Kimi Raikkonen News

Kimi Raikkonen's testing debut delights new Lotus team

2012-01-26T14:19:00.004+02:00

Lotus revealed former world champion Kimi Raikkonen made an encouraging start in his first test for the team.The 32-year-old Finn was testing in Valencia on Monday ahead of his return to Formula 1 this year after two years in rallying.Trackside operations director Alan Permane said: "From the first run he was pretty much there."Raikkonen said: "It was nice to get back into the car. It's quite a few years since I last drove."Raikkonen was driving a two-year-old Renault R30 at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain, and will continue into a second day on Tuesday.He will drive the team's 2012 car for the first time at Jerez in next month's first pre-season test.Permane added that it was impossible to say whether Raikkonen was fully up to speed as there was no benchmark for the car on that track and on the tyres Raikkonen was using.

Lotus star Kimi Räikkönen gets in F1 groove early

2012-01-25T14:17:00.000+02:00

Returning Formula One champion and Lotus star Kimi Räikkönen has warmed up for the start of winter testing with a track run in Valencia – but the Finn’s success will depend on exactly how good Lotus’ 2012 car is, according to F1 legend Niki Lauda.Comments Email Print Got a story?Räikkönen, champion in 2007, completed a two-day test at Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia this week in Renault’s 2010 chassis with the aim of acclimatising to the category.The Finn has spent two years away from Formula One, but this week completed 171 laps over the two days, a total of 413 miles and the equivalent of more than two grands prix.“Overall the two days have been helping me a lot,” said Räikkönen, who will drive for the Hethel-backed team in 2012.

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KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN BACK IN F1 WITH LRGP IN 2012

2011-11-29T10:50:00.001+02:00

Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.

Kimi’s F1 roll of honour includes 18 wins, 62 podiums and 16 pole positions. This experience and success is sure to help the team make a step forward next year. The 32-year-old Finn’s commitment indeed makes for a vote of confidence in Lotus Renault GP, demonstrating the team’s determination and new philosophy for the seasons ahead.

Kimi Räikkönen: “I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP as I have been impressed by the scope of the team’s ambition. Now I’m looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.”

Gérard Lopez, Genii Capital, Chairman: “All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we’ve been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level. Kimi’s decision to come back to Formula 1 with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future. Of course, we are all looking forward to working with a world champion. On behalf of our staff, I’d like to welcome Kimi to Enstone, a setting that has always been known for its human approach to Formula 1.” via LOTUS F1

After Williams negotiations fall apart, Raikkonen heading to Lotus Renault?

2011-11-26T23:21:00.002+02:00

After weeks of rumours about a possible deal between 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and AT&T Williams for 2012, a new wave of rumours say the negotiations fell apart last week.

According to respected German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport, two different stories are being told in the paddock to explain what went wrong. Some say, Raikkonen’s managers asked for more money than Williams was willing to offer. But others think Williams did not want to cede the 20% of the team Raikkonen wanted to buy. The Finnish driver should already have tried to buy a 20% of another two teams before contacting Williams.

Also according to Auto, Motor und Sport, if it is true that Raikkonen stopped the negotiations with Williams, it could mean that some other team is now interested in selling shares to the ‘Iceman’. It is not clear if that team could be Renault, since the driver and some team officials had a loud quarrel in the media last year. Nevertheless, Raikkonen’s manager is thought to have phoned Renault’s Eric Boullier before the Abu Dhabi GP, as the Frenchman confirmed to Formula1.com… source

Räikkönen isn't going to Williams, he is going to Lahden Pelicans

2011-11-25T23:16:00.000+02:00

Lahden Pelicans offers quite a tasty charity event for the audience on December 16th when the league plays against an all stars -team, which is packed with celebrities. According to Etelä-Suomen Sanomat Pelicans will face a hockey-team led by the daredevil-gang Duudsons.

Those who have already promised to play are among others ex-F1 driver Mika Salo, motorsport's superstar Kimi Räikkönen and emcees Mikko Leppilampi and Heikki Paasonen.

According to ESS Räikkönen is in the Pelicans-team where Pasi Nurminen is the captain. Jarppi Leppälä again coaches the Duudson-team.

- Update your insurances and put the compensations amounts bigger, Duudons' Jarppi tells on Etelä-Suomen Sanomat.

- Kimi is going to be so squashed after the game that he doesn't fit into a F1-car anymore. That should clear up his negotation-schemes, Leppälä continues. source: kimi's official forum :)

Raikkonen still negotiating for Williams place

2011-11-24T23:15:00.000+02:00

MTV3's insider source of the information received by the Williams F1 team is not until Wednesday morning before a decision next season regarding the location of the driver.

Kimi Raikkonen is still one of the team's options for next season, and negotiations are continuing with the Finnish driver.

Unconfirmed information, particularly for Williams, Chairman of the Board , Adam Parr, the team would like to Raikkonen's second race was helping and driving. Parr is the hierarchy of the Williams team's second in command. Above him is only the team's founder and principal owner Frank Williams .

Williams has announced a decision before next weekend's Brazilian GP. Valtteri Bottas rose strongly on Tuesday evening, according to Williams, the rumors, the Italian car magazine, Sprint claimed that he was closer to the Pesti Räikkönen.

Williams, another car is likely to continue Pastor Maldonado. source

RAIKKONEN FAILS TO RETURN TO F1?

2011-11-23T23:14:00.000+02:00

He had a dream: a year with Williams, then take away the place to Schumacher Mercedes. But the sponsor disappears and Williams is the preferred novice Bottas. So the dream 2013 Mercedes stops

He had a wonderful idea in the head, Kimi Raikkonen. Take the place of Michael Schumacher at Mercedes in 2013. He wanted to remove the rust off (after two seasons in the World Rally Championship) with a year at Williams and then return to a team at the top: both as a car that as engagement. Allowed to remain a dream of Ferrari's monstrously? Not only the declarations Autosprint by Ross Brawn, in the current issue this week, have also designed a long-term future of the House of Stella and 7 times F1 world champion.

But Kimi and his manager Steve Robertson, do not despair. We will try until the last. The only thing certain now is that there is another ready to land in Grove Finnish: it's Valtteri Bottas , former Williams tester, specimen GP3 and with major financial backing. There is a lot of excitement around the seat of the future Fw34 Motor Renault also the place of Maldonado, after that of Barrichello, seems at risk after the problems triggered by the sponsor that finances Psdva Pastor's career and became a real deal from state to Venezuela. Everything is still at stake and there are those who even says that he returned to hope even Rubens Barrichello. Someone has also designed a Williams throughout Finland, but only if the lower end of Raikkonen's claims and in particular ensure the support of the Bank of Qatar, also If the deal now seems highly compromised . But it is possible that the market can still book a surprise hit. Find the whole story behind the scenes on the number of Autosprint on newsstands this week. source

Pedro De La Rosa on Kimi/Williams Rumours

2011-11-22T23:12:00.001+02:00

"Q: Kimi Raikkonen's return is being taken for granted.

