CHAMPION-MATERIAL : My 2010 Wish !

Kimi Räikkönen has revealed to Heikki Kulta/TS that his dream is to be the first driver who wins the WDC in both F1 and WRC.

- When talking about Kimi, winning the championship in WRC isn't any utopian idea, Tommi Mäkinen says.

The 4-time champion knows both rally and Kimi Räikkönen. Last summer Mäkinen was in a central position when Räikkönen took part in Jyväskylä WRC-rally with his Fiat Grande Punto 2000 -car. His company Tommi Mäkinen Racing took care of Fiat's tetechnology.

Mäkinen says though that one can't dream about a title during the first season. First you have to get properly into the genre and the serie. The wildest dreamers need to put some ice in their hats because Kimi's visit to WRC might last for only one year.
- Succeeding requires a lot of kilometers from Kimi. He still has to learn the co-operation work with the co-driver and how to take the maximum advantage out of the pace notes. Kimi still has things to learn in that area even though he drives well without any rally-experience, Mäkinen says.

Kimi's and Tommi's talks in Jyväskylä proved that Räikkönen has a genuine interest in rally and in the rally car. The two champions' co-operation brought speed into the N-class car.
- Kimi drove a lot and together we made some small changes into the car.

Track drivers have earlier made quick trips to rally paths. Their positions have been among the last ones and their speed hasn't been blazing either.

Kimi's driving opened up the experienced Tommi Mäkinen's eyes even though Kimi's journey ended in the forest.
- My attitude has always been that the track-guys can't rally at all. When it comes to Kimi it isn't true at all so thanks to him I've had to change my attitude.

The difference between F1- and WRC-worlds are quite big. F1-world is distant and protected whereas the WRC again is more relaxed and open. Can this create some problems for Kimi?
- He will most definitely not have any problems adjusting. I'd say that it's the other way around.

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Raikkonen hoping to race on - with the right team

It’s not often that a recent race winner and world champion ends a season without a confirmed seat for the following year, but that is just the situation that 2009 Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is facing.

With Fernando Alonso joining the Italian team to partner Felipe Massa in 2010, Raikkonen is still to find a new cockpit in which to ply his trade. However, the Finn, who is a season shy of his 10-year anniversary in Formula One racing, doesn’t seem too anxious about his future and is instead determined to find the right drive.

And on Friday he reiterated that he is more than willing to bide his time until there’s a suitable vacancy at a team that can offer him the chance to challenge for more race victories and further titles.

“It’s hard to believe that I have been in Formula One for nine years already,” the 30 year-old said on his official website. “I am very motivated to win races and a championship again and will only remain in Formula One if I can race for a team that can give me a car to fight at the front. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

Although the 2010 driver market remains pretty open, with plenty of seats still up for grabs, Raikkonen has considered taking a sabbatical next year if he can’t find an acceptable drive. And speaking in Abu Dhabi a week ago, he made it quite clear to the media that time off remained an option.

“I can do whatever I want," he said, "but like I said before, I haven’t made my decision about what I want to do yet. Basically I have a few different options and we will see what is the best one overall and then I’ll make my decision.”

During his nine-year F1 career, which has included spells at Ferrari, McLaren and Sauber, Raikkonen has racked up one world championship, 18 wins, 16 pole positions, 35 fastest laps and 579 points.

via http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/11/10203.html 

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CIAO FERRARI!

The gang probably asks what we do next year. I think we can at some point tell what we have decided. I can say that much that the motivation hasn't gone anywhere. Racing interests me as much as it did when I was a kid. Racing is everything!

But now I'm going to keep a short vacation. The season was hard and we knew it already before we started to race when we were so much behind the lead. Fortunately we at least won in Spa. That is the highlight of this season and the only thing that I stays in my mind.

F1 is going through a tough change. The regulations will change again. Let's hope that in the future they will be the same for everyone and in a way so that they can't be understood as you want to.

