after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

why should kimi return to f1?

Because his friend was on the other side of the road.

I agree. Why should he return, because I wouldn't.

gpringsx:

more cash my man,more cash

The question is, will any team put up with someone who appears so disinterested, delivers average performances, fails to communicate, can't handle the media and demands Michael Schumacher wages, for all of the above?

Kimi is going to Mercedes for 2010!

And it makes sense, too.

Mercedes / Haug can finally choose his drivers. They gave the boot to Button as soon as the Brawn takeover was finalized. Haug picks a german driver in Rosberg and a known quantity (and friend) in Kimi.

Kimi does not have to deal with Dennis, gets to do rallying, gets a good car for next year and a nice salary from Merc. Kimi definately cost more to Merc than Button would have demanded.

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

Have to agree with the root of your post there. we've seen the last of Kimi in F1 I fear......F1 is getting more boring by the second. all we need now is for the last real personality and character, Mark Webber, to leave and then we are genuinely stuck with the PR Robots, Vettel isn't so far gone yet, but the rest of them? Forget it. 

no t.c.:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

Have to agree with the root of your post there. we've seen the last of Kimi in F1 I fear......F1 is getting more boring by the second. all we need now is for the last real personality and character, Mark Webber, to leave and then we are genuinely stuck with the PR Robots, Vettel isn't so far gone yet, but the rest of them? Forget it. 

He could be off to Brawn AKA Mercedes, i really have to get used to the changes of names.

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

no t.c.:

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

Which is why kimi is going to spend the year rallying? get used to the idea, no top team will ever be interested in Kimi again unless he drops the ridiculous wage demands. he has become too big of a risk. A year off will simply mean that he hasnt driven an F1 car for 18 months. memories are short in F1 and so is money. Its a shame because F1 needs people like Kimi. On his day he's great but those days have become few and far between. The bottom line is that if the teams thought Kimi was sooo good they would pay .. they arn't and thats the bottom line.

twinkle_toes22:

no t.c.:

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

Which is why kimi is going to spend the year rallying? get used to the idea, no top team will ever be interested in Kimi again unless he drops the ridiculous wage demands. he has become too big of a risk. A year off will simply mean that he hasnt driven an F1 car for 18 months. memories are short in F1 and so is money. Its a shame because F1 needs people like Kimi. On his day he's great but those days have become few and far between. The bottom line is that if the teams thought Kimi was sooo good they would pay .. they arn't and thats the bottom line.

I think he could be off to Mercedes. I cant see Heidfeld and Rosberg working, but Kimi and Rosberg might work a little better. Kimi is just going to have to pull his finger out and do a little PR work, simplessss!

twinkle_toes22:

no t.c.:

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

Which is why kimi is going to spend the year rallying? get used to the idea, no top team will ever be interested in Kimi again unless he drops the ridiculous wage demands. he has become too big of a risk. A year off will simply mean that he hasnt driven an F1 car for 18 months. memories are short in F1 and so is money. Its a shame because F1 needs people like Kimi. On his day he's great but those days have become few and far between. The bottom line is that if the teams thought Kimi was sooo good they would pay .. they arn't and thats the bottom line.

WOW.   Some pretty harsh and blunt words there, but ultimatley truthfull ones. Kimi's stock is of low value in the paddock right now and Kimi and his managers better realise this or we wont be seeing him F1 again. 

I doubt we will see Kimi back in F1, which is a shame due to him being a talented racer and the dark cloud he would be leaving under, i.e. services no longer required at Ferrari. On the offical F1 site is a Q&A with Kimi posted today.  http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/11/10229.html

For months it’s been merely an option. Now it looks set to become a reality. Kimi Raikkonen will take a one-year sabbatical from Formula One racing in 2010, to bridge the gap from one competitive car to another - or so he hopes. Some fear the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix may have been the Finn’s last race, and that would be a shame - seeing a great character leave the paddock with no further ado. Then again, the ‘Iceman’ can usually be relied on to surprise…

Q: Kimi, we learned yesterday that you are thinking of taking a year off from Formula One racing. What is the state of affairs?
Kimi Raikkonen: Yes, that appears to be the case. I could not agree terms with McLaren so I have decided to take a one-year sabbatical.