A: Kimi has been my teammate for years in McLaren and he is a genius. He is a driver with an incredible natural talent and his place is in Formula 1. I'm very happy about it and I know he is training hard. He is going to be a hard rival, but it will all depend on what Williams can do. They have had a very bad year but they are going to be strengthened by Kimi."

view full interview

Williams can offer shares to have Kimi Raikkonen in 2012

2011-11-21T23:11:00.000+02:00

The Williams team following financial difficulties to return to the good old days of Formula 1. So opens the chance to offer their shares as payment to the driver Kimi Raikkonen in the 2012 season. The team does not have money to support the salaries demanded by the Finnish, according to information from Europe. Kimi Raikkonen would have asked for a salary close to that of Fernando Alonso at Ferrari. After all, the Finn has a curriculum with the mark of a champion of Formula 1. He won the World Drivers in 2007 when he defended the Ferrari. The success of Raikkonen with Williams would be detrimental to Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who plans to remain in Formula 1 in 2012, even near completion of 40 years. Raikkonen is away from Formula 1 since the end of 2009. In the last two years, the Finn had experiences with other categories: Rally and NASCAR Truck Series.

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'Raikkonen wants equity in Williams'

2011-11-20T23:10:00.000+02:00

Kimi Raikkonen isn't just looking for a Williams race-seat for next season, according to reports he also wants a stake in the F1 team.

Raikkonen is believed to be on his way to Williams next season with some reports claiming the deal is done while others say it is still in the preliminary stages.

However, there appears to be a new twist to the tale.

According to British motorsport journalist Joe Saward, it "is not as simple as most team-driver negotiations as I hear that Raikkonen is looking to acquire some equity in the team."

Although shares in Williams were floated on the stock market earlier this year, Frank Williams and Patrick Head still remain in control with Sir Frank holding the biggest stake in the team.

However, Raikkonen wanting to part-own and not just drive could be a stumbling block in the negotiations as Sir Frank is believed to be loath to handing control, even a small part, to someone else.

Why Raikkonen Will Be Missed By the WRC

2011-11-19T23:09:00.000+02:00

"Kimi Raikkonen looks certain to quit the WRC and return to doing what he does best next year. But, as David Evans explains, the rallying fraternity was only just getting to know the flying Finn and will miss him.

Kimi Raikkonen, over and out. Landing his Citroen on its roof close to the source of the River Severn in the heart of Wales was not the most glamorous end to the Finn's World Rally Championship career.

If, indeed, it is the end of his WRC career.

I think we can be pretty certain it will be.

Raikkonen has had his fun, but it looks like the day job is calling. The busman's holiday is over. And just when the WRC was learning to love him, as well." source

Sauber says Raikkonen needs ‘top car’ for F1 return

2011-11-18T23:08:00.000+02:00

If Kimi Raikkonen returns in 2012, the Finn’s first formula one boss Peter Sauber hopes he has a fast Williams to drive.
Many paddock observers recall the 32-year-old’s last F1 season in 2009, when he struggled with the uncompetitive Ferrari and at the end of the year turned down opportunities with other teams in favour of a rallying foray.
Now, some believe he wants to come back to the sport in 2012 because he faces the prospect of being paid to drive for the first time since leaving F1.
“Obviously, anyone worth his salt in any business will argue about the price of things,” smiled Sir Frank Williams in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, “so there is an argument going on, which of course is quite normal.”
Sauber, who gave Raikkonen his debut in 2001, told Blick newspaper he welcomes the news the Finn is thinking about coming back.
“But he needs to be motivated,” said the Swiss, “and Kimi will only be motivated if he’s in a top car.”
Williams has had a dire 2011 season, but for next season the team will be counting on former McLaren designer Mike Coughlan and Renault engines.
Asked if the new pieces to the puzzle will solve Williams’ problems over the winter, chairman Adam Parr announced confidently: “Yes.
“I feel very energised about where we are at the moment because the people here are just stunning, without exception.”

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Schumacher: Raikkonen return would boost F1

2011-11-17T23:02:00.000+02:00

Michael Schumacher believes it would be good for F1 if Kimi Raikkonen does make a return.

Raikkonen left at the end of 2009 and since then has competed in the World Rally Championship with Citroen. In recent months he has been linked to a drive with Williams and earlier this week, Christian 'Toto' Wolff, a major shareholder at the former world champion team, told Austria's Kronen Zeitung that the Grove-based outfit was seriously considering the Finn for 2012. He did add though that others were also in the frame, including GP2 series front runner, Jules Bianchi.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the penultimate round in the F1 2011 World Championship, when asked about the prospect of the Finn returning, Schumacher added that he didn't think Raikkonen would have a problem getting back up to speed.

“In the end, you think how much can you recall your potential? How much can you drive the car to its limit? That is the main concern that was answered right away at the first test [when I made the decision to come out of retirement],” Schumacher told Reuters.

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Michael Schumacher would be 'happy' to see Kimi Raikkonen return to Formula One

2011-11-16T23:01:00.000+02:00

After two years driving in the World Rally Championship, Raikkonen is currently being linked with a seat at Williams.
The 2007 world champion is involved in contract talks with the team that has fallen on hard times of late in terms of results.
Although Raikkonen would not come cheap, it is understood Williams are working on ways of financing the deal that would enable the 32 year-old to make a comeback.
Seven-time champion Schumacher would relish the prospect as he said: "I would be very happy to see him back.
"We have had some very good times, and I look forward to some on-track and off-track occasions! It will be good."

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F1: Raikkonen finally confirms Williams talks

2011-11-15T23:00:00.000+02:00

He says a deal is not done, but Kimi Raikkonen has finally admitted talking to Williams about possibly returning to Formula One next year.
Amid intensifying speculation about the 2007 world champion's plans, Williams co-owner Toto Wolff confirmed last week that the talks with former McLaren and Ferrari race winner Raikkonen about next season are "serious".
Ahead of the last world rally round of 2011 in Wales, Raikkonen on Wednesday finally admitted the same.

"We have been talking with them (Williams)," the 32-year-old is quoted by Finland's Turun Sanomat, "but I do not have any agreement in any direction.

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Raikkonen's Managers In Abu Dhabi With Williams

2011-11-14T22:54:00.000+02:00

"The appearance of managers Steve and David Robertson was all the more notable given Raikkonen’s participation thousands of miles away in the Welsh rally.

And Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that they watched the grand prix from within Williams’ hospitality area.