I'm preparing for the next season like before. First I take in some oxygen and then I'll keep the touch alive. Let's wait and see where we drive. Thank you all fans and mates who have supported me. The fight goes on!

translated from finnish by Nicole at kimiraikkonen.com/forum

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Leaving with fond memories

Well, my three years with Ferrari are over. I had an opportunity to fulfill one of my dreams and now I’m looking for new challenges. I leave Ferrari with very fond memories and say ciao to everyone at Maranello.

I won the drivers’ world championship and helped the team to two constructors’ in 3 years.

I’ve made many friends in Ferrari and we had a nice time together. This year did not go according to plan, but that’s life. The package was not very competitive yet will still finished in forth place in the constructors’ championship, only one point from the third.

We struggled a lot with the car, but sill we managed to get some good results the highlight being the victory ar Spa. At least the tean showed we could tacle with the problems we had in the beginning of the season.

It was not a great finish for the season. The facilities are second to none at Abu Dhabi. However, there are not too many places to pass which made the racing more of a procession.

We knew before we came here, that it would be very difficult to score any points. There are many corners and we lack overall downforce and grip. The car did not ride the curbs very well so that added to the problems.

There was nothing to do during the race. We started 11th and finished 12th. That tells all of the weekend.

Now everybody can focus on next year like Ferrari have done already many weeks. Is it going to be different? At least, there are not so many changes next year. No refueling and smaller front tyres are the main things.

At the start of the race the cars will feel very difficutl to drive with so much fuel on board, so preserving the tyres will play a part.

Qualifying is now old days where we do not use fuel so that will be more fun.

It’s hard to believe that I have been in F1 already for nine years. I am very motivated to win races and a championship againg and will only remain in F1, if I can race for a team that can gice me a car to fight at the front.

Let’s wait and see what happens.

via KimiRaikkonen.com

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Raikkonen adamant on McLaren option

Kimi Raikkonen has reiterated his belief that it would be a waste of time to sign for any team other than McLaren next season, explaining he is only interested in fighting for the title in 2010.

Although talks between the Finn and McLaren appear to have stalled over financial terms and other contractual issues, like the number of sponsor appearances, Raikkonen has made it clear he is not interested in signing for anybody else.

"There is no point to go to other teams where you cannot win," said Raikkonen, who has also had an offer from Toyota. "They [McLaren] are the only team that can offer you a good car to be in a position to fight for the championship."

McLaren has been linked with Jenson Button and Nick Heidfeld in recent days, but it is believed that Raikkonen is still top of its list of candidates to partner Lewis Hamilton next year.

Rumours linking other drivers with the team certainly do McLaren little harm in showing Raikkonen that the team has plenty of other options for next year if the Finn is not willing to bring down his financial demands.

Raikkonen's decision to either do a deal with McLaren or potentially take a sabbatical from F1 next season means that Toyota will now have to look elsewhere for a lead driver next year.

The Japanese manufacturer had hoped to do a deal with Robert Kubica before the Pole committed to Renault, and it subsequently set its sights on Raikkonen - who now also appears to have rejected its overtures.

Toyota F1 president John Howett said that Raikkonen's decision meant the team was now clear on what it was going to do - although he would not elaborate on what that plan was.

"We tried to get Robert but he decided that Renault was more interesting," Howett told AUTOSPORT. "We are interested in Kimi although he has indicated that we hadn't had contact and he is only interested in McLaren. Obviously from our side, if that is the situation it is fairly clear in which direction we want to go in.

"Even two or three years ago we indicated that we would like Kimi and, if he was available, we would be interested. We've put forward what we felt was an offer that we could sustain regardless of the budget situation, and so far it was obviously not appealing enough. So fine."

via Autosport.com

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - selected driver quotes

Kimi Raikkonen (12th):
“We knew we did not have a car that was competitive here. It was definitely not a good weekend, but I don’t think any of us have anything to reproach ourselves for. We did the most we could with the package we hard. At the start, the track was a bit slippery and that cost me a place to Kobayashi, who was very quick today. Then, when the two Brawns were back ahead of me, after their first pit stop, our race was definitely compromised and a points finish became impossible. It’s a shame to end my time with Ferrari with this result, but this year we have never been in a position to fight for the win at every race, as I would have wished.”

