The One.
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If Ferrari didn't make all those mistakes they do now McLaren wouldn't be ahead.
Ferrari is giving a huge advantage to McLaren by making all those mistakes..
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- Thread starter Kinga
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Ferrari is giving a huge advantage to McLaren by making all those mistakes..
yeah, true.
But don't forget that at the test days in Hockenheim McLaren was ahead of everyone. I thought no one could catch them this weekend, I was right sorrily...
Massa got at least 0,5 seconds from Hamilton in every lap.Here we have it:
Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari (6th):
“This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for. We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why. Usually, our race pace is always good, but today that was not the case, because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip: only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive. We have a test in Jerez, where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape. This is definitely not a crisis, but we have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development.”
Let's hope the best! But again, no bashing at the team, of course. With that he wouldn't have gotten more points of course.
awww I so would like to hear how he pronounce our capital city's name... I bet he was too cute! :wub:
Someone wrote the following at the official KR forum... that makes sense though IMO:
OMG! Watch this!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvoGqB-j_U
Now, they will say that it was Kimi's fault.. But it's clear that it was the woman's fault. After the girl fell on the floor she was still walking with Kimi instead of looking after the girl. Even Kimi noticed the girl's falling and told to the woman. He looked twice back...
Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari (6th):
“This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for. We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why. Usually, our race pace is always good, but today that was not the case, because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip: only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive. We have a test in Jerez, where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape. This is definitely not a crisis, but we have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development.”
Let's hope the best! But again, no bashing at the team, of course. With that he wouldn't have gotten more points of course.
awww I so would like to hear how he pronounce our capital city's name... I bet he was too cute! :wub:
Someone wrote the following at the official KR forum... that makes sense though IMO:
OMG! Watch this!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvoGqB-j_U
Now, they will say that it was Kimi's fault.. But it's clear that it was the woman's fault. After the girl fell on the floor she was still walking with Kimi instead of looking after the girl. Even Kimi noticed the girl's falling and told to the woman. He looked twice back...
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Mechi
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Schumi said on german tv Ferrari suffered some problems with brakes and instability (also for a reason why Massa seemed to let Hamilton pass pretty easily)... also with those problems they were with both cars (also drivers) more going for saving some points then in driving too hard maybe lose all points.
Schumi said also this is to work out till Hungary and there completely new cards will be given.
Hamilton won this only because Ferrari wasn't competitive... they will be again. I'm not worried.
I'd also and still would always vote for Kimi to be the next champion.
He is the best driver out there.
This time some others just had the better cars but as I know Ferrari they'll work this out! The season still has a long way to go till it will be over.
I love it exciting like this. May the best driver win.
Then again this is about a good driver and a good car.
In Hockenheim McLaren/Mercedes presented the better car. That will not last too long (believe me... most of that car is german lol).
:hat_wave: My love goes too ferrari for some reason!!! :hat_wave:
Schumi said also this is to work out till Hungary and there completely new cards will be given.
Hamilton won this only because Ferrari wasn't competitive... they will be again. I'm not worried.
I'd also and still would always vote for Kimi to be the next champion.
He is the best driver out there.
This time some others just had the better cars but as I know Ferrari they'll work this out! The season still has a long way to go till it will be over.
I love it exciting like this. May the best driver win.
Then again this is about a good driver and a good car.
In Hockenheim McLaren/Mercedes presented the better car. That will not last too long (believe me... most of that car is german lol).
:hat_wave: My love goes too ferrari for some reason!!! :hat_wave:
^^^Ok, I believe in you because you are longer a Ferrari fan than me.... it seems to me that I know that Kimi is the best driver out there, that's sure, but where is his luck again? Like he was in McLaren days, when he drives like crazy still he didn't manage good results. Where have been his luck since 5 races?
Monaco - his mistake and a team mistake, 0 point
Canada - stupid Hamilton, could have been at least 8 but 0 point
France - exhaust problem, could have been 10 but 8 points
Silverstone - heavy rain, team mistake, could have been at least 8 but 5 points
Hockenheim - bad set-up, bad balance, no grip, only 3 points
What if Hamilton and McLaren would do well in Hungary (I think they would). They say it's better for McLaren than for Ferrari...
Plus Kimi and Chris should find a good solution for the qualifying, because it's very very important. I know that they know it as well... but... still...
Monaco - his mistake and a team mistake, 0 point
Canada - stupid Hamilton, could have been at least 8 but 0 point
France - exhaust problem, could have been 10 but 8 points
Silverstone - heavy rain, team mistake, could have been at least 8 but 5 points
Hockenheim - bad set-up, bad balance, no grip, only 3 points
What if Hamilton and McLaren would do well in Hungary (I think they would). They say it's better for McLaren than for Ferrari...
Plus Kimi and Chris should find a good solution for the qualifying, because it's very very important. I know that they know it as well... but... still...
Mechi
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wheeeew Kinga this is just life. :better:
It's challenging to keep a positive outlook whatever life is serving.
See last year everybody thought the championship could only go to Hamilton.
It's only over when it's really over!
Yet we're far from that uh?!
There's still time and chances enough for Ferrari and Kimi. I have faith they'll use it well.
Well some luck is in the game also of cuz... as Schumi once said: "Luck is often with those having faith in themselves and that's why working hard but still with fun." (sorry maybe I messed that a bit up by translating word by word but it makes lots of sense in german! lol)
So let's hope Ferrari is able to present that again.
It's challenging to keep a positive outlook whatever life is serving.
See last year everybody thought the championship could only go to Hamilton.
It's only over when it's really over!
Yet we're far from that uh?!
There's still time and chances enough for Ferrari and Kimi. I have faith they'll use it well.
Well some luck is in the game also of cuz... as Schumi once said: "Luck is often with those having faith in themselves and that's why working hard but still with fun." (sorry maybe I messed that a bit up by translating word by word but it makes lots of sense in german! lol)
So let's hope Ferrari is able to present that again.
^^^For a pessimistic person - who I am - it's so hard to look at the bright side of life. I should learn from Kimi, he always tries to see/look for the good things in bad things.
But what Schumi said is true for Kimi I think, so let's hope that the best is yet to come - like Michael Jackson would say.
There are some speculating regarding Ferrari supports Masa more instead of Kimi, here's a good quote, it makes some sense:
I'm happier when I look at pictures like this :wub:
Did he highlighted his hair again? Looks like...
But what Schumi said is true for Kimi I think, so let's hope that the best is yet to come - like Michael Jackson would say.
There are some speculating regarding Ferrari supports Masa more instead of Kimi, here's a good quote, it makes some sense:
I'm happier when I look at pictures like this :wub:
Did he highlighted his hair again?
Looks like...
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The One.
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LMAO :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:Did he highlighted his hair again?
Now that's the real question! :hysterical:
Kinga, you just saved my day, thanks! :lol:
^^^haha :lol: We need some light-hearted conversation otherwise we would ended crying all day long... :lol:
Have you seen the video I posted?
But back to the serious problems, here are some comments on Kimi and on the weekend by S. Domenicalli, N. Lauda, M. Brundle. They are very interesting and useful thoughts, so I would like you to read them, because I'm curious what's your opinion...
Q & A with Stefano Domenicalli
Q. Kimi hasn't won since Spain at the end of April. Taking aside Canada
when he was taken out, he isn't exactly showing championship-winning
form at the moment. Would you agree?*
*SD:* "Well, you have to look at the points. The thing I don't want to
do now, or ever, is to make a risky conclusion on the driver situation.
As we said for example at Silverstone for Felipe after that race, I
don't want to say something with Kimi.
"For sure he is the first one not to be happy about the situation but
I'm pretty sure that he's very keen to react in Hungary, as we are all
together."