The signs are growing stronger every day that 32-year-old Raikkonen is definitely motivated to return to the sport that gave him 18 wins between 2001 and 2009.

Sir Frank Williams finally confirmed to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 on Sunday that his Oxfordshire based team “has strong interest” in housing Raikkonen next year.

“Obviously, anyone worth his salt in any business will argue about the price of things,” he grinned, “so there is an argument going on, which of course is quite normal.

“I must choose my words carefully by saying only that it (Raikkonen coming to Williams) is possible.”"

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Brundle: Raikkonen could be a double-edged sword Williams

2011-11-13T22:53:00.000+02:00

According to Martin Brundle Kimi Raikkonen's return is good and bad effects can be a cause of Williams. BBC F1 reporter, who had also competed in the racing circus, believes Kimi arrival of a new energy to recharge the grove of stable, but also highlights the weaknesses of the team.

Kimi Raikkonen, despite the speed of the Ferrari man was pulling 2007-2008 - In 1984 and 1996, Martin Brundle in 158 Grand Prix races attended, among others, of Tyrrell, Benetton, Ligier, McLaren and Jordan colors. The same could not win, but it could stand up to nine times on the podium, and in 1992, Michael Schumacher, the usual portion of your brain for your money when they were teammates in Benettonnál. véleményvezérré Brundle has become dominant in F1 circles, everyone is paying attention to what he says. It is therefore interesting that the Sunday Times that appears in section written in Kimi Raikkonen's possible return to the implications of Williams. "One of the people who are likely to take over Rubens Barrichello place of Williams, Kimi Raikkonen, who in the past two years, the F1-outside competed, but now return to the ralizásból. ' "power to recharge the arrival of Kimi Raikkonen, Williams, not as a personality, rather than on the track of the performance. Will be determined and hungry for success, and now that it is difficult to test during the season, missing a treadmill power vacuum that led to withdrawal from the early part of Finland. The name and the famous speed will appeal to sponsors, but not really he will determine the team's development direction - as is the Ferrari also found "- wrote Brundle. "The story is dark side to Kimi Raikkonen in the presence of more limelight in Williams weaknesses . The team is currently ninth in the constructors' championship, just five points, just 23 cars and 24 from start to begin today in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The big question: will have the necessary agykapacitással [professionals - ed.] And the (financial) resources to give all in reverse? " Press News that Raikkonen and Williams marriage announcement of the Abu Dhabi race before Friday should have been törtnnie, but this did not happen. When you team up with Qatar National Bank from the financial rescue package expected, the return of Raikkonen in the coming weeks or longer before the Brazilian Grand Prix to report.

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Sign Kimi, McLaren boss advises Williams

2011-11-12T22:59:00.000+02:00

ABU DHABI: Williams should sign Kimi Raikkonen for next season, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said on Friday in a ringing endorsement of his former driver.

"Try and sign him," he told a post-practice news conference at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when asked what advice he would offer team founder Frank Williams about the 2007 world champion.

"We all know he's quick," he added. "I think people underestimate how intelligent he can be.

"I hope that he's hungry, I'm sure that he hasn't lost the capability to thrill us in Formula One. I think it would be fantastic for Formula One."

Raikkonen, who won his title with Ferrari, quit Formula One for rallying at the end of 2009 but remains hugely popular with the fans.

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Martin Whitmarsh urges Williams to sign Kimi Raikkonen

2011-11-11T22:58:00.000+02:00

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has urged Frank Williams to sign 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Raikkonen raced for McLaren from 2002-2006, winning nine grands prix, and Whitmarsh came close to re-signing him for 2010 before opting for Jenson Button.

Williams has held talks with Raikkonen and is considering taking him on in a move believed to be contingent on landing major backing from Qatar. But despite question marks over how motivated the Finn is to return to F1 after two seasons out, Whitmarsh has no doubts about his ability.

"Try and sign him," said Whitmarsh when asked to give advice to Williams on Raikkonen. "We all know he is quick and I think people underestimate how intelligent he can be.

"I hope that he is hungry. I am sure that he hasn't lost the capability to thrill us, so I think it would be fantastic for Formula 1. I wouldn't ordinarily presume to advise Sir Frank who he should sign, but I think it would be exciting if he did."

Williams would not comment on his interest in Raikkonen, saying that "I cannot make any comment about supposition", but he did confirm that a slot could be available in the team's 2012 driver line-up.

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Slater: Iceman a PR triumph

2011-11-10T22:57:00.000+02:00

ESPNSTAR.com columnist Steve Slater believes the past few weeks have been a PR triumph for the struggling Williams F1 team.
Whatever the outcome of any return from retirement by 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, the past few weeks have been a PR triumph for the struggling Williams F1 team. The build-up to this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been dominated by speculation that 32 year-old Finn, who last raced for Ferrari in 2009, will make a return to Formula One with the British team.
The prospect of a world champion in the driving seat certainly hasn't hurt William's ability to negotiate a major sponsorship deal with the Gulf state of Qatar. Its national bank, QNB, is set become a major supporter of the Williams team in 2012.
Not bad going for a team which is in the doldrums. Williams, who won nine world championships in the 1980s and 1990s, haven't won a race since 2004.
In recent years the team have produced some of the most innovative cars on the starting grid. The have led the way with creative aerodynamics (remember the walrus nose?) and this year a fielded radical new gearbox, smaller and lighter to that on any other car. The trouble is that those innovations have not given them results.
This season has been the worst in the team's history and they hold a distant ninth place in the Constructors World Championship standings. Only Team Lotus, Marussia Virgin and HRT have been less successful this season.
It was back in August that Raikkonen was first spotted visiting the Williams factory and the rumours had been growing ever since. It is believed that the Qatari funding has been the key to a deal.

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Räikkönen confirms negotiations with Williams

2011-11-09T22:51:00.000+02:00

Kimi Räikkönen admits that he has negotiated with Williams.

Räikkönen says that they have had negotiations but that they don't have any kind of contract.

Räikkönen is calm over a possible F1-comeback. When asked if he would feel nervous to come back, Räikkönen replied that he has been racing for the most part of his life and hence is not nervous.

But he felt more nervous when going to rally. Räikkönen reminds that in the F1-circus everything is basically the same and familiar, just like it was when he was there.

More about Räikkönen's thoughts in tonight's Tulosruutu! (22.30 Finnish time)

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Wolff Confirms Raikkonen, Bianchi Among 2012 Options

2011-11-08T22:50:00.000+02:00

Williams shareholder Toto Wolff has confirmed that "serious" negotiations with Kimi Raikkonen about a 2012 race seat are taking place.

Until now, the rumors linking the 2007 World Champion and a return to Formula One with the beleaguered British team have been taken with a pinch of salt.