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Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes

Kimi Raikkonen (11th, Q2 - 1m 40.726s):
“Today we got the most out of the car, but we did not have the necessary performance to make it into Q3. Already yesterday, we realized that it would be tough, so this result is definitely not a surprise. Tomorrow, we will try to do our best, but it’s certainly not going to be an easy race, even though we should definitely be more competitive in the race than in qualifying. What I can say is that eleventh place is better than tenth, given that I will start from the clean side of the track and can choose the ideal fuel load. It will be hard to get third in the constructors’, because the McLaren is very competitive. We will have to try and get some points and hope for a bit of luck.”

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FIA Press Conference

Q: A question to you all. What are your reactions to seeing the Yas Island Circuit for the first time. The facilities? The circuit? Adrian, would you like to start?

Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN: I have only seen the paddock area so far. I haven’t been around the circuit yet. It looks all new and you can see a bit that it is last minute but, overall, it is a very big, massive thing and it will be one of the nicest when everything is ready.

Q: Kimi, what are your thoughts on leaving Ferrari?
KR: Well, it is not any different than a few races ago. I don’t have a contract anymore with them. It is the last race and we try to make a good result and we will see what happens in the future.


Q: Is your focus totally on Formula One or would you like to pursue your rallying career?
KR: Basically I have a few different options and we will see what is the best one overall and then make my decision.


Q: Would rallying be a consideration?
KR: It is definitely one of them, but I mean it is not just Formula One and rallying. There are other things I could do and we will see what happens.

Q: Just looking back at the second part of the season. You have only scored two points less than the person who has scored the most points. Considering that development has stopped on the car it is a pretty remarkable record, isn’t it?
KR: Yeah, I think we had a good second half. The car is definitely not the fastest but we found a pretty good way of working with the car and getting the best out of. It has been more normal to drive than for a long time before. Once you get something that you have a good feeling with, then usually you get good results. The bigger teams or the better teams who have been faster this year should have done better; better cars, better results and better points overall in the last part but they haven’t and I think we did pretty well.


Q: It seems almost unfair that the focus has been on your team-mates and how fast they have been going whereas you have been racking up points all the time.
KR: It makes no difference for me really. I don’t think they have been going very fast and they can talk to them as much as they want. We just try to score points and get good results. That has been our aim and is still our aim in the last race and hopefully we can get a bit more than McLaren.

Q: (Dan Knutson – National Speed Sport News) If I can ask all of you. Jean Todt is the new President of the FIA. What would you like to see him achieve and accomplish for Formula One?

KR: I think he is going to do good work. I think he is a good guy for this work and he is very straightforward and not too much politics. But I know from working with him that he is going to be the right guy.

Q: (Chris Lines – Associated Press) Question for you all about the late start: starting in the afternoon, going into the evening. We had a situation in Australia, first race of the year, with a similar kind of timing. Towards the end of the race there were complaints from the drivers about the sun getting in their eyes, complaints about the track cooling down, so the grip wasn’t as good. Do you have concerns here for the same reasons?
KR: I don’t think there will be any problems. Of course, it might look a little bit different at some point when the sun disappears but the lights, at least in Singapore, were so good that you hardly see the difference between day and night. Here, it will be quite hot anyhow, so it should be OK.

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Fernando, you were behind these two guys. Could you give us your point of view and Kimi, we heard something about you taking a sabbatical next year in 2010. Is that true, it’s an option or not?
KR: I can if I want. I can do whatever I want, but like I said before, I haven’t made my decision what I want to do yet.

Q: (Joris Fioriti – AFP) Do you think, the four of you, that Jenson Button is a good champion for the sport, or just that he had the best car this year?

KR: Yeah, he had the most points, also at the end of the season but whoever gets the most points deserves it, so he’s definitely the right man for that.

Q: (Flavio Vanetti – Corriere dello Sport) Kimi, what would like to tell Fernando as he’s joining Ferrari to replace you?
KR: I don’t think I need to tell him anything; for sure he will find out. He’s been in Formula One a long time and he’s not going to have any issues there. I think he’s probably been there before and met the people already, so there’s not much to say.