*Q. He was far from happy this weekend, though, he really struggled out
there?*
*SD:* "Yes true, he was not happy at all about his car behaviour since
Friday. He said the car was too nervous at the rear and he couldn't have
the grip that he wanted.
"If you compare what we have seen during the test of last week, this is
the reason why I said I don't completely understand the reason why,
because last week we were pretty competitive in the last section so we
need to analyse a lot."
*Q. In the race today, did Kimi have the same feedback as Felipe?*
*SD:* "Basically, yes. He was not happy with the general grip of the
car. He couldn't be aggressive, he felt the rear was too lose, and for
him it was not possible to be on the pace he wanted. If you look at the
first stint it was the best in a way."
*Q. It's not the first time that Kimi has struggled with the set-up
between the test and the weekend. Is the window of the set-up quite
small on the Ferrari, or is he generally having more difficulties to
find it than Felipe?*
*SD:* "For sure the window of set-up can be wider if you go to the
direction that is not taking the car where you want. Generally speaking
the difference is not so big.
*Q. Looking at the entire season, could you compare a little bit how
Kimi and Felipe's driving styles are different and their setups?*
*SD:* "Well I think the only thing I can say for sure is, in terms of
qualifying Felipe prefers to have lower fuel in order to be able to
attack and have a different pace during the race. On the other side,
Kimi prefers the oppositie. He wants to try to be a little bit longer
because he knows that he is one of the strongest to be good in the rest
of the race.
"This is the difference in terms of the style that they are attacking
the race. It's difficult to say if in terms of set-up there is something
different. For sure, the two drivers prefer that things are a little bit
different for the car, but in terms of set-up it's not really significant."
*Q. There will be a meeting on July 29 in Maranello, is this a sign of
the new spirit at Ferrari as a team?*
*SD:* "It will be a meeting in order to discuss, within the team, the
situation of the future regulations following the letter of Max Mosley.
It's a good opportunity to share and discuss what are the ideas of all
the teams who are invovled in the sport."
*Q. Is it significant that it's at Maranello when previously it was at
the Hilton Hotel at the airport?*
*SD:* "For sure, Ferrari and our president are very keen that Ferrari is
willing to participate in that because Ferrari is part of Formula One
and Mr di Montezemolo is really keen on that."
--------------------------------------
Lauda on Hamilton and Kimi
"Hamilton's performance was outstanding. Senna-type driving. Honestly."
said Lauda.
"If he continues to drive like this, and not start fading like last year
in the last couple of races, then he is going in the right direction, no
question." (Sad, but true! :sad
Lauda believes Hamilton, who now leads the world championship by four
points, has raised his game since last year and that back-to-back wins
will have given the McLaren driver the confidence to deliver more
performances of a similar quality.
"Last year he was my favourite," said Lauda. "He screwed up in the last
couple of races and therefore did not understand why he started as bad
as he finished last year. But I think he's got the message now.
"From Silverstone in that difficult race, and here in this difficult
race for him, he did an outstanding performance. So he is on the right
track, and if he continues like this he is unbeatable."
Lauda also warned Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari, the team he won the 1975
and 1977 world titles with, that they must regroup quickly if they are
to stop Hamilton running away with the title.
Asked if thoughts of retirement had affected the current world
champion's performance in Hockenheim, Lauda replied: "I have no idea
what he is thinking, what he is doing, but he will get his act together.
"But now you have to get it together at every race if you want to be
world champion. That is the key thing, you have to drive clever now,
take points and points and points and points, because in the end you
need them all."
-------------------------------------------
Martin Brundle on Kimi
It is not inconceivable that World Champion Kimi Raikkonen will retire
at the end of this season, according to former Grand Prix veteran Martin
Brundle.
The Briton, who is now a commentator for British television, wrote in
his latest newspaper column that he senses an "unhappy and frustrated"
:sad: :sad: :sad: (So true, what's wrong Kimi?? :sad streak in the
28-year-old Ferrari driver's demeanour at present.
Before the recent British Grand Prix, Raikkonen shoved a respected
photographer on the grid, and at Hockenheim he struggled all weekend and
dropped seven points behind Lewis Hamilton's championship lead.
"I would still be more than surprised if he retired this year, but if he
wants to sign off as World Champion, he needs more speed and balance in
his car," Brundle wrote in the /Sunday Times/.
Brundle said he cannot imagine Raikkonen as a young retiree.
"I cannot easily imagine him as a businessman, a media person or a
home-loving family man. I find it hard to think of him as anything other
than a one-dimensional, totally focused born racer," the veteran of more
than 150 races, most recently in 1996, added.
"So he would go snowmobile racing for fun, and occasional form suggests
he might drink too much. You would actually worry more for him if he
retired than if he was still racing," Brundle said.
Have you seen the video I posted?
But back to the serious problems, here are some comments on Kimi and on the weekend by S. Domenicalli, N. Lauda, M. Brundle. They are very interesting and useful thoughts, so I would like you to read them, because I'm curious what's your opinion...
Q & A with Stefano Domenicalli
Q. Kimi hasn't won since Spain at the end of April. Taking aside Canada
when he was taken out, he isn't exactly showing championship-winning
form at the moment. Would you agree?*
*SD:* "Well, you have to look at the points. The thing I don't want to
do now, or ever, is to make a risky conclusion on the driver situation.
As we said for example at Silverstone for Felipe after that race, I
don't want to say something with Kimi.
"For sure he is the first one not to be happy about the situation but
I'm pretty sure that he's very keen to react in Hungary, as we are all
together."
*Q. He was far from happy this weekend, though, he really struggled out
there?*
*SD:* "Yes true, he was not happy at all about his car behaviour since
Friday. He said the car was too nervous at the rear and he couldn't have
the grip that he wanted.
"If you compare what we have seen during the test of last week, this is
the reason why I said I don't completely understand the reason why,
because last week we were pretty competitive in the last section so we
need to analyse a lot."
*Q. In the race today, did Kimi have the same feedback as Felipe?*
*SD:* "Basically, yes. He was not happy with the general grip of the
car. He couldn't be aggressive, he felt the rear was too lose, and for
him it was not possible to be on the pace he wanted. If you look at the
first stint it was the best in a way."
*Q. It's not the first time that Kimi has struggled with the set-up
between the test and the weekend. Is the window of the set-up quite
small on the Ferrari, or is he generally having more difficulties to
find it than Felipe?*
*SD:* "For sure the window of set-up can be wider if you go to the
direction that is not taking the car where you want. Generally speaking
the difference is not so big.
*Q. Looking at the entire season, could you compare a little bit how
Kimi and Felipe's driving styles are different and their setups?*
*SD:* "Well I think the only thing I can say for sure is, in terms of
qualifying Felipe prefers to have lower fuel in order to be able to
attack and have a different pace during the race. On the other side,
Kimi prefers the oppositie. He wants to try to be a little bit longer
because he knows that he is one of the strongest to be good in the rest
of the race.
"This is the difference in terms of the style that they are attacking
the race. It's difficult to say if in terms of set-up there is something
different. For sure, the two drivers prefer that things are a little bit
different for the car, but in terms of set-up it's not really significant."
*Q. There will be a meeting on July 29 in Maranello, is this a sign of
the new spirit at Ferrari as a team?*
*SD:* "It will be a meeting in order to discuss, within the team, the
situation of the future regulations following the letter of Max Mosley.
It's a good opportunity to share and discuss what are the ideas of all
the teams who are invovled in the sport."
*Q. Is it significant that it's at Maranello when previously it was at
the Hilton Hotel at the airport?*
*SD:* "For sure, Ferrari and our president are very keen that Ferrari is
willing to participate in that because Ferrari is part of Formula One
and Mr di Montezemolo is really keen on that."
