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?

 

[Jen]

And rightly so!

 

[Greenlantern101]

Kimi quoted as not been paid euro all year. I suspect he won't be at the last two races. Sounds like Lotus have exhausted his patience.

Sky interview here
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/1...ed-boycotting-abu-dhabi-gp-over-lotus-dispute

 

[sobriety]

If I were Kimi, I'd just bung the car in the wall in every session from now on....

 

[MCLS]

Well he's certainly not a pay driver......

 

[Incubus]

Still don't buy the idea Kimi hasn't received any salary whatsoever this year, as I haven't heard anyone other Kimi say so. Bouillier admitted "Yeah we still owe him SOME money....So Someone's not being completely truthful here.

If Kimi really hadn't received any salary this season it would be pretty straightforward for him and his management team to take Lotus to an international tribunal. Prolonged failure to pay wages is just about the most basic breach of contract there can be, so if it's true maybe Kimi just wants finish this season after which his sights (and those of his legal people) will be set on just that?...

Actually when when you look at the sport's history it would't the first time a team is left facing ruin after an ex-driver sues them years later for non-receips of wages?........

 

[Incubus]

Well for all we know he might be on the verge of advising his legat team to take Lotus to a tribunal.

 

[siffert_fan]

For all we know "SOME money" could mean Kimi's entire salary less the $10 for the pen he got to keep at the signing of the contract

 

[Incubus]

Vomments mad on air on the subject during this morning's FP3 painted an even more confusing picture. Apparently for a team like Lotus the majority of their funding that isn't generated by sponsoring or private investors comes from appearance money, which Bernie is in charge of distributing, and that is paid in full at the end of the season. That in effect constitutes the "wages" that go into the pockets of all Lotus staff members. Presumably that doesn't apply to the drivers, whom you'd expect to receive monthly instalments, or does it? And if so are Lotus really that skint that they can't afford to pay their drivers before they receive their own appearance money? They also confirmed bonus payments are at the heart of the dispute but didn't specify anything.

Like I said this is getting ever-more confusing. Well in any cse that's a bit of distraction from the realities of what's happening on the track.

Alternatively it's also quite possible that I've just won the award the most authentically boring comment ever posted on any forum in recorded history.

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Lotus' silence on the issue speak volumes. If what Raikkonen says is untrue then why wouldn't they refute it?

If Lotus could have paid Raikkonen by now then they would have, which means they can't and so won't. It will be interesting to see if Raikkonen follows through with his threat to not race. Personally I hope he doesn't, it will be interesting to see what Valsecchi can do (when dropped in the shit, admittedly).

 

[Blog Zbod]

Kimi missed his customary ride to Abu Dhabi, allegedly because he was balking until Lotus gave him further assurances, so either he was serious about not racing or his brinkmanship is better than I would have expected. He and Vettel customarily share a chartered jet to the races, but this time he missed his flight and had to make other arrangements.

There also is a rumour that Raikkonen already is second-guessing his move to Ferrari, because, A. Ferrari's results are not substantially better than Lotus' (particularly at the moment), and B. LDM isn't likely to be so tolerant of Kimi's bohemian attitudes as is Eric Boullier. RTL Television's Christain Danner claims the whole deal was Kimi's manager's idea anyway, and Kimi is annoyed he's being "sent back" tere.

 

[Sakari]

Raikkonen wont be attending the last 2 races this year as his back is being operated.

http://goo.gl/31oAUl

 

[sushifiesta]

Autosport article in English about Raikkonen: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111218

 

[The Pits]

That spices things up somewhat.

 

[RasputinLives]

After some recent performances I'm not sure I'll notice he's missing.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

So third in the WDC looks very possible for Lewis now!

 

[teabagyokel]

You wonder how convenient the timing of the surgery is.

 

[RasputinLives]

....and whether Ferrari are concerned they spent a boat load of money on a driver with a dodgy back.

God forbid but if anything does go wrong with the surgery they are left in a very odd situation. Footballers have to pass a medical before they sign the transfer deal.

Do you remember when Montoya went to Mclaren with a dodgy back (and attitude)? Didn't end well.

 

[downforce]

He's doing a Murray!

 

[downforce]

So third in the WDC looks very possible for Lewis now!

I don't know, that Red-Bull is now so dominant that Webber is getting podiums.

And If Hamiltons results don't improve he might be taken by his teammate

 

[Greenlantern101]

The big question is, can they get a loan of Hulkenberg from Sauber. Or are they going to have to make do with a rookie. I can't see them being happy to do that. The Lotus is on form and the battle for 2nd in the WCC is going down to the wire. Lotus have a chance (slim maybe) that they could possibly jump the Mercedes and Ferraris with Hulk on board. Thats not going to happen with a GP2 rookie.