money? Surely it looks a bit ridiculous to be paying a driver so much money for essentially being your number two driver?


All this is not to take *anything* away from Felipe Massa. He can't afford a flashy tattoo, but he has done two very beautiful things this weekend. Let us all come together in congratulating Felipe on:

1. His good performance in today's qualifying.

2. For owning Ted Kravitz in the interview.

Well done Ferrari. Well done Felipe Massa.

Kimi who?

EDIT: Post edited to fix link, and fix a grammar error.

[jokuvaan]

[rce]

Originally posted by jokuvaan

Ditto.

Primer - are you serious?! Come on - one effin' qualifying session and you're asking "Kimi who?"

[maddindian]

Would different fuel loads matter? Kimi might be running heavier.

Either way, we will find out in the race!

[former champ]

Im sure Massa will outqualify Kimi in the future, I think that's a given.

That said, great thread.

[RiDE]

/waits

[lattitude]

Does that end up making Schumi the greatest?

Does it answer to how Kimi will fare against Schumi in a Ferrari?


But still early days to draw conclusion.

[robnyc]

Originally posted by former champ
Im sure Massa will outqualify Kimi in the future, I think that's a given.

correct. he is the experienced driver who also happens to be fast. I wonder what Shumi should be thinking right now

[kar]

I was watching free practice yesterday and Massa was almost Michael-esque in the cockpit, he was a fighter pilot adjusting every single knob on the wheel and cockpit during his lap to squeeze the most out of the car.

Then, like Michael, he had a cynically glib response to a typically braindead Ted Kravitz question.

Will be good to see how Kimi responds, because we saw Lewis push Alonso this week to a great qualifying effort, will be interesting to see the race unfold.

[emburmak]

I dont think KR is over-rated (except those who blindly call him great) it is more a question of he not getting to grips with the Ferrari as well as FM who has at least two years as tester nd driver. KR will get there; its just that he ain't there yet.

[Makarias]

It's sad to hear that luxury brands like Ferrari are hiring workers from the third world, paying **** salaries that won't even afford them the opportunity to properly decorate their bodies. Scandal of the decade!

[slapstick]

Massa used to outqualify Schumacher also during the last season.

[dde]

Originally posted by slapstick
Massa used to outqualify Schumacher also during the last season.

Yeah, right.

[former champ]

Originally posted by robnyc
I wonder what Shumi should be thinking right now

Probably wouldn't even be thinking about it. Read the other day that he was out swimming with whales so he seems to be loving retirement.

That said, he lost none of his superb speed and committment last year so he would be looking good this year, no matter who he was up against.

[slapstick]

Originally posted by dde


Yeah, right.

Five times.

[Chubby_Deuce]

This is the kind of thread that makes me tingly inside.

[kar]

Originally posted by slapstick


Five times.

Fuel adjusted just once I think.

[Uxoros]

Kimi bashers - Again Exposed.

[slapstick]

Originally posted by kar


Fuel adjusted just once I think.

And how many times MS outqualified FM because fuel loads?

[PassWind]

Originally posted by kar


Fuel adjusted just once I think.

Kimi is still Kimi and I am going to stick up for him this time, everyone is aware that some teams are not extracting the maximum out of their power plants all the time due to longevity reasons. There is indeed again as everyone knows a cloud over Kimi's engine.

It was also rumored that Kimi was to run a slightly less aggressive rev/fuel map for quali in order to make it to the finish line in the race.

I am not saying this is what happened as I do believe Massa always has and is damn quick when he pulls his finger out. I just think Kimi may have been running a little conservative for a reason other than ability to keep up with Massa.

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by slapstick
And how many times MS outqualified FM because fuel loads?

Who cares ;)

[kar]

Originally posted by slapstick


And how many times MS outqualified FM because fuel loads?

I can't remember too many instances, actually any, where Michael was running more than a single lap lighter than Felipe. If you can though I'd be interested to see which ones.

[schufan]

Its nice to see Massa ahead of kimi as lot of people had thought kimi would thrash him in terms of speed that surely has not happned yet.its still very early to call interms of who is faster then whom as this was the 1st qualifying with them head to head..but its just quali and who knows what will happen in the race.

and as far as last year is concerned i dont think many times Michael had less fuel then Massa as Kar said,infact he may have had more fuel then Massa but managed to finish ahead of him,i dont remember it.besides it doesnt matter much who gets the pole,its important who finishes ahead when the chequred flag comes out.