--------------------------------------
Lauda on Hamilton and Kimi
"Hamilton's performance was outstanding. Senna-type driving. Honestly."
said Lauda.
"If he continues to drive like this, and not start fading like last year
in the last couple of races, then he is going in the right direction, no
question." (Sad, but true! :sad
Lauda believes Hamilton, who now leads the world championship by four
points, has raised his game since last year and that back-to-back wins
will have given the McLaren driver the confidence to deliver more
performances of a similar quality.
"Last year he was my favourite," said Lauda. "He screwed up in the last
couple of races and therefore did not understand why he started as bad
as he finished last year. But I think he's got the message now.
"From Silverstone in that difficult race, and here in this difficult
race for him, he did an outstanding performance. So he is on the right
track, and if he continues like this he is unbeatable."
Lauda also warned Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari, the team he won the 1975
and 1977 world titles with, that they must regroup quickly if they are
to stop Hamilton running away with the title.
Asked if thoughts of retirement had affected the current world
champion's performance in Hockenheim, Lauda replied: "I have no idea
what he is thinking, what he is doing, but he will get his act together.
"But now you have to get it together at every race if you want to be
world champion. That is the key thing, you have to drive clever now,
take points and points and points and points, because in the end you
need them all."
-------------------------------------------
Martin Brundle on Kimi
It is not inconceivable that World Champion Kimi Raikkonen will retire
at the end of this season, according to former Grand Prix veteran Martin
Brundle.
The Briton, who is now a commentator for British television, wrote in
his latest newspaper column that he senses an "unhappy and frustrated"
:sad: :sad: :sad: (So true, what's wrong Kimi?? :sad
streak in the 28-year-old Ferrari driver's demeanour at present.
Before the recent British Grand Prix, Raikkonen shoved a respected
photographer on the grid, and at Hockenheim he struggled all weekend and
dropped seven points behind Lewis Hamilton's championship lead.
"I would still be more than surprised if he retired this year, but if he
wants to sign off as World Champion, he needs more speed and balance in
his car," Brundle wrote in the /Sunday Times/.
Brundle said he cannot imagine Raikkonen as a young retiree.
"I cannot easily imagine him as a businessman, a media person or a
home-loving family man. I find it hard to think of him as anything other
than a one-dimensional, totally focused born racer," the veteran of more
than 150 races, most recently in 1996, added.
"So he would go snowmobile racing for fun, and occasional form suggests
he might drink too much. You would actually worry more for him if he
retired than if he was still racing," Brundle said.
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OMG!!!!! Look, what I've found!!!
Kimi signs autographs for about 3 minutes!!! They say that he's not kind and so on... But this video just proves the opposite. Ok, you can't see a big (Hamilton-style) grin on his face but it would be annoying. I think he signed everybody's hat, T-shirt, photo, etc. there. I guess it's from last GP, because I can hear that the people speak German. I was surprised because I know only the MJ fans and they are hysterical, screaming and fighting, lol. These fans were so calm and quiet. Maybe that's why Kimi was polite enough to go there. At the end they thanked him for being so nice and clapped. It was so good to watch.:yes:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jfvk4m4x3d3
Kimi signs autographs for about 3 minutes!!! They say that he's not kind and so on... But this video just proves the opposite. Ok, you can't see a big (Hamilton-style) grin on his face but it would be annoying. I think he signed everybody's hat, T-shirt, photo, etc. there. I guess it's from last GP, because I can hear that the people speak German. I was surprised because I know only the MJ fans and they are hysterical, screaming and fighting, lol. These fans were so calm and quiet. Maybe that's why Kimi was polite enough to go there. At the end they thanked him for being so nice and clapped. It was so good to watch.:yes:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jfvk4m4x3d3
The One.
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Yes! And come on, it was the woman who pushed that girl, not Kimi! And the woman didn't care that the girl falled, and like you Kinga said, Kimi looked back and said about it to this woman but she didn't care..!^^^haha :lol: We need some light-hearted conversation otherwise we would ended crying all day long... :lol:
Have you seen the video I posted?
I heard that magazines are now full about it here in Finland.. :doh: Gosh.. Why does anything that happends around Kimi that's just slightly abnormal has to make so big tabloids..
Thanks for the comments... I don't have anything to say about them though..
They were all words of truth imo.
The One.
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Aaaaaawww how cute video, thanks for posting! He just walked straight to the fans and started writing :wub::wub::wub: :wub:
Lucky person that who's pencil Kimi used :blush:
Very nice of them to applaud when he left :yes:
But well, we MJ fans are totally different level from everyone else, eh?
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Yes, it's so sad... :sad:
Here's a petition that you can sign (I signed!):
"Finnish people are supporting Kimi and demanding a public apology from Leenastiina Simola to Kimi Räikkönen for writing a big misleading headline in the Finnish evening paper Iltalehti yesterday.
It goes something like this:
Your headline about Kimi Räikkönen "Kimi Räikkönen pushed a little girl on the ground" was obscene and misleading. Still you gave a youtube-link to "support" your story from which it is clearly seen that Kimi didn't even touch the little girl in question.
You shot yourself in the leg - big bonus points to you for that.
Had you watched the link in question properly, without the hunger for sensational news, you might have noticed three things, that I'm going to list in the order they happened:
1) The woman pushes the folder on Kimi's line of walking.
2) The small child runs towards the woman's folder, that touches Kimi's body.
3) Kimi tries to avoid the folder and the woman herself is hitting the child's head with it who keeps on running.
Therefore, in principal you could show to the Finnish reporters a confusing uprightness and admit that you were:
1) Wrong
2) Trying to get big news without caring about the facts.
3) Unfair to Kimi Räikkönen, apologize either to him directly or through his manager.
We demand a public apology from Leenastiina Simola to Kimi Räikkönen for your wrong and insulting news.
The paper has already cleaned up the news on the web, removed the reporter's name along with the claim that the readers on the forum would have agreed with the reporter and removed the reporter's name and contact information too.
Last time I looked at the address it was signed by over 1000 people. If you want to sign for it too then press the link, fill out the first 3 boxes on the left
1. Your first name
2. Your last name
3. County
and select "Ei" if you don't want your name to show on the address. Finally press on "Allekirjoita adressi". (Sign the address)
http://www.adressit.com/julkinen_anteeksipyynto_raikkoselle
I'm happy people are standing up for him for once, the reporter is known of her earlier negative writings about Kimi."
Watching the signing video makes me thinking about... should I go to their hotel during next weekend?? I might catch him there... That would be so cool!!! But I don't have the time to be there 3 days long plus I'm too old for these things, am I?
Yeah, Hanna, MJ fans are totally different from any kind of fans... :lol: That's another level..
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Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:
Räikkönen might extend stay at Ferrari
World champion Kimi Raikkonen is on the cusp of signing a new two-year extension to keep racing for Ferrari beyond the 2009 season, according to the widely circulated German newspaper Bild-Zeitung.
It was being speculated that Raikkonen, the 28-year-old Finn, was growing weary of the Grand Prix world and - despite his contract for next year - might even have gone into early retirement at the end of this season.
His teammate Felipe Massa has two and a half years left to run on his own agreement with the Maranello-based team.
If confirmed, the Raikkonen news would deal a blow to the hopes of double World Champion Fernando Alonso, who reportedly has a deal in place to race with Ferrari if a vacancy arises for 2009 or 2010.