Q: You always said that your staying in Formula One was dependant on having a competitive car. Presumably you now feel this is not achievable for 2010?
KR: Yes. I felt McLaren offered the best opportunity to win races and challenge for the drivers’ championship and if that would not work the one-year break is the result. And to be honest, I will only return in 2011 if a competitive drive is available.

Q: What would you do in that year off? Rallying? Look for other talents lurking within you?
KR: I do not know yet. I will look at competing in rallying. Again, naturally I want to drive a competitive car. If not I will spend more time with my family and friends.

Q: And how convinced are you that you will be back in 2011? Couldn’t going now mean the end of your Formula One career? Are you ready for that?
KR: As I said, I will only return in 2011 if I can drive a competitive car. I do not want to race just to make up the numbers. That does not interest me. But there’s a lot of time until then, so let’s wait and see what happens in the months ahead.

Q: The McLaren route is now blocked following their signing of Jenson Button. What brought your negotiations with them to a halt?
KR: My management held many meetings with McLaren. Unfortunately, certain issues could not be resolved. We knew in the last three or four days that it would be highly unlikely a deal could be reached. Now we know it is definite.

Q: What about moving to the newly formed Mercedes GP team? Have you put out any feelers towards Brackley?
KR: No, I have not held talks with Brawn. I feel they will run two German drivers next year now that Mercedes are involved.

Q: There was a lot of speculation concerning the role salary played in Button’s switch to McLaren - and lots of reports suggesting the same team were unwilling to meet your pay demands. What is your position on bargaining for salary?
KR: I feel a good driver can make a bigger difference nowadays. If you look at how close the whole grid was this year, if a driver can lap two-tenths faster that is worth many positions on the grid. That could easily be the difference between winning and losing.

Q: 2009 was your ninth season in Formula One racing. Have you achieved what you wanted? Your Ferrari successor Alonso was quoted as saying that after Ferrari he will quit, because after Ferrari any other team is a step down. So you could go out with your head held high…
KR: I achieved my dream of winning the drivers’ world championship. I would like to win another championship, but I can only do that if I have a competitive car. It’s that simple.

Q: How much of a petrol head still lays within Kimi Raikkonen?
KR: I have enjoyed my time in F1 and I still have ambitions. In the right circumstances I am very keen to return. The door is open. Let’s see what the future brings.

By the look of one of his answer's he may not go to WRC if he does not get a competitive car.

redfrog:

twinkle_toes22:

no t.c.:

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

Which is why kimi is going to spend the year rallying? get used to the idea, no top team will ever be interested in Kimi again unless he drops the ridiculous wage demands. he has become too big of a risk. A year off will simply mean that he hasnt driven an F1 car for 18 months. memories are short in F1 and so is money. Its a shame because F1 needs people like Kimi. On his day he's great but those days have become few and far between. The bottom line is that if the teams thought Kimi was sooo good they would pay .. they arn't and thats the bottom line.

WOW.   Some pretty harsh and blunt words there, but ultimatley truthfull ones. Kimi's stock is of low value in the paddock right now and Kimi and his managers better realise this or we wont be seeing him F1 again. 

Yup. normally i am more than willing to see both sides of an argument and accept that my opinion is only one of many and that its all mostly subjective when it comes to judging/comparing drivers but in F1 it is ALL about numbers, facts and figures and the reality is that for the last two years Felipe massa has completely blown Kimi away. Thats it. simply really. look at the stats - which is exactly what any team will do - and make a decision. Massa IS rated in the paddock but very much as the imperfect 'coming man'. He's shown the door to Kimi in pretty every department so who you gonna pay for? Team managers dont care about personalities, in fact they would much prefer their drivers not to have one.

Kimi is high maintenance. end of. He isnt worth the money he's asking. he's won one race in 18 months and in that time Massa won 5 (and spent the last 3rd of this season in bed) Kimi had preferencial treatment at ferrari for most of his career (by contract) and only sacrificed that at the end of 2008 so that Massa could have a shot at the title with equal equipment. (for which kimi was rewarded with the extra year on his contract that he's just been bought out of)

Kimi simply doesnt have the stats to ask for a big wage. Ferrari didnt want him and where willing to pay to get rid. Mclaren dont want him for stupid money and Mercedes dont want him .. who else is left? Red Bull? They are one of the most demanding teams in the pitlane regarding PR and driver presentation so I feel fairly certain they wouldn't touch Kimi with a barge pole. Theres no one left and in a years time that won't change. So unless Kimi is prepared to come back in a midfield team (which he is adamant he won't) its all done and dusted.