[skonks]

Originally posted by schufan


and as far as last year is concerned i dont think many times Michael had less fuel then Massa as Kar said,infact he may have had more fuel then Massa but managed to finish ahead of him,i dont remember it.besides it doesnt matter much who gets the pole,its important who finishes ahead when the chequred flag comes out.

There was only one time Schumacher had less fuel than Massa, during quali last year - and that was Monza.

[Lifew12]

I think the original poster was right in his rational and logical assessment of the situation.

It's quite clear, from this one solitary qualifying session alone, that Kimi Raikkonen is crap, that he will never win a race again, and that he has no chance in the title race with Felipe Massa alongside him at Ferrari.

That's it; Kimi's gone, and Massa is quite obviously faster, at every circuit, in every session. Full stop.

[512 TR]

I don't want to do it...but I told you so!

But wait for the race. Kimi is no slouch and he has the pace to match Felipe from P3. But if Felipe wins this race by let's say less than 5 seconds it will have the Alain Prost and Juan Manuel Fangio stamp all over it. That's what F1 is all about. The entire weekend! Setting up the car to be good on both qualifying and the race.

My Prediction is that Felipe will beat Kimi by less than 5 seconds. People will come on here and say what a great drive from by Kimi but they will totally forget the work Felipe has done this weekend.

[Powersteer]

Originally posted by primer
Kimi who?

Why didn't you ask this question after the first race?? Kimi is an ice yeti, he comes from the coldest part of all the driver so the heat in Sepang won't attack his fitness but it would be painful for him, like being burned.

[F1Fund]

You can't compare fuel loads from last years qualy to this year.

The teams put more fuel in one car than the other to avoid possible safety car issues with the new rules. Last year it would probably have been 1 lap but now it's 2 (maybe 3).

I think it's going to be hard for drivers to out qualify team mates if they are the heavier car.

We don't know what the difference would have been in Oz so theres no way you can compare or make any judgement from one qualy session.

[macoran]

I thought I had just seen a new F1 dictionary of terminology pass by ?

[Aramchek]

Yes, so Massa outqualified Kimi who. So? There are some explanations:

a) Massa is not crap, you know. Last year he was very close to Schumacher in 2nd half of the season.

b) Kimi's engine has some concerns about. I think that Ferrari has chosen -wisely- a conservative approach for this race. However their race pace is so superior that I would bet a 1-2 for them tomorrow.

[Lifew12]

Originally posted by 512 TR
But if Felipe wins this race by let's say less than 5 seconds it will have the Alain Prost and Juan Manuel Fangio stamp all over it. That's what F1 is all about. The entire weekend! Setting up the car to be good on both qualifying and the race.

Massa, Prost, Fangio - the great triumvirate of F1 history!

Actually, F1 is not about 'the whole weekend' - it's about getting across the line first on Sunday, as that is all that counts.

If Massa beats Raikkone tomorrow I, for one, will admit to being very surprised.

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by primer
Kimi who?

Give the guy a break, he is leading the championship. And propably does so after tomorrow as well

[512 TR]

Originally posted by Lifew12


Massa, Prost, Fangio - the great triumvirate of F1 history!

Actually, F1 is not about 'the whole weekend' - it's about getting across the line first on Sunday, as that is all that counts.

If Massa beats Raikkone tomorrow I, for one, will admit to being very surprised.

But if Felipe's pole leads to the win by less than expected he did the right thing, right?

It will be close because he's lighter than Kimi and the McLarens. He is forced to really step on it early on and open up a +10 seconds lead. Will he do it? That's the question. But if he does...it will have a champion mark all over it. The win is what's count and the win is founded on the race strategy. It will be close, no doubt! If he's ahead at the first stop he will win it.

[HoldenRT]

Originally posted by primer
No it is not what you think. Nudey pictures of Kimi haven't been circulated on the internet. Yet.

Well then I'm done with this topic!

[ademm]

It is too early to tell. Lets wait europe and a couple of races.
In the first race Massa was faster in first day practice, then Raikkonen was faster in the second day but Massa had a failing car which CAN lead to slow times.
Likewise today Raikkonen has a suspected engine and that CAN lead to slow times.
But one thing is clear there is not much difference between them.