"It does look as though the Spaniard will have to stay with Renault," former triple World Champion Niki Lauda told the newspaper.
unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:unk:Räikkönen might extend stay at Ferrari
World champion Kimi Raikkonen is on the cusp of signing a new two-year extension to keep racing for Ferrari beyond the 2009 season, according to the widely circulated German newspaper Bild-Zeitung.
It was being speculated that Raikkonen, the 28-year-old Finn, was growing weary of the Grand Prix world and - despite his contract for next year - might even have gone into early retirement at the end of this season.
His teammate Felipe Massa has two and a half years left to run on his own agreement with the Maranello-based team.
If confirmed, the Raikkonen news would deal a blow to the hopes of double World Champion Fernando Alonso, who reportedly has a deal in place to race with Ferrari if a vacancy arises for 2009 or 2010.
"It does look as though the Spaniard will have to stay with Renault," former triple World Champion Niki Lauda told the newspaper.
The One.
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I signed the adress, it's now on the most popular adress of last few days -list with 1469 signs! :clapping:
Yay! Let's keep our fingers crossed that this is true :angel:Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Räikkönen might extend stay at Ferrari
World champion Kimi Raikkonen is on the cusp of signing a new two-year extension to keep racing for Ferrari beyond the 2009 season, according to the widely circulated German newspaper Bild-Zeitung.
It was being speculated that Raikkonen, the 28-year-old Finn, was growing weary of the Grand Prix world and - despite his contract for next year - might even have gone into early retirement at the end of this season.
His teammate Felipe Massa has two and a half years left to run on his own agreement with the Maranello-based team.
If confirmed, the Raikkonen news would deal a blow to the hopes of double World Champion Fernando Alonso, who reportedly has a deal in place to race with Ferrari if a vacancy arises for 2009 or 2010.
"It does look as though the Spaniard will have to stay with Renault," former triple World Champion Niki Lauda told the newspaper.
^^^I have found this article regarding this
Räikkönen in no hurry to decide F1 future
Kimi Raikkonen insists he has not lost the desire to win, but the defending world champion is still refusing to commit to Formula One beyond the end of his Ferrari contract next year.
The 28-year-old Finn had a notably lacklustre German Grand Prix last weekend, amid rumours his heart is no longer in it and he may be contemplating an early retirement.
"The desire to win hasn't decreased at all," Raikkonen said on Tuesday, insisting that last year - when he ultimately won the drivers' title - he similarly went six races without a victory.
But in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he refused to confirm whether he will still be on the grid in 2010.
"I am not in a hurry to decide," Raikkonen said. "I have one more year on my contract that I want to fulfil."
"For 2010, we will see. It is not an easy decision, it is necessary to evaluate many things."
Many observers cannot understand why, with possibly F1's most lucrative contract and one of the most competitive seats, Raikkonen would be considering hanging up his helmet.
"I don't feel like I need to explain, I will make my decision when I am ready. Ferrari is not rushing me either."
"There are many things to do outside of Formula One - I will find ways to amuse myself," he said, "and I have never had problems with having spare time."
Similarly, Raikkonen does not exclude the possibility of simply continuing at Ferrari in 2010, and would welcome Fernando Alonso as a team-mate.
"Why not?" he answered when asked about potentially having Alonso as a team-mate. "Who knows, but I am not the one who makes the decisions about drivers."
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There was the 2nd day of testing at Jerez, Spain
The results (not so bad, not so good, a McLaren is in front of a Ferrari again...). Yesterday Luca Badoer was there to test with Ferrari and he was behind McLaren. Tomorrow will be Kimi's day again (it's good because they were/are working on set ups for the upcoming races) and on Friday Massa will be there.
Jerez - 23/07/2008
1 . S. Vettel - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3 - 1:18.843 (+ 0.000 ) - 100 laps
2 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 - 1:19.061 (+ 0.218 ) - 122 laps
3 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F2008 - 1:19.446 (+ 0.603 ) - 76 laps
4 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW30 - 1:19.861 (+ 1.018 ) - 112 laps
5 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB4 - 1:20.021 (+ 1.178 ) - 105 laps
6 . A. Wurz - Honda RA108 - 1:20.416 (+ 1.573 ) - 77 laps
7 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF108 - 1:20.534 (+ 1.691 ) - 81 laps
8 . V. Liuzzi - Force India Ferrari VJM01 - 1:20.577 (+ 1.734 ) - 102 laps
9 . N. Piquet - Renault R28 - 1:20.837 (+ 1.994 ) - 99 laps
10 . C. Klien - BMW Sauber F1.08 - 1:20.850 (+ 2.007 ) - 89 laps
Räikkönen in no hurry to decide F1 future
Kimi Raikkonen insists he has not lost the desire to win, but the defending world champion is still refusing to commit to Formula One beyond the end of his Ferrari contract next year.
The 28-year-old Finn had a notably lacklustre German Grand Prix last weekend, amid rumours his heart is no longer in it and he may be contemplating an early retirement.
"The desire to win hasn't decreased at all," Raikkonen said on Tuesday, insisting that last year - when he ultimately won the drivers' title - he similarly went six races without a victory.
But in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he refused to confirm whether he will still be on the grid in 2010.
"I am not in a hurry to decide," Raikkonen said. "I have one more year on my contract that I want to fulfil."
"For 2010, we will see. It is not an easy decision, it is necessary to evaluate many things."
Many observers cannot understand why, with possibly F1's most lucrative contract and one of the most competitive seats, Raikkonen would be considering hanging up his helmet.
"I don't feel like I need to explain, I will make my decision when I am ready. Ferrari is not rushing me either."
"There are many things to do outside of Formula One - I will find ways to amuse myself," he said, "and I have never had problems with having spare time."
Similarly, Raikkonen does not exclude the possibility of simply continuing at Ferrari in 2010, and would welcome Fernando Alonso as a team-mate.
"Why not?" he answered when asked about potentially having Alonso as a team-mate. "Who knows, but I am not the one who makes the decisions about drivers."
------------------------
There was the 2nd day of testing at Jerez, Spain
The results (not so bad, not so good, a McLaren is in front of a Ferrari again...). Yesterday Luca Badoer was there to test with Ferrari and he was behind McLaren. Tomorrow will be Kimi's day again (it's good because they were/are working on set ups for the upcoming races) and on Friday Massa will be there.
Jerez - 23/07/2008
1 . S. Vettel - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3 - 1:18.843 (+ 0.000 ) - 100 laps
2 . P. de la Rosa - McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 - 1:19.061 (+ 0.218 ) - 122 laps
3 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F2008 - 1:19.446 (+ 0.603 ) - 76 laps
4 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW30 - 1:19.861 (+ 1.018 ) - 112 laps
5 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB4 - 1:20.021 (+ 1.178 ) - 105 laps
6 . A. Wurz - Honda RA108 - 1:20.416 (+ 1.573 ) - 77 laps
7 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF108 - 1:20.534 (+ 1.691 ) - 81 laps
8 . V. Liuzzi - Force India Ferrari VJM01 - 1:20.577 (+ 1.734 ) - 102 laps
9 . N. Piquet - Renault R28 - 1:20.837 (+ 1.994 ) - 99 laps
10 . C. Klien - BMW Sauber F1.08 - 1:20.850 (+ 2.007 ) - 89 laps
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Yesterday was the press conference for the Hungarian GP. They talked about the opening ceremony as well. It will be held at 2 venues: the South and the North side of Lake Balaton!
There will be 3 F1 cars (2 Red Bull Racing and 1 Toro Rosso Ferrari). They will start their performance from the Abbey of Tihany (North side of Balaton)
till the harbor. There they will took a ferry to sail over Lake Balaton to the South side of it. Then they will drive on the main street of Siófok (the biggest city around Lake Balaton).