Q: (Jonathan Legard – BBC Sport) Question for Kimi: you talk about your options. I just wondered how important it would be if you decided to stay in Formula One, if you found another team, that you could do some rallying as well, like you did with Ferrari or whether that’s something of a stumbling block, wanting to do another form of motor sport as well as doing Formula One?
KR: It’s definitely going to be Formula One, it’s going to be in the contract that I’m allowed to do it (rallying). It’s not going to hurt you. Any kind of driving is always going to give you some experience, so I don’t see what’s the issue. It’s been working well this year, so as long as it doesn’t disturb what you’re doing in Formula One or whatever you do, I don’t see that there’s any problem.

Q: (Joris Fioriti – AFP) Both championships have been settled. Will this race be the last opportunity to show yourselves, the ones that don’t have a team for next year?

KR: You always try to do your best – at least, I try and it’s the same story in the last race: we try to get back third place in the championship for the team. I think it’s a bit late if you only try to do your best in the last race to try to prove yourself to some other team, then you shouldn’t be there. It’s the same story as any race this year: we try to do the maximum.

via FIA.com

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Singapore results

Position Driver Constructor  Time
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1h56:06.337
2. Glock Toyota (B) + 9.634
3. Alonso Renault (B) + 16.624
4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) + 20.261
5. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) + 30.015
6. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) + 31.858
7. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 36.157
8. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 55.054
9. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 56.054
10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 58.892
11. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 59.777
12. Trulli Toyota (B) + 1:13.009
13. Fisichella Ferrari (B) + 1:19.890
14. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1:33.502

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ONLY A CONTRACT THAT PLEASES KIMI WILL GUARANTEE HIS CONTINUANCE IN F1

In the latest exclusive interview Turun Sanomat had with Kimi Räikkönen he doesn't draw too big lines but let's understand that his will to continue in F1 is as hard as it was when he signed with the now terminated contract with the Italian team for 2010.

At what point are the negotiations with McLaren?
– The contract depends on so many factors. It will be made if I get a contract that pleases me. There are many small things, Räikkönen said.

Are you prepared to make compromises in these negotiations?
– Of course some compromises can be made but it makes no sense to do something you don't have to do. It leads nowhere.

Do these negotiations have some time schedule?
– I don't have any time schedule but of course all the teams have their own time schedule. I am not in a hurry here. There is no shortage of time before something should happen.

You said a while ago in the international press conference that it's McLaren or nothing?
– Yup. It makes no sense to go to another F1-team. I have nothing going on with Toyota even though they say that we negotiate. We haven't talked with them. It's completely their own story.

What about Lewis Hamilton? They say that McLaren has grown around him after your departure?
– Hamilton doesn't have any meaning in this case. These open things have nothing to do with Lewis. For me it's all the same who drives the other car there.

How important part in the negotiations is the freedom to drive rally on your free time?
– I will get that freedom. It's not up to that.

David and Steve Robertson are your managers. How much do they decide for you?
– Whatever I do next year is completely my own decision. Nobody has any influence in it. The Robertson's do what they have to do. In the final games it's me who makes the decision. It just has to be a contract that pleases me. Nothing else matters.

I'm sure you will move on to rally someday. What kind of car would you get from rally for next season?
– I don't know. Of course I would have to learn it but it's good if you have immediately the best car. It's not cool to drive bad cars. The truth still is that wherever I go it takes time before I learn it completely.
– At the moment there are a few top cars in WRC. Two factory teams and they have their own number two cars in the private teams. In principle it's going to change a lot after a year when the 2000's along with a lot of new teams are coming.

What about the talks from Ferrari that you would consider keeping a year off?
– I am going to do something next year for sure. Whatever happens. I have all kinds of options of what I can do. I just don't have the energy to go through them with you until I know what is going to happen here.