"Yes, it's true!" Wolff, a minority shareholder of the Oxfordshire-based team, told Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

"The Kimi Raikkonen file is on the table," he confirmed.

"The story is not for show; we are negotiating seriously, but it is only one of several options. There will be a strategic decision," revealed Wolff.

It has been reported that Adrian Sutil is another candidate to replace Pastor Maldonado's experienced teammate Rubens Barrichello next season.

"But there is another aggressive option with the boy Jules Bianchi, and Valtteri Bottas is worthy of consideration at least for Friday's practice," added Wolff.

Williams to Announce Raikkonen Deal in Abu Dhabi

2011-11-07T22:49:00.000+02:00

"Williams is almost ready to announce Kimi Raikkonen’s return to formula one for 2012, according to media reports.

“(The) Raikkonen (agreement) is almost there,” a source inside the famous British team is quoted by FAZ newspaper.

Italy’s Autosprint reports that the funding is coming from Qatar.

Williams on Wednesday hinted at the deal by revealing that a memorandum of understanding with Mowasalat, a Qatari company, was signed in Doha for the use of the team’s simulator technology.

“The funding for the ‘Iceman’ is coming from the heat of Qatar,” said the Italian magazine.

The Finnish broadcaster MTV3 said the sponsorship of a Qatar bank is the next step.

That will validate a contract that Raikkonen, 32, reportedly signed recently “and the announcement will be made in Abu Dhabi” next weekend."

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A Question About Kimi Stopped an Interview

2011-11-06T22:48:00.000+02:00

"Williams F1-team's press officer stopped MTV3's F1 reporter Oskari Saari's interview when the talk turned to Raikkonen.

Saari asked for a comment from Rubens Barrichello concerning the rumours according to which Räikkönen would take his seat next season.

- Can we stop, the press officer said aruptly before Barrichello had time to reply anything.

The press officer justified stopping the interview by saying that she was under the impression that Saari was going to be asking Barrichello about India in his interview, although Saari had not said anything of the kind beforehand.

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- This is a very describing incident about the circumstances in which we work in F1. The publicist in question is normally very polite and professional, Saari said."

Williams Promotes Mike Coughlan to Technical Director

2011-11-05T22:46:00.000+02:00

"Williams has promoted Mike Coughlan [McLaren Chief Designer 2002-2007] to the role of technical director, following his appointment to the outfit as chief engineer earlier this year."

"Parr also refused to comment on mounting speculation that Kimi Raikkonen is closing in on a deal to join the outfit alongside Pastor Maldonado next year.

"I am afraid there is only one answer to that question, which is that our race drivers are Pastor Maldonado and Rubens Barrichello and if, and when, that changes we will make an appropriate announcement.""

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Another Retro Williams in 2012?

2011-11-04T22:45:00.000+02:00

Something struck me today, and it’s kinda cool.

So we all know the Kimi Raikkonen to Williams rumours for 2012, right? Of course we do. The thing is though, they are gathering pace with every passing week. The latest rumour is that Sir Frank Williams has spent the last few weeks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, trying to drum up enough cash to lure the 2007 World Champion back to the sport.

Anyway, here’s where it gets cool.

It is rumoured that Williams, along with finding some finance from the Qatar National Bank, is trying to get a few old sponsors back on board… namely Saudia, Albilad and TAG.

This year, Williams is running a pretty mega livery, in homage to the Rothmans livery of the mid 1990s.

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From F1 Racing Magazine's November 2011 issue:

2011-11-03T22:44:00.000+02:00

Red Bull

"Enquiries were made about a seat at the world-title-winning team for 2012, but after Mark Webber's contract was extended by another year, Kimi was told no seat would be available till 2013."

Mercedes

"Talks have taken place between Kimi's management and Mercedes, but with Michael Schumacher set to see out the full three years of his contract, Kimi would have to wait until 2013 for a vacancy."

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Raikkonen has signed Williams deal

2011-11-02T22:41:00.000+02:00

Kimi Raikkonen is, at least according to rumours in the Indian GP paddock, on his way to Williams next season, having signed a deal.

Ever since he walked away from F1 at the end of the 2009 season, parting ways with Ferrari and failing to secure a return to McLaren, rumours have persisted saying the Finn will return.

The latest, which emerged in the week before the Singapore GP, claimed that he is in talks with Williams regarding next season and even visited their factory in Grove.

However, at the time, his manager Steve Robertson downplayed the visit.

"At the end of the day people know Kimi visited Williams, but there's nothing more to say apart from that," he told GPUpdate.net. "There is nothing more to report."

But, according to PlanetF1's man on the ground in India, Chetan Narula, rumours in the paddock say not only is Raikkonen in talks with Williams but the Finn has in fact already signed a contract to race for them next season.

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Raikkonen return to Formula 1 would be nice says Bernie Ecclestone

2011-11-01T09:39:00.001+02:00

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he would welcome Kimi Raikkonen back to Formula One.

The 2007 Formula One World Champion, having driven mainly in world rally but also NASCAR style racing since leaving Ferrari two years ago, is being strongly linked with a comeback with the Williams team.

New reports, including in the major Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, claim the 32 year old has been training hard for the past four months to get back into shape for Formula 1.

"It would be nice to see him do it," Formula One Chief Executive Ecclestone told Finnish broadcaster MTV3. "I am not sure if he is serious about it."

Throughout the Indian Grand Prix weekend, Williams Chairman Adam Parr batted away the Raikkonen speculation.

But he finally relented on Sunday in a television interview with the BBC.

"From what we can all see, he (Raikkonen) is very hungry to come back," said Parr, as Williams reportedly contemplates pairing Raikkonen with Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.

"And I think having a World Champion in your midst of course energises people."

Contrary to recent speculation, Helsingin Sanomat said Williams does not need to secure new sponsors to sign Raikkonen.

"We need to get the best driver line-up for next year," said Parr. source

Kimi Räikkönen would electrify the entire F1 team

2011-10-31T09:36:00.000+02:00

The Finnish former Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen’s return to the F1 circuit looks certain, at least if the British Williams team boss Adam Parr’s answers and especially his facial expressions are anything to go by. Parr seemed to find it difficult to keep a straight face when Eddie Jordan, commenting for BBC television, asked him after yesterday’s Indian Grand Prix whether the team’s second driver for next year was going to be Räikkönen or Adrian Sutil. Parr assured Jordan and other listeners that the Williams team was still thinking about what to do next year and that no decisions had been made as yet. His mischievous smile nevertheless strongly suggested that Räikkönen might be seen in a Williams helmet in the 2012 F1 season. Williams is one of the most successful teams in F1 history. It has won the Constructors’ Championship nine times. Finnish driver Keke Rosberg, among others, won his drivers’ title (in 1982) when driving for Williams. source

F1 would welcome Raikkonen back says Williams' Parr

2011-10-30T23:06:00.000+02:00

A hot topic in India this weekend is the rumoured return to formula one next year of 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Reports suggest the 32-year-old Finn, who left Ferrari to try his hand at world rallying and NASCAR two seasons ago, could come back in 2012 with the beleaguered Williams team.