Meanwhile the ferry sails on the Lake Balaton wit the F1 cars, Péter Besenyei (once he took Kimi with him for a ride :lol: I saw a picture of it and as I could see his face's expression he liked it very much) the world champion of Red Bull Air Race will fly over them with his aeroplane. It will be quite interesting, but I guess I won't go. There will be huge crowd and no Kimi... :lol:
There will be 3 F1 cars (2 Red Bull Racing and 1 Toro Rosso Ferrari). They will start their performance from the Abbey of Tihany (North side of Balaton)
till the harbor. There they will took a ferry to sail over Lake Balaton to the South side of it. Then they will drive on the main street of Siófok (the biggest city around Lake Balaton).
Meanwhile the ferry sails on the Lake Balaton wit the F1 cars, Péter Besenyei (once he took Kimi with him for a ride :lol: I saw a picture of it and as I could see his face's expression he liked it very much) the world champion of Red Bull Air Race will fly over them with his aeroplane. It will be quite interesting, but I guess I won't go. There will be huge crowd and no Kimi... :lol:
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The One.
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Yesterday was the press conference for the Hungarian GP. They talked about the opening ceremony as well. It will be held at 2 venues: the South and the North side of Lake Balaton!
Wow, how beautiful lake!!! It looks like sea... very beautiful :yes:
^^^and I live near to it!!!:cheeky:
I'm so proud of my country!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not a representative poll but 10.000 fans were being asked about who is their favorite and least favorite driver in F1.
The most popular F1 driver is Kimi here in Hungary. We rock!!!!!unk:unk:
Here are the results:
1 Kimi Räikkönen 61%
2 Robert Kubica 10%
3 Fernando Alonso 8%
4 Felipe Massa 6%
5 Nick Heifeld 6%
6 Heikki Kovalainen 4%
7 others (quite a lot votes for Coulthard, Trulli, Vettel, Bourdais és Piquet) 4%
The least populars are:
1 Lewis Hamilton 66%
2 Fernando Alonso 28%
3 others (except Kimi, Kovalainen, Sutil, Bourdais és Trulli) 3%
4 Felipe Massa 3%
Hamilton got 6649 votes, Alonso 2809 and Massa 289.
Some qualities the fans said about...
Kimi: calm, quiet, very quick, not cocky, he speaks more to the public
Alonso: cocky, aggressive, very quick, pompous
Hamilton: cocky, pompous, quick, aggressive, narcissistic, if something goes wrong he says it's because of the car, he finds himself unerring
I'm so proud of my country!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not a representative poll but 10.000 fans were being asked about who is their favorite and least favorite driver in F1.
The most popular F1 driver is Kimi here in Hungary. We rock!!!!!
unk:unk:Here are the results:
1 Kimi Räikkönen 61%
2 Robert Kubica 10%
3 Fernando Alonso 8%
4 Felipe Massa 6%
5 Nick Heifeld 6%
6 Heikki Kovalainen 4%
7 others (quite a lot votes for Coulthard, Trulli, Vettel, Bourdais és Piquet) 4%
The least populars are:
1 Lewis Hamilton 66%
2 Fernando Alonso 28%
3 others (except Kimi, Kovalainen, Sutil, Bourdais és Trulli) 3%
4 Felipe Massa 3%
Hamilton got 6649 votes, Alonso 2809 and Massa 289.
Some qualities the fans said about...
Kimi: calm, quiet, very quick, not cocky, he speaks more to the public
Alonso: cocky, aggressive, very quick, pompous
Hamilton: cocky, pompous, quick, aggressive, narcissistic, if something goes wrong he says it's because of the car, he finds himself unerring
Mechi
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I'm wondering why so many dislike Hamilton.
I personally think noone can really judge those drivers like that... it's all image anyways through commercials they do etc.
But I'd also bet in germany Hamilton would get no good sympathy results also although he's winning all those races also for Mercedes. *shrugs* :scratch:
I personally think noone can really judge those drivers like that... it's all image anyways through commercials they do etc.
But I'd also bet in germany Hamilton would get no good sympathy results also although he's winning all those races also for Mercedes. *shrugs* :scratch:
^^^I think a lot of people find him too pompous, which he is. He drives very good but he's too aggressive. That HUGE grin on his face all the time is so annoying. He doesn't admit his mistakes, too.
Just one example: Kimi did ask for Sutil's apologise for million times. What did Hamilton say? Ok, those things can happen... and that was it.
Maybe Kimi doesn't like to talk that much and sometimes you think he's bored like hell but his attitude is more sympathetic to the people. Plus I think many many teenagers find him attractive (which he is IMO) :wub:
Just one example: Kimi did ask for Sutil's apologise for million times. What did Hamilton say? Ok, those things can happen... and that was it.
Maybe Kimi doesn't like to talk that much and sometimes you think he's bored like hell but his attitude is more sympathetic to the people. Plus I think many many teenagers find him attractive (which he is IMO) :wub:
Mechi
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Kinga I think that's only how media presents them, it's not how they are... well I dunno, it's not how they necessarily really are.
As much as I've never cared too much about the media making an 'ice men' out of Kimi... lol I don't care about the rest.
I am interested in how they do the driving... and yeah some do show some characteristics in driving that's interesting but then again that's all what interests me.
Hamilton seems to be a very good driver. Then again I'll like to see him competing when he's more under pressure again. To me he's still not up there as complete as Kimi is. That will be interesting to see one day.
That thing with apologizing and all... Schumi did apologize a few times in talking only to the other driver during his active career without that the press did report it for some reason. They wanna stirr up a certain tense... try to make things more interesting... well lol that's not what interests me, I just think it's not always fair especially with young drivers.
As much as I've never cared too much about the media making an 'ice men' out of Kimi... lol I don't care about the rest.
I am interested in how they do the driving... and yeah some do show some characteristics in driving that's interesting but then again that's all what interests me.
Hamilton seems to be a very good driver. Then again I'll like to see him competing when he's more under pressure again. To me he's still not up there as complete as Kimi is. That will be interesting to see one day.
That thing with apologizing and all... Schumi did apologize a few times in talking only to the other driver during his active career without that the press did report it for some reason. They wanna stirr up a certain tense... try to make things more interesting... well lol that's not what interests me, I just think it's not always fair especially with young drivers.
^^You got some great points, Mechi.
I know that the media can turn around things and the people believe them quite easily (we know it the best because first of all we are Michael Jackson fans).
I can see Hamilton how he behaves in front of the camera, how his body language speaks, how he talks to the reporters and I don't like what I see. I think it's not hidden thing that he's so pompous. :tease:
I know that we should see only Hamilton's driving instead of his inner qualities. I know that he'll become a great champion one day, that's sure. I just hope that his day is not here yet. To be honest he's a great driver though I don't like the style of his driving. He's too aggressive and not so smooth like Kimi. I think your driving could represent the way you are in life. It has an effect on how you look at a person who is driving an F1 car, at least to me. ;D
You know I'm a big fan of Kimi and I try to be realistic and I can see that he has - of course - bad qualities. He's sometimes rude and/or unpolite. I like in Kimi that he didn't change over the years. He's the same kid who he was in 2001 when he got his first point in Sauber. He didn't change because he has so much money, he didn't change because he became world champion and he didn't change because he's well-known. I just like how he thinks about life in general. And that he's not like gossiping, quarelling, fighting on and off the track. :yes:
I think Hamilton is almost like Alonso was in 2005 or 2006. He's too pompous and too cocky and it's not sympathetic. Alonso became a more complete person (I don't know, maybe because of last year, maybe because of this year... :unsure). I hope Hamilton would change his attitude and became a more lovely person. :scratch:
One point more, that Kimi was not that kind of person when he became an F1 driver. He was just a shy and a quiet kid who he is now.