[whoisjohngalt]

this thread is ...way to early to make definitive conclusions and hey give the guy a break, isn't he allowed to have some day off? alonso has...schumi has...heck some drivers even has more off days than good-ones.

[hello86]

Originally posted by whoisjohngalt
this thread is ...way to early to make definitive conclusions and hey give the guy a break, isn't he allowed to have some day off? alonso has...schumi has...heck some drivers even has more off days than good-ones.

don´t think that they will understand that.

[Arrow]

Bit early to say that , but if Massa out races him tomorrow it will be a blow to him for sure. Massa's skills are well known for many years.

[SuperDaan]

Maybe Kimi's engine is not running @ 19.000 rpm this weekend. Who knows, can be a lot of things, maybe more fuel. 1 qualy doesnt say anything.

[hello86]

Originally posted by Arrow
Bit early to say that , but if Massa out races him tomorrow it will be a blow to him for sure. Massa's skills are well known for many years.

and? it would be just one race. remember last year. massa finished ahead of schumi.

[Dudley]

Originally posted by kar


Fuel adjusted just once I think.

So please tell us exactly how much fuel was in both Ferraris today then?

[HSJ]

Originally posted by primer


Kimi who?

I'm sure there have been a number of people just waiting for the first possible opportunity (not counting winter testing) to say/post something like your thread starter. Congratulations on beating all the other guys to the punch. Very predictable, but it really just underlines your insecurities/fears regarding Kimi. If you were confident that Kimi was second tier or just plain sucks, you wouldn't have to jump on the first opportunity, but instead you could wait, say, at least until tomorrow. But then it might be too late. Don't worry though, you'll look foolish enough once the season progresses further.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Chubby_Deuce
This is the kind of thread that makes me tingly inside.

Please do NOT elaborate on that!

*shudder*

[Chubby_Deuce]

People that get emotional over F1... really wind me up. Sorry.

[smirnoff-ice]

Originally posted by hello86


and? it would be just one race. remember last year. massa finished ahead of schumi.

but schueys position in the team was very clear, so it had no consequences.
kimi is not long ennough at ferrari to allow himself such bad performances as he showed today.
2, 3 races more of that and the team will turn even more to (the italian speeking) massa.

[slapstick]

Originally posted by smirnoff-ice

kimi is not long ennough at ferrari to allow himself such bad performances as he showed today.
2, 3 races more of that and the team will turn even more to (the italian speeking) massa.

Like the bad performance FA displayed at Melbourne? I mean almost getting beaten up by a rookie in his first race is totally embarrassing.

[the9th]

Kimi's hell fast. Let's get the word out there. Listen to Sauber, now. Forget what he said before. Don't count Kimi out just yet. We'll see what happens.
Go Fandango!
Show hem Massa! ...and Hamilton, especially Heidfeld...

[checkonetwo]

i think a lot of people still underestimate ferraris's driver line-up somehow. it's not just kimi.

couple of years ago it was common knowledge that felipe has the speed, but also his fair share of brainfarts on the track. which was true. but he has already been pretty much on top of that last season, when he wasn't supposed to be challenging herr schumacher, which he certainly did on a few occasions. i feel a massa without the cerebral shock moments could develop into a serious title contender, even having raikkonen as a teammate.

[the9th]

Originally posted by checkonetwo
i think a lot of people still underestimate ferraris's driver line-up somehow. it's not just kimi.

couple of years ago it was common knowledge that felipe has the speed, but also his fair share of brainfarts on the track. which was true. but he has already been pretty much on top of that last season, when he wasn't supposed to be challenging herr schumacher, which he certainly did on a few occasions. i feel a massa without the cerebral shock moments could develop into a serious title contender, even having raikkonen as a teammate.

If Felipe has the Speed and Kimi had the Speed why can't Heidfeld have the Speed? And what about Speed? I think you get the drift...

[Sakae]

Considering that Kimi' car mounts suspect motor, therefore there is no equality in equipment between him and his teammate in this race. It's too soon to write the guy off; not to say that he might be also little suprised by competitivensess factor that exist within Ferrari team.

I also submit that it's possible that Kimi had matured, and he is prepared not to win, as long as he collects some race points. That could be a new factor with him, that he learned of MS. Very much different from certain sh** heads of the past who do not race at F1 anymore.

Now we have to wait.