What kind of feelings do you have towards Ferrari when the co-operation doesn't end in the way you would have wanted it to end?
– I really don't have any feelings towards them. And I haven't got anything against Ferrari. This just has been a time that I'm sure is great to look back to when I'm old.

What is your relationship with Jean Todt?
– We have a good relationship. He has got nothing to do with me leaving. It was with him I made the contract back in the time. Jean is a great guy - just like most of the others at Ferrari.

The endseason's results have surprised even Ferrari. How much of will to show has there been?
– Well it most certainly has nothing to do with a will to show. We just got the car changed in the way I wanted. We were quite good earlier but the car just wasn't good enough. When it was improved it started to go better.

Your race engineer Andrea Stella said that the car was as competitive in Interlagos as it was in Monaco in the spring.
– Yup. If we would have had more luck we could have even fought for the victory. I don't know if I could have matched Red Bull's speed but we would have come in 2nd at least.

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Mika & Kimi would have been McLaren's dream team

Team manager Marti Whitmarsh continues negotiations about Kimi Räikkönen's return to McLaren.

The English F1 Racing -magazine asked Whitmarsh which drivers who have driven in McLaren would have been the "dream team", which they are searching for next season.

Whitmarsh doesn't choose Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, nor Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

- We had Senna-Prost and it didn't work in the best way possible. We had Hamilton-Alonso and it didn't work either in the best way.

- Maybe the most functional dual chosen from our drivers would have been Mika Häkkinen and Kimi Räikkönen. With them it would have worked. Both of them are straight-forward drivers who only concentrate on driving, are unique personalities, but intelligent, clever and could give the essential feedback to their engineers, Whitmarsh ponders.

Still after Silverstone McLaren was wondering where had the Räikkönen they know disappeared; the guy who always gave his everything no matter what kind of car. After Brazil and many other races they know the answer in Woking - it has not disappeared anywhere.

TS, Abu Dhabi

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Raikkonen hoping for glorious Ferrari swansong

After three years at Ferrari, this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be Kimi Raikkonen’s final race for the Italian team. And with Ferrari just one point adrift of long-term rivals McLaren in this season’s constructors’ championship, Raikkonen wants to end his time at Maranello on a high at the Yas Marina Circuit.

“The race in Abu Dhabi will be my last Grand Prix with Ferrari and as usual I will give it everything to gain the best possible result,” the Finn told Ferrari’s official website. “We’ll try to conclude this difficult year with a good result, hoping that it will be enough to gain the third place in the constructors’ championship McLaren took over in Brazil.”

While the British team have been busy bringing new parts for the MP4-24 to every race, Ferrari halted development work on the F60 three months ago to focus on their 2010 car. Despite this, and the fact that it will be the first time he (and the 19 other drivers) race in Abu Dhabi, Raikkonen is optimistic he can enjoy a good result.

“It will be difficult,” he explained. “Our direct competitors are still improving their car, while we have been using the same car since the race in Hungary at the end of July. There are many expectations as far as the Yas Marina circuit is concerned, but it’s difficult making any predictions, because we’re racing there for the first time. Let’s hope we can conclude the season with something nice to be remembered!”

Raikkonen’s Ferrari seat will be occupied by current Renault driver Fernando Alonso next season, while the Finn is yet to reveal his own plans for 2010.

via http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/10/10139.html

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Here are the reasons why Ferrari blames Kimi

It's an huge torment. A Mike-style quiz question (Mike was a famous italo-ameican tv quiz presenter who recently died). They ask me in bars, resrourants, newsstands, squares. A good sign: at least common people don't accept the (mediatic) brainwash. In a few words, from the grandmother to the grandson, they ask me, thinking I'm some kind of truth oracle: why did Ferrari decide, although it's unofficial yet, to fire Raikkonen? Blondie's recent, very brilliant results (he would be 1st in WDC, considering his results since Hungary) made laughable all attempts to make him look like he's over. On the contrary, without Kimi, after Massa's drama, the Red Car would have fallen into a black hole.