The famous British squad's chairman Adam Parr was asked directly about the speculation in India on Friday by Finnish journalist Heikki Kulta. source

Kimi Raikkonen: Should He Return to Formula One?

2011-10-29T23:04:00.000+03:00

Comebacks are always risky, and this one would be no exception.

Raikkonen's story is one of unrealised potential. He walked away from his Formula One career in 2009 with one World Championship, 18 race wins, 16 pole positions and a staggering 35 fastest laps.

To call that a story of unrealised potential speaks volumes of how much talent the Finn actually had at his disposal.

After entering F1 with just 23 car races to his name in 2001, most fans could have picked him out as a future title-winner. He achieved this at last in his first season with Ferrari, 2007, having been let down more times than he'd care to remember by the McLaren he drove from 2002 to 2006.

In this early period of his career he was simply exceptional. He showed an ability at the very least equal to Fernando Alonso, a man still considered one of the world's best drivers and produced performances which marked him out as a man on the path to all-time greatness.

Question marks remained over his somewhat hyperactive private life, but his on-track performance silenced all but the most vociferous critics.

And then he won his title. read more

Parr coy on Raikkonen rumours

2011-10-28T23:02:00.000+03:00

Williams chairman Adam Parr admitted that Kimi Raikkonen would be a good fit for the team, but insisted no decision has been made over its 2012 driver line-up.After a disappointing Indian Grand Prix in which Pastor Maldonado retired and Rubens Barrichello laboured to 15th place behind the Lotus of Heikki Kovalainen, Williams continues to boast a total of only five points all season. With rumours linking 2007 champion Raikkonen with a move to Williams for 2012, Parr was asked by the BBC if Raikkonen or Adrian Sutil would be the better choice to help the team recover next season, but initially refused to be drawn on the subject."We're thinking about what we're doing for next year," Parr said. "No decisions have been made, and I'm really sorry but I can't say more than that right now."

Massa thinks Raikkonen return 'could happen'

2011-10-27T23:01:00.000+03:00

If Kimi Raikkonen does return to formula one, it won't be because he admires the sport's headline-writers.Speculation is growing by the day that the 2007 world champion could return from his world rally and NASCAR experiment with the Williams team in 2012.As for the specialist media, however, the notoriously reticent 32-year-old prefers rally."I have the feeling that the rally press is more interested in the discipline, and what is happening on the stages, rather than the F1 journalists who write c*** to make headlines," Raikkonen is quoted by autohebdo.fr.Where previously there was scepticism, however, there is a growing feeling in the formula one paddock that the Raikkonen rumours are real. source

Kimi Raikkonen and Williams - Getting Hotter and Hotter!

2011-10-26T14:21:00.004+03:00

"According to Autosport magazine Williams team is serious about hiring Kimi Raikkonen. The latest issue of the respected British magazine reports that there's already been elaborate discussions between Williams and Raikkonen and a foundation for serious contract negotions has been set. Raikkonen wants back to F1 after a two year break. According to Autosport Raikkonen aims to return to a top team via Williams. The World Drivers' Champion of 2007 wants to show to the top teams that he's still motivated to continue his F1 career. The magazine also reports that Chairman Adam Parr, the top two man of Williams, thinks that Raikkonen could raise the profile of the team and help to lure in new sponsors." -Janne Aittoniemi

Raikkonen Blocked Kovalainen's Switch to Williams

2011-10-25T14:20:00.000+03:00

"Kimi Raikkonen's arrival to the contract negotiations table closed for good the possibility of Heikki Kovalainen's transfer to Williams. According to Urheilulehti's information Kovalainen was a potential driver option for next year but Raikkonen immediately passed Kovalainen on Williams' list. Williams is doing all it can at the moment to secure Raikkonen's services." via kimi raikkonen forum

Fierce fight in Williams - How will it go for Kimi?

2011-10-24T14:19:00.000+03:00

It's boiling inside Williams' camp and it can affect the situation of Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas.

Williams CEO Adam Parr and the team's second biggest owner Christian Wolff have had a fierce fight before Singapore GP.

Parr and Wolff strongly disagree over the future of Williams and in matters concerning the team's driver-choices.

The founder of the team and the main owner Frank Williams still trusts in Parr's ability to make right kind of decisions, but other than that Parr has become quite unpopular in the team.

The power battle between Parr and Wolff has been going on for some time already. Wolff would have financial possibilities to better get the team back on track. He would also want to take quite soon his protegé Bottas to F1 as a racing driver.

- Personally I think that Valtteri is ready to succeed in F1 very soon, Wolff told IS.

The most logical would of course be to still keep Bottas, who is a test driver, in Williams. But it could also happen that Räikkönen or someone new pay-driver prevents the rise of 22-year old Bottas in Williams.

Kimi poised to return in F1

2011-10-23T14:08:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen is on the verge of signing a deal to return to F1 with Williams.

The 2007 world champion has been in discussions with the team for several weeks, following a recent visit to the factory in Grove. Sources suggest that discussions are going the right way and they are now close to a deal.

It is understood that the Finn, who will be 32 next month, is keen to get back into F1 competition after two years on the sidelines in rallying. The timing is significant as Williams are on the look out for a bold move to boost the team and Raikkonen can see that the F1 driver landscape is likely to change a lot at the end of 2012 and a strong season, reminding everyone what he can do, might open some doors.

Michael Schumacher’s comeback is both a positive example, but also a warning to the Finn as it took the seven times champion some time to get up to speed. Raikkonen has kept sharp by competing in world rally for the past two seasons, but at the same time he will take a while to get fully up to speed with the Pirelli F1 tyres. All his rivals will have a year’s experience on them.

From Williams’ point of view, team boss Adam Parr will want to make a bold move after a season to forget in 2011. He has hired a new technical team, led by Mike Coughlan, with Dr Mark Gillan (who is here in Singapore) in charge of race operations and Jason Sommerville as chief aerodynamicist. His other options are to retain Rubens Barrichello, hire a known quantity like Heikki Kovalainen or go for a rookie alongside Pastor Maldonado. Or he could wait to see whether a Robert Kubica comeback might dislodge Bruno Senna from Renault. Rumours of a connection with Adrian Sutil have been firmly denied on both sides.

One thing is for sure, Williams are likely to finish 9th in the Constructors’ Championship this year and that will mean a shortfall in prize money and sponsor bonus money.