Likeable, irreverant chap? yes. at the top of the F1 ladder? nope. he's not even at the top of his own game.

twinkle_toes22:

redfrog:

twinkle_toes22:

no t.c.:

twinkle_toes22:

aveli666:

after all he won the wdc and got paid well over £100m in the three years he was at ferrari. how can he possibly drink all that in his lifetime?

i honnestly don't see why kimi will return after a year of not racing in f1. he doesn't need the money nor does he need the glory unless red bull or mercedes makes him an offer he can't refuse or his manager manges to convence him to return to earn some money for their racing projects. 

kimi is out like mikka. 

 

Unless Massa can't make a full comeback (in which case I feel sure Ferrari would call on Kimis door before anyone elses) I don't see him sitting in an F1 car again. Whether its his management or Kimi (lets face it kimi has the final say so you cant really blame them) his demands are obviously too much. He doesnt want to do PR, he wants a bucket load of cash and he wants to be allowed to do rallying aswell, no team manager in their right mind would accept that .. maybe, just maybe, Hamilton or Alonso would get away with it but a driver who hasnt been on top of his game for almost 2 years doesnt stand a chance.

Kimi is definitely in the realms of great second string driver who on his day can trounce the opposition but thats it. Kimi wants a winning team only and no top team would want him as a number 1 driver and there are too many young and/or cheaper drivers out there who WILL do the PR and wont risk their necks rallying and who will do it for a tenth of the price Kimi is asking for.

Adios matey, enjoy the WRC.

Its phonominal haw wrong you are. Here is a suggestion, do some research before you make your obviously ill informed statements.

Foolish...

Which is why kimi is going to spend the year rallying? get used to the idea, no top team will ever be interested in Kimi again unless he drops the ridiculous wage demands. he has become too big of a risk. A year off will simply mean that he hasnt driven an F1 car for 18 months. memories are short in F1 and so is money. Its a shame because F1 needs people like Kimi. On his day he's great but those days have become few and far between. The bottom line is that if the teams thought Kimi was sooo good they would pay .. they arn't and thats the bottom line.

WOW.   Some pretty harsh and blunt words there, but ultimatley truthfull ones. Kimi's stock is of low value in the paddock right now and Kimi and his managers better realise this or we wont be seeing him F1 again. 

Yup. normally i am more than willing to see both sides of an argument and accept that my opinion is only one of many and that its all mostly subjective when it comes to judging/comparing drivers but in F1 it is ALL about numbers, facts and figures and the reality is that for the last two years Felipe massa has completely blown Kimi away. Thats it. simply really. look at the stats - which is exactly what any team will do - and make a decision. Massa IS rated in the paddock but very much as the imperfect 'coming man'. He's shown the door to Kimi in pretty every department so who you gonna pay for? Team managers dont care about personalities, in fact they would much prefer their drivers not to have one.

Kimi is high maintenance. end of. He isnt worth the money he's asking. he's won one race in 18 months and in that time Massa won 5 (and spent the last 3rd of this season in bed) Kimi had preferencial treatment at ferrari for most of his career (by contract) and only sacrificed that at the end of 2008 so that Massa could have a shot at the title with equal equipment. (for which kimi was rewarded with the extra year on his contract that he's just been bought out of)

Kimi simply doesnt have the stats to ask for a big wage. Ferrari didnt want him and where willing to pay to get rid. Mclaren dont want him for stupid money and Mercedes dont want him .. who else is left? Red Bull? They are one of the most demanding teams in the pitlane regarding PR and driver presentation so I feel fairly certain they wouldn't touch Kimi with a barge pole. Theres no one left and in a years time that won't change. So unless Kimi is prepared to come back in a midfield team (which he is adamant he won't) its all done and dusted.

Likeable, irreverant chap? yes. at the top of the F1 ladder? nope. he's not even at the top of his own game.

i think kimi believes he is the best and willing to challenge the best of them but he wants to do things the way he sees fit and so far he has been in the position to do as he pleased. it's a shame we wont see him drive the mclaren in 2010.