So why (did they fire him)? I've been asking this from well informed persons. People at the roots of Ferrari's Power. No names and no surnames, these are 'secret informations from the company'. Everybody's free, of course, to agree or not. As those who read this blog, or my crazy articles on Carlino, Nazione and Giorno (three italian newspapers who share part of the contents) know, I OBVIOUSLY DON'T AGREE.

Are you ready? Let's go.

At first we have to complete the reasoning, at least that's what the sources of this dumb journalist say. Fernando Alonso is about to come to Maranello, not some unknown guy. They mean: we change a top driver with another top driver.

Further clarification: Ferrari people consider the link between Alonso and the sponsorship agreement with Banco Santander offensive. Alonso, they say, is so strong he doesn't need any reference! However Banco, for 2010, will also sponsor McLaren. And the big spy isn't surely coming back there...

What do they dispute to Raikkonen? Nothing, from the results POV: in Fiorano they know F60B is an awful car, it wasn't competitive at the beginning and when it improved the blondie often brought it on the podium. Badoer's flop and Fisico's crisis, forced to handle a very difficult car, show all the merits of the nordic and Massa.

So? So, in the buttons room they say Kimi has a defect. He's instinctive. He's an individualist. His relationship with engineers is always expeditious. A few words, a few hints.

Inside Ferrari there is a generation grown with Schumi. Big Michael was completely different than the finn. He tormented techies for hours. Alonso seems to be like the german. Or at least that's what Domenicali thinks .

New F1 rules forbid tests between GPs. Thus, the contribution of the driver to the car development, with no tests, is fundamental. Kimi, according to this reasoning, is less precious than Massa. Even in this case, according to those in charge at Fiorano.

Last but not least, something they don't say. Alonso, when Hamilton was his teammate, got mad. Alonso can be handled better with Massa, who already was partner of a guy called Schumacher. With Kimi, who is a former WDC, the spaniard would always be under pressure. That was their logic, until the brazilian accident in Hungary: a misfortune that, toghether with the return of the blondie, risks to create problem to future Ferrari.

Can you think about that? A 2010 season with Raikkonen WDC in another team.

Published by Leo Turrini Tue, 15/09/2009 - 12:26

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Alo 3 years in red: but if I were Kimi...

Now that Nandino O’Spione (Little Nando da big spy) officially did his precious autograph on the contract linking him to Ferrari for 3 years (with an option for other 2), for a modest wage not inferior to 100 (one hundred) millions of euro, I were Kimi I'd say the following.

1) My dears, in 30 years, from 1979 to 2009, I, the blondie vokda lover, have been the only driver in Cavallino's history to won a WDC. Except Schumi, of course.

2) It's not my fault if you never forgot Schumi. You pi**ed me off with a constant comparison (with him). When I were in McLaren, nobody talked about Hakkinen, neither they talked about the poor Senna. You are sick of nostalgia.

3) Curiously, my dears ex employers, your memory doesn't work only when it's good for you. I won the WDC when the spaniard was trafficking with Stepney's secrets.

4) You told me I don't speak so much with engineers, I'm unable to tell them what to do. Maybe it's true I don't speak a lot, but you, silently, in 2008 changed suspensions because Massa asked you.

5) Speaking about Felipe. I'm sure he'll be as fast as before, in this case good luck to Fernando, because the brazilian knows how to move inside the Scuderia and surely he moved much better than me.

6) I want to kindly point out in 3 years we won, toghether, three titles: a WDC and 2 WCCs.

7) I want to furtherly point out this year, the disgraceful 2009, you gave me a cr@ppy car. I won the most wonderful race, in Spa, I've got the podium more than once and if you didn't stop developing the car, well, I tell you I'd have easily got the third place.

8 ) Do you know what drives me mad? My problems started when Todt left. It was Jean Todt who preferred me over Alonso when Schumi retired. Everybody said, because of his son, the french favoured Felipe, but actually that happened when he left.

9) If I think I've stopped drinking to make you happy, I'm going to turn myself into a beast.