However most major sponsor contracts have a clause where they pay more if a world champion comes to the team and that may be another factor to encourage the Raikkonen move, particularly if his wage demands are reasonable.

Hiring Raikkonen would be a very bold statement from Williams as he is a world champion and an 18 times race winner. He certainly has the speed and the skills to compete with the best in F1, will certainly get some eye catching results and his name might also help attract a sponsor or two, although he is not known for being keen on promotional appearances. For F1 it would mean that there would be 6 world champions in the field of 24 drivers, which has never happened before in its 61 year history. The feeling in the paddock is that it would be a good thing, if it happens.

The possible question mark with Raikkonen is motivation; he seemed to have run out of motivation in his final season with Ferrari in 2009 and driving what is likely to be a midfield car, even if it is a regular points challenger, he will be seeking to prove a point rather than win races.

One key relationship he will not have to develop from scratch is with new Williams technical director Mike Coughlan, who worked with the Finn at McLaren from 2002 until his move to Ferrari in 2006. They know each other well. source

This is what Williams tries - Räikkönen's F1-salary from Qatar?

2011-10-22T14:06:00.000+03:00

Williams tries to get a rich Arab bank to sponsor them by using Kimi Räikkönen's name.

Sir Frank Williams' team has tried to lure Qatar National Bank as their main sponsor for a couple years already.

They haven't succeed but now Williams tries once again to get a contract with the biggest bank in Qatar. Williams can bring Kimi's name to the table since the team has already negotiated with Kimi about next season.

Williams could get such a remarkable contract with Qatar National Bank that they could fill Räikkönen's salary demands with that.

Williams already has strong connection to Qatar, which is one of the richest country in the world. Williams has founded their own research- and development-center in Qatar's science- and technology park.

Williams has also taken forward a traffic safety campaign together with Qatar National Bank, a campaign directed to drivers in Quatar.

The team's members have had their educational happenings in schools and universities in Qatar. The team has also built simulators in Qatar for driving instruction.

Kimi: The Iceman cometh back!

2011-10-21T13:55:00.000+03:00

Kimi Räikkonen is not a mystery, regardless of the reputation stating the opposite he has worked hard for. As a matter of fact, he is one of the most natural but misunderstood character in motorsport. The only thing he wants is to win… in the most efficient way. Is there something more logical than that?

But some people make the mistake of confusing lack of communication with lack of motivation when, in reality, truth is the opposite. What it’s regarded as a monosyllabic attitude in life (what incited The Red Bulletin, the paddock magazine, to publish a photographic reportage called “the 12 mood states of Kimi Räikkönen”… where all 12 pictures were identical) is not even true: Kimi has a lot to tell when there is something interesting to say or, what is more important, something it is worth it to answer to.

The bad part of a courtesy conversation is that it does not make sense. Let’s be sincere: truth is that nobody is interested in the weather or how the trip was. And this is just when we talk about normal life: imagine it in the strained environment of F1, where the air releases as much absorption as designer lotions and hidden intentions are everywhere.

Therefore, Kimi prefers to keep a respectable silence about the recent frenzy linking him to several F1 teams… even if he admits his return is possible. But many things are possible, including life in Mars and truth is that there’s nothing agreed for 2012. Kimi Räikkönen’s agenda for next year is empty… at least at the moment

“Truth is that there is nothing at the moment, and it makes no sense to talk until I have something 100% confirmed”, he states with his characteristic sincerity. One of the reasons why Kimi not always says much is because he doesn’t like to lie.

For Kimi’s big disconcertion, rumours are the par of the course in F1. There are two possibilities: you play the game, add fuel to the fire and face the gradual process of believing you’re somebody (special), or you don’t play. But there’s also a third alternative: to say what you think and be above the politicking. Nevertheless, that’s also problematic. The most important thing is that, whatever you say, somebody will try to use it against you sooner or later. It’s better just to focus on the driving, which is of course the only reason why you’re here.

“The bullshit?- Kimi blurts out when he’s asked about the hype of the media- Ha! I suppose, it’s normal; it’s part of the world we live in. They’re always going to write it so, who cares about it? Truth is that I don’t mind what they write, because it can’t be changed. As a matter of fact, if you try to change it, you will only make it worse; therefore, why even make the effort and try to change it? If somebody says “it was not this way, in reality it was that way”, it will only give them more ideas to keep on writing and the snow-ball gets bigger and bigger. But, does it really matter if it’s the truth or not? Nobody cares about that”.

Hypocrisy and unfairness are two of the things that Kimi dislikes the most. The paradox of being a world-wide known person with a huge personal fortune is that the person will be in a very isolated position. It’s difficult to know who you can trust and who is just interested in a bit of boulevard press.

That is one of the reasons- but not the main one- why Kimi changed to the WRC in 2010. “From the beginning, I felt that rally-people are more interested in the sport and whatever happens in the stages and not in making up stupid articles with big headlines outside them- he points out-. In F1, you say something and the press twists it, giving form to a story that says: “Mr. so-and-so said this”… even if it’s simply not true. They usually write more about other things than about the sport. In rallies, it doesn’t happen so often; they have a different way of thinking”.

But Kimi admits, it doesn’t surprise him that people want to know what he is going to do next. After all, he could be the key for the F1 driver market of 2012 (Note, in Spanish it’s not clear if it’s the driver market in 2012 or the driver market that gives the 2012 grid), with so many people unfocussed at the moment thinking in a drive in Red Bull or Ferrari in 2013, not to talk about Mercedes. Kimi doesn’t fall into the trap, but in 2013 he would be a perfect candidate for, both, Red Bull and Mercedes (because they always try to be cooler), but a hypothetical return to his old teams McLaren or Ferrari would be very improbable, not to say impossible. In the mean while, it is not a secret that he has visited Williams, and the situation in Renault is still not clear as Robert Kubica’s recovery continues. That’s supposing Kimi goes somewhere: if he wanted, he could just quit and do nothing, or keep on rallying. Both are very real possibilities.

“There are many different possibilities and, of course, a lot of speculation- he says-. But most of them are quite surprising for me. Look, I could tell you that I’m going to do Nascar and you could tell about it, but, maybe, at the end it doesn’t happen and then it would mean I have been telling bullshit. Or I could say I’m going to do demolition races (Note: what’s that?) and you would not believe me. But maybe, at the end, you would be surprised,… you see? It doesn’t make sense to speculate until there’s something sure, because anything could happen. Being sincere, not even I know yet. Probably some people talk too much when they should focus in other things”.

That’s how Kimi sees it and, you know what? It happens that he’s right. A top driver, famous for his know-how in front of the media, recently stated that he envies Kimi. “He did it right from the beginning, didn’t he?- that driver said-. I wish I could be like Kimi and concentrate only in the driving, without distractions. Some people say he’s stupid, but he knows very well what he does. He is very intelligent”.