About apologize: It was quite interesting how the media kept asking Kimi whether he asked for Sutil's apologize or not... It was quite embarrassing in the end. They never did this with Hamilton, though a lot of experts said that that accident/mistake was much bigger and silly than Kimi's. So in a way they protected that "golden boy" not asking him these questions again and again. It was not fair to get to a conclusion that the two accidents are similar because they were not at all.
I know that the media can turn around things and the people believe them quite easily (we know it the best because first of all we are Michael Jackson fans).
I can see Hamilton how he behaves in front of the camera, how his body language speaks, how he talks to the reporters and I don't like what I see. I think it's not hidden thing that he's so pompous. :tease:
I know that we should see only Hamilton's driving instead of his inner qualities. I know that he'll become a great champion one day, that's sure. I just hope that his day is not here yet. To be honest he's a great driver though I don't like the style of his driving. He's too aggressive and not so smooth like Kimi. I think your driving could represent the way you are in life. It has an effect on how you look at a person who is driving an F1 car, at least to me. ;D
You know I'm a big fan of Kimi and I try to be realistic and I can see that he has - of course - bad qualities. He's sometimes rude and/or unpolite. I like in Kimi that he didn't change over the years. He's the same kid who he was in 2001 when he got his first point in Sauber. He didn't change because he has so much money, he didn't change because he became world champion and he didn't change because he's well-known. I just like how he thinks about life in general. And that he's not like gossiping, quarelling, fighting on and off the track. :yes:
I think Hamilton is almost like Alonso was in 2005 or 2006. He's too pompous and too cocky and it's not sympathetic. Alonso became a more complete person (I don't know, maybe because of last year, maybe because of this year... :unsure). I hope Hamilton would change his attitude and became a more lovely person. :scratch:
One point more, that Kimi was not that kind of person when he became an F1 driver. He was just a shy and a quiet kid who he is now.
About apologize: It was quite interesting how the media kept asking Kimi whether he asked for Sutil's apologize or not... It was quite embarrassing in the end. They never did this with Hamilton, though a lot of experts said that that accident/mistake was much bigger and silly than Kimi's. So in a way they protected that "golden boy" not asking him these questions again and again. It was not fair to get to a conclusion that the two accidents are similar because they were not at all.
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The One.
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Mechi pointed out some important things but I still have to agree with Kinga in this one.
I know it's not right to judge people by what media shows because well it's usually not the truth but Hamilton... he's just so annoying ! I can't help it! Lol.
And he is pretty pompous which Kimi is not.
Kimi is more cooler anyway :innocent:
I know it's not right to judge people by what media shows because well it's usually not the truth but Hamilton... he's just so annoying ! I can't help it! Lol.
And he is pretty pompous which Kimi is not.
Kimi is more cooler anyway :innocent:
^^^I'm glad you agree.:cheeky: Do you think we are narrow-minded? What do you think about Hungary's poll? Are you happy with it?
On the second day of the test Kimi was the quickest out of those drivers who was not driving with slick tyres. Kimi prepared for the upcoming GPs and not for the 2009 season.
According to the weather forecast we can be optimistic that it will be a quite hot (+30 or +31 Celsius) weekend next week here in Hungary. Nowadays it's bad because of the heavy rainfalls and really cold weather but they say it will be better from this weekend on. Let's hope so and maybe Ferrari and Kimi could show their best! Kimi needs a win here to decrease the gap between Hamilton's and his points!!! Plus he should ensure and prove the bosses and all the people at Ferrari (and in the whole world) that he's the better driver not Massa.:clapping:
According to Turun Sanomat maybe the Ferrari team has found the solution why they were out of shape in Hockenheim. They say that maybe it wasn't the good development of McLaren but Ferrari's wrong decision about the new back suspension they used there first. They were fast (faster than McLarens) in the first 2 sectors and they lost about 0.5 seconds in the 3rd sector where there are mid-tempo corners and combination of fast brodies and there the good suspension and running gear are indispensable. They say they will use the earlier version of this component in Hungary.
Let's hope so that they have found something good!!!:angel:
“We have done many tests over these two days to try and understand what happened at Hockenheim and now we have a clearer idea on this matter,” commented Raikkonen at the end of the day.
“Today, the car had improved compared to yesterday and we hope to be ready for the next rounds."
"Our opponents are very strong, but there is still a long way to go in this championship and all the time to recover, given that in Formula One things can change a lot in no time at all.”
Today Massa was there to test at Jerez
Massa covered a total of 92 laps, the quickest in a time of 1:19.611s, fifth fastest on the day.
“I am pleased with the way the day went,” commented Massa who ran the 'shark fin' engine cover for the first time today. “We saw some things which should be interesting for the upcoming races and we carried out an intensive investigation on the set-up of the car.
"There is so much data at our disposal that will help us be as well prepared as possible for Hungary. The fight for the title is still very open and we will leave nothing to chance in pursuing our objectives," he added.
What do you think about Hungary's poll? Are you happy with it? On the second day of the test Kimi was the quickest out of those drivers who was not driving with slick tyres. Kimi prepared for the upcoming GPs and not for the 2009 season.
According to the weather forecast we can be optimistic that it will be a quite hot (+30 or +31 Celsius) weekend next week here in Hungary. Nowadays it's bad because of the heavy rainfalls and really cold weather but they say it will be better from this weekend on. Let's hope so and maybe Ferrari and Kimi could show their best! Kimi needs a win here to decrease the gap between Hamilton's and his points!!! Plus he should ensure and prove the bosses and all the people at Ferrari (and in the whole world) that he's the better driver not Massa.:clapping:
According to Turun Sanomat maybe the Ferrari team has found the solution why they were out of shape in Hockenheim. They say that maybe it wasn't the good development of McLaren but Ferrari's wrong decision about the new back suspension they used there first. They were fast (faster than McLarens) in the first 2 sectors and they lost about 0.5 seconds in the 3rd sector where there are mid-tempo corners and combination of fast brodies and there the good suspension and running gear are indispensable. They say they will use the earlier version of this component in Hungary.
Let's hope so that they have found something good!!!:angel:
“We have done many tests over these two days to try and understand what happened at Hockenheim and now we have a clearer idea on this matter,” commented Raikkonen at the end of the day.
“Today, the car had improved compared to yesterday and we hope to be ready for the next rounds."
"Our opponents are very strong, but there is still a long way to go in this championship and all the time to recover, given that in Formula One things can change a lot in no time at all.”
Today Massa was there to test at Jerez
Massa covered a total of 92 laps, the quickest in a time of 1:19.611s, fifth fastest on the day.
“I am pleased with the way the day went,” commented Massa who ran the 'shark fin' engine cover for the first time today. “We saw some things which should be interesting for the upcoming races and we carried out an intensive investigation on the set-up of the car.
"There is so much data at our disposal that will help us be as well prepared as possible for Hungary. The fight for the title is still very open and we will leave nothing to chance in pursuing our objectives," he added.
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The One.
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LOL well we might be, after all, he can't do anything to the way he is and we don't know how Hamilton acts in real life..^^^I'm glad you agree.:cheeky: Do you think we are narrow-minded?
Of course I'm happy, Kimi is on the top! :clapping:Though I'm a bit surprised that Alonso is that high but maybe I just don't understand so well the mind of HungarianKinga said:
I think the results would have been pretty much the same if the voters were Finnish..
^^^It's funny because Alonso is on both of the lists :lol: It's a surprise how many like him and how many don't. Kimi is only on the favorite's list and nowhere on the other list. That's good. :cheeky:
Here you can find lots of Kimi videos to download!! It's cool!
