Kimi Räikkönen

Probably one of the coolest drivers ever to grace F1 alongside James Hunt.

His part life-style may not have been to some teams liking in F1 but you can't deny that Kimi was probably one of the best drivers on the grid from 2003-09. He should have won more championships than he did!

Kimi won his one and only F1 Championship in 2007. Kimi won 18 races, 16 pole positions, scored 62 podiums and claimed 35 fastest laps in his time in F1.

Kimi is probably the must unluckiest driver to ever grace F1 and the amount of retirements he had no fault of his own were lots.

Kimi won his first GP in 2003 winning the Malaysian GP and he claimed his last victory in F1 at the 2009 Belguim GP.

Kimi started his F1 career in 2001 driving for Sauber, he then went on to drive for Mclaren and Ferrari before quitting the sport in 2009.

Kimi produced probably the 2 most funniest moments to happen in F1 over the last 10 years, when he said at the Brazilian GP in 2006 when Schumi first retired from F1 and the other one at the Malaysian GP where the race was red flagged and he went to the garage and got into shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops and started eating ice-cream.

Whether you liked him or not you can't deny his talent, he produced one of the comebacks of the past 10 season by starting near the back of the Japan GP in 2005 and went on to win it! Probably one of his best race wins in F1.

Did you like Kimi or Not?

 

[The Pits]

Speaking of which I wonder what Rays reaction to all this is.

I have been keeping an eye on the news, expecting reports of a major explosion or earthquake in the Toronto area!

 

[aaron8831]

I have to admit, I am still amazed that it happened.

They must have given Kimi million$ of reason$ to leave Lotus (whom I bet are regretting making payments late (if the rumours were true)).

I'm sure that had something to do with it, but I have the feeling that Kimi wasn't impressed by the 2014 car for Lotus.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives

Helmut was saying Red Bull needs drivers that are hard working and interact with engineers , do the sponsorship and are a team built on two strong drivers (??) to deliver the constructors title and Ferrari spent too much focus around Alonso

Well Ferrari have got Raikkonen and two strong drivers and no doubt they will interact with the engineers and help deliver the constructors title for sure now

 

[Il_leone]

I am not surprised Kimi left Lotus because as world champion he deserves more than he is paid definitely having lead the team well for two seasons and the last two races have shown Lotus can;t sustain a full season challenge on the resources they have

Its not the first time the team has made late payments - you have to blame Genii Capital and Lopez for messing about with poor cashflow management

After Red Bull did not want him whether or not Vettel/ Marko had a say in the matter, Kimi was always going to consider one of the other front running teams with Mclaren going backwards and Mercedes locked it was always Ferrari or retirement

Kimi seemed more unhappy with the way things have gone with Lotus

 

[RasputinLives]

You're assuming Red Bull didn't want him because it fits your profile. My understanding was they had talks and couldn't reach an agreement which is different.

 

[Jen]

Kimi and Nando are my favourite drivers. Both are racers and 'characters' who stand head and shoulders above the remaining grid. There are certainly more racers on the grid but, now Mark Webber is disappearing, no other 'characters'.

It will be an interesting pairing, and could be very exciting to watch, even if Ferarri come up with another crap car!

 

[F1ang-o]

I don't think there is a Kimi v Fernando thread yet....
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/3973/raikkonen-vs-alonso-in-monaco-2005/

 

[downforce]

Alonso v Raikkonen

In 2001 - 2007 I would say Raikkonen to triumph

2008 onwards to hard to call for me, with the exception of the first half of 2012 when he was a little rusty and I would have said Alonso.

Other than the first half of 2012, for 2008 onwards its too hard to call for me.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Even considering Alonso's two titles to Raikkonen's one? Interesting.

 

[downforce]

Even considering Alonso's two titles to Raikkonen's one?

yes.

 

[cider_and_toast]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24159684

You can understand why he'd want to move if he hasn't been paid at all.

Renault refusing to comment suggests that the story may be true because, if it was false, they'd soon comment and they wouldn't confirm it as true in case they scare future backers into thinking they have serious financial issues so, their silence speaks volumes.

 

[Incubus]

There seems to be a slight degree of confusion over this. According to the equivalent article on Autosport the alleged non-payments relate to performance-based bonuses rather than regular salary.

Either way the end result is the same: he's off.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Yeah, and just a few weeks ago, they were saying on the beeb that it was only a couple of payments that have been missed and Kimi said on air (if I remember correctly) that it had been sorted.

 

[Incubus]

Maybe he declared on air was sorted, but declared nothing at all to the taxman, eh?

 

[Blog Zbod]

The never-at-a-loss-for-words Jacques Villeneuve says Ferrari are completely mental hiring Räikkönen.

The typically-mild-mannered Jenson Button says, "...[W]hen Kimi walks in that door, Fernando will start talking Italian to all the team personnel...."


I think the deal smacks of desperation on the part of LDM. First, being forced to apologise to Kimi (a story which originated with a statement made on-air by Finnish TV F1 commentator Oskari Saari). And second, surrendering his principles and forsaking Ferrari's time-honoured practice of the tiered drivers system. I cannot help but think it is a decision Montezemolo will come to regret because I fully expect 'Nando and Kimi to get along like two alley cats in a gunny sack.

 

[F1ang-o]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110635

 

[FB]

Meh, aren't the best drivers supposed to be able to drive round these issues?

 

[RasputinLives]

So Kimi. Cool guy or bit of a nob?

He's starting to come across as the latter.

 

[FB]

Not a team player, perhaps never a team player?

 

[RasputinLives]

Theres not being a team player and nearly taking your team mate off.

He fought a lot harder against Grosjean than he did Rosberg and Massa and I think that speaks volumes.