If somebody intended to climb the Everest- which, anecdotically, is considered to be the biggest challenge of modern times-, he would not waste time in unnecessary small talk. Moreover, he would not make many conjectures about reaching the top of the mountain or not, until he were close to it. But, nevertheless, many more people have climbed the Everest than people have won the F1 World Championship.

Kimi is one of the 32 people who made it, but under circumstances that even he admits were a bit surreal. We all can remember that 3 drivers arrived to this last race with chances of winning the title, and that Kimi was the first one to win it from the 3rd position in the classification since Giuseppe Farina in 1950. An impressive feat but, paradoxically, it was simple for Kimi because the only thing he had to do was to race and win the race: there was no other condition. And that is the kind of task the Iceman can do best.

“I’m not sure about winning the title as my best memory, but for sure, it is one of the best- he says in quite a surprising manner-. We begun well and had a very hard patch in the middle of the season, but afterwards we improved again and we won. I’m sure, we could have done some things differently, but it was our first year. Even if it was the best car, it took some time to take everything out of it. This happens sometimes: in 2005, our McLaren was also very good, but it would not finish the races…”.

If Kimi comes back to F1, it’s possible that he won’t have the chance of having the best car: not a McLaren or a Ferrari or a Red Bull. But this means, he will have nothing else to think about except driving as fast as possible and show what the car can do: that would motivate, both, him and his team. One of Kimi’s most impressive seasons was his debut year in the underestimated Sauber team; the result was the best ever classification of the team in the constructors championship prior to the entry of BMW.

And if Kimi came back, maybe he would not care about having the best possible material as much as before. “Of course, you always want a winning car, a top car. But, as we could see this season, there’s only one team that has that top car- he says-. It’s not that you can chose or know it. Some teams make a good car one season; other seasons their car is not so good. There are very little differences between a good and a bad car. At the end of the day, you have to accelerate hard”.

Nevertheless, what Kimi values the most is his own freedom. In the moment he feels cornered, it’s over. In 2009, Kimi was the 2nd best paid athlete of the world, behind Tiger Woods, but not even that was enough to keep him in F1once he felt he was being pushed aside (remember how much he dislikes hypocrisy and unfairness). Heading to 2010, he turned down several options, among them a very lucrative one: it is not money what motivates him.

On the other hand, it does motivate him the idea of committing to a completely new challenge… that happen to be rallying. “I simply had the curiosity to know if I could keep it on the road and keep driving- he tells about his decision to go to the WRC-. It is very different to F1. So I had the curiosity to know if I also could do it, because when you see the guys who do it all the time, they make it look easy. Truth is that it’s one of the most difficult things you can do. Each curve is different, even two curves with exactly the same note- like “right two”- can be completely different. If you make a mistake, there is a tree or a rock and not a gravel trap. It is something I wanted to try, but I don’t have to take it so seriously. If it seems to me that I don’t want to do it any longer, I can just leave it right now”. Conclusion: it is even more difficult to win to Sébastien Loeb than Sebastian Vettel.

Kimi got carried away by his desire to roll on the mud when he entered an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 in the 2009 Finland Rally (the car election was imposed by his contract with the Fiat Group) and even managed to appear in the 3rd position of his category before he crashed in a spectacular way. His older brother, Rami, is a rally driver too, so it’s something that it’s in the family. The most difficult thing for Kimi was to get used to the notes. But it is not something to wonder about: when he was racing in F1, Kimi was not one of those drivers who love to get different radio messages all race long: Kimi used to consider them an annoying interference that distracted him from his real driving job. But, to be fair, that is what Kimi thinks about most of the things.

Contrary to the F1, in the WRC tests are allowed during the season. What very few people know is that, during those tests, when the teams run up and down the same road section, Kimi has comfortably been faster than his team mates... and among them are Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier, the two fastest drivers in the WRC. But it is like this because Kimi knows precisely where he’s heading to and he can rely on his incomparable reflexes instead of being dependent on another person telling him what he has to do.

Benoît Nogier, Kimi’s sport director in the rallies, notices: “with regard to the speed, I would say Kimi is extraordinary. He is not afraid of anything. He has a very instinctive feeling for the car; you can perfectly understand why he is a champion. But there are some areas where he can improve; I think this is normal for somebody with his experience level. In some senses, coming from F1 makes it more difficult, since you arrive with preconceived ideas about how to drive a car. You have to open your mind and begin from scratch again”.

That is something Kimi has always mastered in. In addition to rallying, this year he has tried Nascar and the Peugeot 908 of Le Mans, which, as he explains, was like driving a fishbowl with a lot of power. “I found the Le Mans car interesting but, to be sincere, the steering was a s*** and the windscreen was very weird; it distorted the sight… maybe because it is very rounded- Kimi says-. I can’t imagine how it must be when it is smeared with oil and dirt after racing for a while. But I enjoyed it and the car was good, even if they told me it had less power than in previous years. It had been a very long time I had not driven in a circuit, except for the Nascar races, but those took place in ovals, something totally different”.

Doing something different is what inspires Kimi at the moment: it is the chance to be himself. It doesn’t mean that he has that Casanova live-style some people have wrongly ascribed to him; it is more that, now, he has the chance to enjoy a bit of normality. Is that to much to ask for? For example, it is possible that some might be surprised to know that Kimi’s favourite means of transport is a diesel Volkswagen Caravelle. He uses it much more often than the other more exotic vehicles he owns. But that underlines that appearance and reality are not always coincident: something that should be remembered by those who criticise him without even knowing him.

There’s also been a lot of talk about motivation. You want to know the truth? At the moment, the Finn’s motivation is sky-high: he has quietly intensified his training to be in the best possible conditions and catch whatever chance it’s offered to him. “I like to face different challenges, that’s clear- Kimi adds-. I have a lot of plans, but I don’t like to talk about them, because I’m not sure any of them will materialize”. It is the story of our lives: at the end of the day, the F1 World Champions are not different to the rest of us.

Talking about F1 champions, when Sebastian Vettel won his 18th race at this year’s Italian GP, matching Kimi’s total number, he was asked what it meant for him. He answered it was a nice achievement, but that he suspected that Kimi still had the capability of getting some more victories in F1…

“I don’t know- Kimi says, laughing-. It depends of whatever happens in the future. To begin with, as we said before, in F1 you need a good package. In a s*** (Note: in Spanish it really says s***) car you’re never going to win, even if you drive better than you ever did in your whole life. That is the reality and it is impossible to escape from it”.

Where could Kimi go?