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=7e7ff583859ffe19e1caf6e8a415947887f0f0b731cca333
Here you can find a funny video from Jerez where you can see Kimi is walking on barefoot :lol: He's so cute...
http://www.viddler.com/explore/IceFlower/videos/37/
Here is an interview with Kimi which is great!
Q: Why are there so many ups and downs ?
Raikkonen: ''It depends on the circuits. Some suit us better, some suit McLaren better. Last year though that was a lot more distinct still. This year there were no longer tracks at which we were completely off target.''
Q: Sometimes you struggle heating up the tyres for the flying laps in qualifying. Is that worse compared to last year ?
Raikkonen: ''A lot depends on the characteristics of the track, the nature of the tarmac, the ambient temperature and the tyre compounds. Under certain circumstances McLaren has an easier time warming up the tyres. Therefore they more often get the maximum out of the tyres over the first lap than we do. But sometimes they pay the price for that in the race because their tyres wear off more quickly. So this evens out. Of course I would most like to have a car that can do both: heating up the tyres quickly but preserving them during the race. But that can't do. You have to decide on either of them since you can no longer chance anything to the car in between qualifying and the race.''
Q: But you can also notice big differences between one qualifying attempt to the next...
Raikkonen: ''One set of tyres can be very different to next, also when you don't chance anything to the car. Two years ago, when the tyre war was still going on, we didn't have fluctuation in quality. But with only one tyre supplier left Bridgestone is obviously keeping an eye on the costs. This has an effect on the production processes. The differences between one set of tyres to the next is what makes it difficult to get a good qualifying lap together. You never know what's awaiting you.''
Q: How difficult is the process of warming up the tyres ?
Raikkonen: ''Very difficult, especially when you already have difficulties getting heat into the tyres anyway. At some tracks there are only slow corners before the finish line, it's bascially impossible to work on the tyres there. Or you have bad luck with a driver slowly driving in front of you because he's willing to create space for himself. In that case you're not able to drive through the decisive corners at the speed you would need to have to warm up the tyres. Then you go into the first two corners of your flying lap with cold tyres. It's extremely difficult for the team to send you out without hitting traffic on the warm up lap.''
Q: How important is it for you that Ferrari leaves you a lot of freedom ?
Raikkonen: ''That is very important to me and that was also the reason why I left McLaren two years ago. I got along well with the people in the team but there have been one or two incidents that I didn't like.''
Q: Would you live differently if you weren't a racing a driver ?
Raikkonen: ''Not a bit. I do what I want. Some people like that, others don't. I don't care what others think about that because I don't care what others are doing.''
Q: Could you imagine a life without Formula 1 ?
Raikkonen: ''I would be driving in another racing serie. Perhaps rally. I've spent my whole life in motorsport. The thought of doing something else never occurred me.''
Q: When was the first time you believed you could actually make it to Formula 1 ?
Raikkonen: ''Not before I was 18-years old, gone to England and having met the right people that could help me along. In the period I was driving karts I never dreamt of Formula 1. We simply had no money.''
Q: What advice would you give to kart drivers ?
Raikkonen: ''I'm not a good adviser. The important thing is to meet people that have contacts and promote your talent. The rest is about being lucky. You have to be at the right place at the right time.''
Q: Is your relaxed approach to your job one of your strengths ?
Raikkonen: ''I don't want to be worried, I simply want to lead a very normal life. Up till now the succes has proven me right. For me this model works. I always try to think positively. After the races at Silverstone or Magny-Cours I could have been angry about missed chances. But that doesn't help. I'd rather say: 'at least you collected some points. It could have been worse'.''
Q: Sometimes your collegues give the impression as if they'd be thinking about their job 24 hours a day...
Raikkonen: ''I think that's an invention. Each one of us is happy when he can think about something else, when he's out of the paddock. It would be counterproductive to continually be thinking about your job. The difference between me and other drivers is perhaps the fact that I don't want to test too much in the winter time. Then I do certain things that have nothing to do with my job. I need that. I would loose my interest in racing If I wouldn't be able to forget about it for a while.''
Q: What's the worst part of your job ?
Raikkonen: ''If I could choose I would only focus on the driving aspect. But I've been in this business long enough to know that everything that comes with it is important.''
Q: Do you have more fun now than two years ago ?
Raikkonen: ''Today I enjoy it a lot more. Ferrari takes care of me perfectly. They know what I like and what I don't like and they grant me enough space to breath.''
Q: Alonso would love to know if you will still be driving in 2009...
Raikkonen: ''I have time.''
Q: What are you waiting for ?
Raikkonen: ''Why would I hurry up ? I have a contract for 2009 and I will actually fullfil it, regardless of what people are speculating. I've always honoured my contracts.''
Q: Perhaps Ferrari would like to know what your plans are after 2009...
Raikkonen: ''I don't think Ferrari is in a hurry either. A contract extension isn't something that is decided about quickly and easily. Many things need to be taken into consideration. I don't really want to reveal more about it. I will take a decision when it's the right time for it.''
Q: Could you imagine having Alonso as your teammate ?
Raikkonen: ''Why not ? I just don't think it will happen.''
Q: Are you afraid of your life after racing ? For Hakkinen it became too boring...
Raikkonen: ''I won't be bored. When I quit Formula 1 I will certainly take part in other races. Sometime I want to try out rally racing. I'm interested in it because you have to be good on tarmac, gravel and ice.''
Q: Would you be able to drive rally cars on WC level ?
Raikkonen: ''Hard to say since I've never seriously taken part in a rally race. On asphalt I would probably do pretty well. I have no experience on gravel. The most difficult thing for me would be to drive in accordance with what the co-pilot is telling me. I'm not used to that.''
Q: Are you faster than your brother Rami who's driving the Finnish championship ?
Raikkonen: ''He doesn't want a comparison to take place.''
Q: Is it true that sometimes your bored in the car ?
Raikkonen: ''Only when I'm in front by a country mile, like in Melbourne last year. Then you're thinking about other things or you're playing with the buttons on the steering wheel. Then I suddenly missed a braking point. This year unfortunately we haven't had such races.''
Q: Are the current Formula 1 cars offering you the greatest fun to drive ?
Raikkonen: ''I had the most fun in my first year. Everything was new for me. The car, the circuits. From last year to this one not much has changed, although the electronic aids have gone. But the cars have become better. You only still notice the lack of traction control in certain corners.''
Q: What do you rather do: being behind the playstation, driving your bike, or go out with friends ?
Raikkonen: ''Go for a ride on the bike. And go out with friends afterwards.''
Q: Do you know Italy ?
Raikkonen: ''I've been a lot in Italy in my period of karting, I've been through the entire country by car. But I didn't see much more than fuelling stations, hotels and circuits.''
Q: What do you do with the Corvette from Sharon Stone that you've bought in Monaco ?
Raikkonen: ''I don't have the car yet. To be honest I don't know at all where it is at the moment, whether I have to pick it up or they send it to me. It wasn't a impulsive purchase, instead it was for charity.''
Here you can find lots of Kimi videos to download!! It's cool!
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=7e7ff583859ffe19e1caf6e8a415947887f0f0b731cca333
Here you can find a funny video from Jerez where you can see Kimi is walking on barefoot :lol: He's so cute...
http://www.viddler.com/explore/IceFlower/videos/37/
Here is an interview with Kimi which is great!
Q: Why are there so many ups and downs ?
Raikkonen: ''It depends on the circuits. Some suit us better, some suit McLaren better. Last year though that was a lot more distinct still. This year there were no longer tracks at which we were completely off target.''
Q: Sometimes you struggle heating up the tyres for the flying laps in qualifying. Is that worse compared to last year ?