10) I'll start drinking again and I'll make Hamilton black (in Italy "fare nero" "to make somebody black" means "to do a lot better than him" to "destroy him"), if I'm allowed to say this joke which is on the same line of those of your prime minister. In 2010, with the spaniard, you'll go white (in Italy "andare in bianco", "to go white" is usually when a man wants to sleep with a woman but she doesn't agree and they don't sleep toghether. In general it means you want to do something, you expect you'll do it, then this thing isn't going to happen). Do you want to bet?

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Kyllönen doesn't believe in Räikkönen's McLaren transfer

- Mika Salo said last week that he is being skeptical aboutl [Kimi's] quick McLaren transfer. I relate to the issue the same way as Salo. Miracles have to happen if Kimi goes there, Kyllönen speculates.

As the biggest obstacle for the transfer to McLaren Kyllönen sees Lewis Hamilton and his supporting group.

- They see a clear threat in the atmosphere in McLaren getting inflamed, as happened with Alonso, Kyllönen reminds.

- When a strong-willed experienced driver comes who only wants to win - like Kimi - then Hamilton could be in trouble.

Räikkönen replacing Webber in Red Bull isn't an impossible thought.

- Over tha years in F1 has been seen unpredictable transfers and now there is a place searched for a champion after all.

- Vettel and Räikkönen are great friends and they would get a long well. An ideal couple for the championship fight.

Also Brawn GP is an option.

- Is Button's contract certain for next season? Could Brawn's next season driver couple be Kimi Räikkönen - Nico Rosberg, the double R.

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KIMI's SITUATION WILL BE CLEAR IN 2-3 WEEKS

Räikkönen's contract situation is still open.

Manager Steve Robertson was busy on Suzuka Grand Prix -paddock. What is the situation when thinking of next season?
– The situation at the moment is that we negotiate with several F1-teams - there have come forward teams you wouldn't even think that would be looking for a driver. It's a fact that Kimi has not signed any contract with anyone and the negotiations continue, Robertson said.
– The goal is to continue in F1 but like Kimi himself has said, he only wants to win and drive for the championship. That's why we are looking for a team where he could do that.
– A lot of negotiations have been held and will be held in the future. Hopefully during the next 2-3 weeks a deal has been made with some team.
– The top teams all want to decide their drivers before the season ends in Abu Dhabi. Making the decision by then is also in Kimi's interests. It requires intense negotiations.

Where could you then find a winning car?
– You don't have to be an Einstein to figure out which teams could offer a winning car and therefore who we are negotiating with, Robertson said.

Winning cars this season have been Brawn, Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.

How does Räikkönen think about his future?
– First I have to get a contract I'm satisfied with and a car that can win the championship. There's no reason for me to go to a bad team and drive in a circle. I'd rather stay home if that would be the case, Räikkönen said.

Turun Sanomat, Suzuka
Heikki Kulta

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Jan 2007: MOTHER-RÄIKKÖNEN: KIMI IS LIBERATED

Kimi Räikkönen's mother Paula says his son has changed into more liberated after his switch to Ferrari.

His mother says that the Italian mentality suits Kimi.
- The one thing that has been so wonderful to see is how liberated and happy Kimi is. He is full of excitement and highly motivated, Paula Räikkönen described Kimi's feeling at Ferrari.

According to Paula Kimi didn't like the mold he was squeezed in at McLaren.
- He doesn't love strong authorities. The mold he had to fit in in his latest team must have been quite stressing.

The publicity around Kimi amazes his mother sometimes.
- Sometimes you think that is it true that they are talking about our boy? I just can't seem to internalize it and maybe it is for the better, not to internalize it so much, Paula said.

Kimi's father Matti thinks that it will take some time to get used to finding Kimi from the red car.
- It may happen that I look again after three laps and say '*** No swearing ***, that Schumi is again driving in the lead' until I realise that hey, it's our Kimppa, Matti said.

Kimi being a superstar hasn't changed Matti and Paula Räikkönen.
- It's wonderful that Kimi's dream has come true but it doesn't make us special in any way, Paula said.