Raikkonen: ''A lot depends on the characteristics of the track, the nature of the tarmac, the ambient temperature and the tyre compounds. Under certain circumstances McLaren has an easier time warming up the tyres. Therefore they more often get the maximum out of the tyres over the first lap than we do. But sometimes they pay the price for that in the race because their tyres wear off more quickly. So this evens out. Of course I would most like to have a car that can do both: heating up the tyres quickly but preserving them during the race. But that can't do. You have to decide on either of them since you can no longer chance anything to the car in between qualifying and the race.''
Q: But you can also notice big differences between one qualifying attempt to the next...
Raikkonen: ''One set of tyres can be very different to next, also when you don't chance anything to the car. Two years ago, when the tyre war was still going on, we didn't have fluctuation in quality. But with only one tyre supplier left Bridgestone is obviously keeping an eye on the costs. This has an effect on the production processes. The differences between one set of tyres to the next is what makes it difficult to get a good qualifying lap together. You never know what's awaiting you.''
Q: How difficult is the process of warming up the tyres ?
Raikkonen: ''Very difficult, especially when you already have difficulties getting heat into the tyres anyway. At some tracks there are only slow corners before the finish line, it's bascially impossible to work on the tyres there. Or you have bad luck with a driver slowly driving in front of you because he's willing to create space for himself. In that case you're not able to drive through the decisive corners at the speed you would need to have to warm up the tyres. Then you go into the first two corners of your flying lap with cold tyres. It's extremely difficult for the team to send you out without hitting traffic on the warm up lap.''
Q: How important is it for you that Ferrari leaves you a lot of freedom ?
Raikkonen: ''That is very important to me and that was also the reason why I left McLaren two years ago. I got along well with the people in the team but there have been one or two incidents that I didn't like.''
Q: Would you live differently if you weren't a racing a driver ?
Raikkonen: ''Not a bit. I do what I want. Some people like that, others don't. I don't care what others think about that because I don't care what others are doing.''
Q: Could you imagine a life without Formula 1 ?
Raikkonen: ''I would be driving in another racing serie. Perhaps rally. I've spent my whole life in motorsport. The thought of doing something else never occurred me.''
Q: When was the first time you believed you could actually make it to Formula 1 ?
Raikkonen: ''Not before I was 18-years old, gone to England and having met the right people that could help me along. In the period I was driving karts I never dreamt of Formula 1. We simply had no money.''
Q: What advice would you give to kart drivers ?
Raikkonen: ''I'm not a good adviser. The important thing is to meet people that have contacts and promote your talent. The rest is about being lucky. You have to be at the right place at the right time.''
Q: Is your relaxed approach to your job one of your strengths ?
Raikkonen: ''I don't want to be worried, I simply want to lead a very normal life. Up till now the succes has proven me right. For me this model works. I always try to think positively. After the races at Silverstone or Magny-Cours I could have been angry about missed chances. But that doesn't help. I'd rather say: 'at least you collected some points. It could have been worse'.''
Q: Sometimes your collegues give the impression as if they'd be thinking about their job 24 hours a day...
Raikkonen: ''I think that's an invention. Each one of us is happy when he can think about something else, when he's out of the paddock. It would be counterproductive to continually be thinking about your job. The difference between me and other drivers is perhaps the fact that I don't want to test too much in the winter time. Then I do certain things that have nothing to do with my job. I need that. I would loose my interest in racing If I wouldn't be able to forget about it for a while.''
Q: What's the worst part of your job ?
Raikkonen: ''If I could choose I would only focus on the driving aspect. But I've been in this business long enough to know that everything that comes with it is important.''
Q: Do you have more fun now than two years ago ?
Raikkonen: ''Today I enjoy it a lot more. Ferrari takes care of me perfectly. They know what I like and what I don't like and they grant me enough space to breath.''
Q: Alonso would love to know if you will still be driving in 2009...
Raikkonen: ''I have time.''
Q: What are you waiting for ?
Raikkonen: ''Why would I hurry up ? I have a contract for 2009 and I will actually fullfil it, regardless of what people are speculating. I've always honoured my contracts.''
Q: Perhaps Ferrari would like to know what your plans are after 2009...
Raikkonen: ''I don't think Ferrari is in a hurry either. A contract extension isn't something that is decided about quickly and easily. Many things need to be taken into consideration. I don't really want to reveal more about it. I will take a decision when it's the right time for it.''
Q: Could you imagine having Alonso as your teammate ?
Raikkonen: ''Why not ? I just don't think it will happen.''
Q: Are you afraid of your life after racing ? For Hakkinen it became too boring...
Raikkonen: ''I won't be bored. When I quit Formula 1 I will certainly take part in other races. Sometime I want to try out rally racing. I'm interested in it because you have to be good on tarmac, gravel and ice.''
Q: Would you be able to drive rally cars on WC level ?
Raikkonen: ''Hard to say since I've never seriously taken part in a rally race. On asphalt I would probably do pretty well. I have no experience on gravel. The most difficult thing for me would be to drive in accordance with what the co-pilot is telling me. I'm not used to that.''
Q: Are you faster than your brother Rami who's driving the Finnish championship ?
Raikkonen: ''He doesn't want a comparison to take place.''
Q: Is it true that sometimes your bored in the car ?
Raikkonen: ''Only when I'm in front by a country mile, like in Melbourne last year. Then you're thinking about other things or you're playing with the buttons on the steering wheel. Then I suddenly missed a braking point. This year unfortunately we haven't had such races.''
Q: Are the current Formula 1 cars offering you the greatest fun to drive ?
Raikkonen: ''I had the most fun in my first year. Everything was new for me. The car, the circuits. From last year to this one not much has changed, although the electronic aids have gone. But the cars have become better. You only still notice the lack of traction control in certain corners.''
Q: What do you rather do: being behind the playstation, driving your bike, or go out with friends ?
Raikkonen: ''Go for a ride on the bike. And go out with friends afterwards.''
Q: Do you know Italy ?
Raikkonen: ''I've been a lot in Italy in my period of karting, I've been through the entire country by car. But I didn't see much more than fuelling stations, hotels and circuits.''
Q: What do you do with the Corvette from Sharon Stone that you've bought in Monaco ?
Raikkonen: ''I don't have the car yet. To be honest I don't know at all where it is at the moment, whether I have to pick it up or they send it to me. It wasn't a impulsive purchase, instead it was for charity.''
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Till Hungaroring: only 3 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!
:wild::wild::wild::wild::wild:
:clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:
:dancin::dancin::dancin::dancin:
Here are some cute pics!!! :wub: :wub:
Looks like if he just woke up... :lol:
They sell this limited autographed photo at the official Ferrari website for about 300 EUR :wild:
:wild::wild::wild::wild::wild:
:clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:
:dancin::dancin::dancin::dancin:
Here are some cute pics!!! :wub: :wub:
Looks like if he just woke up... :lol:
They sell this limited autographed photo at the official Ferrari website for about 300 EUR :wild:
The One.
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Aww thanks again for the cute pics :wub:
3 Days!!!! OMG that's so little :wild: I'd be freaking out if I were you.. ( and I think you might be just doing the same right now :lol: )
LOL must have been exciting trip :lol:
It's interesting that Kimi says he would probably be driving rally if he wasn't at Formula 1. Heikki has also stated that he wants to drive rally someday..
3 Days!!!! OMG that's so little :wild: I'd be freaking out if I were you.. ( and I think you might be just doing the same right now :lol: )
Kinga said:
LOL must have been exciting trip :lol:
It's interesting that Kimi says he would probably be driving rally if he wasn't at Formula 1. Heikki has also stated that he wants to drive rally someday..