(MTV3)

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Not much luck in Interlagos

Maranello - First of all I want to congratulate Jenson for winning the Championship: I know how he’s felling right now… He had a great start of the season, winning six out of seven races, while the second part was pretty difficult for him. But a Championship is decided by the points you gain as of March and he gained more than anybody else.
This year we didn’t have the possibility to fight for the World Title.
We didn’t have the right performance to fight for the win in every race. As we expected we had a difficult weekend also in Brazil, but without what happened on the first lap I would have been able to gain a place on the podium. We had some problem with graining in Friday’s free practice sessions, but we managed to improve the car’s set up, so that my lap times were competitive in the race. When there’s rain, the qualfying turns into a lottery. We were very fast with the super wets over the weekend and I was always amongst the top three. With the intermediates I lost some grip and it became more difficult for me. I still managed to gain the fifth position on the starting grid, which was a good position for the race. I had a great start, benefitting also from the fact that I had soft tyres, while the others around me were on the hard compound. I had a good exit in corner 3 and I tried to attack Webber, benefitting from the KERS: he suddenly changed his racing line and before I could even think I hit the grass with two wheels and damaged the front wing. In this moment my hopes for a place amongst the top three ended up in smoke.
I came back to the box and we changed the strategy to a race with just one stop. While I was in the pitlane I saw Heikki’s car in front of me with the hose stuck to his car, fuel came out and hit me even in the eyes. I was in a ball of fire for a second: I almost stopped to get out of the car and when it was over my eyes still hurt.
Unfortunately in the first part of the race I was stuck for a long time behind Grosjean: when he stopped I had a free track. All in all the sixth place is a good result, considering what had happened. Although I don’t like the fact that we lost points to McLaren in a race where they started behind us. Now we’re one point behind in the standings: everything can happen in Abu Dhabi and we’ll give it everything to regain the third place.

via Ferrari.com

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Raikkonen: Car better in heavy rain

Kimi Raikkonen reckons Ferrari would have had a much stronger Interlagos qualifying session had the weather not improved.

The Finn ended up fifth on the grid, but had been second in Q1, when the weather was at its worst.

Raikkonen felt the car was less competitive when the field switched to intermediate tyres following the long stoppage in the middle of the session.

"With the inters the car is not so easy as with full wet tyres," he said. "If it stayed in full wet condition then probably we would have been in a better position.

"Hopefully tomorrow we can fight for a podium. We know the car is missing grip, but I am happy because it is a good position."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali added that the team cannot get complacent about its chances in the battle for third in the constructors' championship despite main rival McLaren's disastrous session.

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Brazilian Grand Prix - selected driver quotes

Kimi Raikkonen (6th):
"What happened on the first lap ruined my race. First I was hit at the first corner, then when trying to pass Webber, I was hit and lost the front wing. At the pit stop, I ended up with some drops of petrol in my eye, from the fuel line stuck on Kovalainen's car and then I was engulfed in flames and blinded: I was going to stop, but luckily the flames soon went out. Even now, my eyes are still burning, but I'm alright. After the restart, I could only try and use the strategy to move up the order and at least I brought home a few points. I am disappointed because today I'm sure we could have made it to the podium. There is one race to go: let's see what we can do in Abu Dhabi to get back that third place."

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Pre-race weights & provisional grid

1. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 650.5kg
2. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 656
3. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 656.5
4. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 658.5
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 651.5
6. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 659
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 657
8. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 656
9. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 664
10. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 652
11. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 671.6
12. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 671.5
13. Romain Grosjean, Renault, 677.2
14. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 672
15. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 683.5
16. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 656.5
17. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 661
18. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 650.5
19. Giancarlo Fisichella, Ferrari, 683.5
20. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 680

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Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes

Kimi Raikkonen, P1 - 1:13.321, 10th; P2 - 1:13.026, 18th
“I’d say this Friday was not too different to others we have experienced this season, especially in recent races. It’s all very close so it will only take a small step forward to climb back up the order, but we are definitely facing a difficult weekend. The tyres suffered with a bit of graining, which made itself felt especially in the second sector, but I believe that, as often happens here, once the track rubbers in, the situation will improve.”

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