F1 Racing has got to know that Kimi Räikkönen has been weighing up his options to go back to F1; next season at first, but the most probable is for 2013. Regardless of what our sources describe as “Kimi’s huge motivation to return to F1”, it seems that his options for 2012 are much more limited, being Renault and Williams the only two realistic destinations. It is also believed that Kimi doesn’t fancy to go to Toro Rosso. Whatever he decides, Kimi is facing the most complex crossroads in his career.

Red Bull
Kimi sounded out the winning team of the last two seasons about a seat for 2012 but, after Mark Webber’s contract extension, he was told there was not a free seat until 2013.

McLaren
Given his record here, his aversion for PR and his usual anti-corporative behaviour, the Woking squad won’t consider taking back their relationship with Kimi until cows can fly.

Ferrari
Taking into consideration that Ferrari divorced from Kimi one year before the contract ended- and that they kept on paying him-, it looks very improbable that they have any interest in having him back.

Mercedes
Kimi’s managers have talked with Mercedes but, with Michael Schumacher willing to honour his 3rd contract year, he would have to wait until 2013.

Renault
Regarding the teams with resources and able to be on the top, Enstone could be a good option if Kubica’s return is delayed. Another issue would be how much needed of Petrov’s and Senna’s sponsors Renault is. Plus Renault’s and Kimi’s managers had a excited argument last year…

Williams
Williams is short of money and they will probably continue with Pastor Maldonado and his briefcase (of money) next year. Kimi has already visited the team and we understand they have even talked about the PR days he would have to do. Kimi is so willing that it seems he has accepted to do more days than ever.

Force India
Vijay Mallya usually talks about an experienced driver, and they could have a free seat in 2012. Question is if Kimi would be able to be fit enough before the winter tests.

Sauber
The team were Kimi started in F1 keeps playing his role as team where young talents start and, next season, they will continue with their present driver-line: Kobayashi and Pérez.

Toro Rosso
Since Red Bull partially sponsored Kimi’s rallying adventures, it is possible they could get together in F1. But Kimi is not that interested, and moreover, STR is the vehicle for Helmut Marko’s young drivers program.

Lotus, HRT and Virgin
The new teams seem to be the least probable ones where Kimi could search for a seat… even if it’s because his pride. Moreover, they would not be able to pay his cache. On the other hand, he could surprise us all…

Source: F1 Racing

via

Just some tipical Kimi Raikkonen quotes…

2011-10-20T13:55:00.000+03:00

Kimi, what’s the 5th grid place like? - It’s the 5th grid place.

What makes TAG Heuer special? - It’s ok.

Kimi, you speak a little bit? - Yeah, one two.. three..

How does it feels to drive at 300 km/h? - It feels normal.

The helmet has a special meaning for many drivers. How important is it to you? - It protects my head.

Do you have any special rituals when the helmet is concerned like many have? - I wipe it so that I can see better.

Is it true that sometimes you’re bored in the car?
Only when I am in front by a country mile, like in Melbourne last year. Then you are 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 race.

What are the kind of things that make you angry in normal life, as you say?
If you keep asking questions like those.

Who’s Kimi Raikkonen?

2011-10-19T13:31:00.000+03:00

What happens when a normal family’s normal boy proves to be special and
gets into the 22 best? Kimi Räikkönen got a F1-seat and a licence but
mother and father, Paula and Matti Räikkönen hope that life wold stay
as it was. Their wish is fulfilled if they have as much love in the
family as they have had uptil now.

The feeling is the same as it usually is after a big moment of
happiness. The dream becomes true, the joy is enourmous and yet there
is sorrowness in the air: what was is left behind, a lot changes, maybe
everything.

It’s been a few days since Kimi Räikkönen, 21, came out with the
historical news: he got the superlicense to F1 although he hadn’t drove
one meter in F3.

"We have done our part, Kimi and Steve Robertson will take care of
the rest. We only give emotional support now," Matti Räikkönen, Kimi’s
father says.

"It is painful to let go. It will take a few weeks until we get ourselves psyched into thinking that this really is true."

Kimi’s mother Paula Räikkönen continues:

"This came with such a bang. Kimi called Masa’s cellphone on
August 15th when we were in Tuupovaara where Rami was rallying telling
that he will go and test F1 within a month. I thought then that I am
going to faint. Fortunately Masa (Matti) caught me when my feet just went
under, really."

"I prepared her and told her to sit down, that I have an incredible thing to tell," Matti tells.

"Fortunately we have this older son Rami, who is one year and 10
months older than Kimi and who drives rally. I have enough to do with
Rami," Masa says and grins somewhat sadly.

He is a big, stable, bear-like 46-year old man. Paula, 47, is smaller, blond, fast and clear in her talks, more temperamentic.

IT TOOK TIME, MONEY AND STRENGTH

Here we have a fresh Finnish heroic story where sisu, toughness,
trial and companionship is combined. This story has four heros, Kimi,
Masa, Paula and Rami.

"Everything happened like in secret. I mean we started this only
so we could give the boys a good and a healthy hobby. And then the
hobby has grown into bigger and bigger circles," father Räikkönen
explains.

Matti Räikkönen is a machineman who is a mechanic with skillful fingers. Paula is a secretary, a woman of action.

"All hobbies are good but driving is tricky because the small boys
don’t get with their machinery from track to track. If a boy plays
ice-hockey you can take turns with other parents, in this hobby it
doesn’t work. We travelled with these two sometimes even 17 races in
one summer and when the distances are what they are it doesn’t mean
from Friday evening to Sunday, it often means from Wednesday to Sunday,"
Matti tells.

"When the boys started to drive national races – Kimi was eight -
we had to get a van and a trailor so that we could get to the races,"
Paula continues.

"It took all the time, money and strength," she calmly says.

Matti worked two or three jobs, drove taxi and was a doorman.
Sometimes they had to decide whether to continue the boy’s driving
business or make an indoor toilet. They didn’t and the boys got to
continue.

"Once we came all the way from Belgium to Finland with only a Shell
credit card. Fortunately the family stuck together!" Matti tells.

"Sometimes we had moments of doubts but aren’t bad times meant to be won," she challenges.

"We never had the feeling that we should quit. Sometimes we just
realised that we don’t have enough money. We cried in the telephone to
one way and another so that we could continue," Paula talks.

"The family has all the time been very closely together, we have
shared both the joy and the sorrow. Because of course there has been
sorrow and disappointments too. Winning is a rare treat," Matti defines.

The family’s inside joke is what Kimi said when
they were going home through Italy that ‘I will get you a castle from
here one day’.

"It came so sincerely from Kimi. And when we came from another
race that went bad, Kimi pointed at a castle that was in really bad
shape that ‘I’ll buy you a castle like that mom, I don’t have enough
money to buy another one’," Matti laughs.

There are wild rumours about Kimi’s salary at Sauber but it’s clear
that it’s seven- or eight-numbered figures and you could even build a
toilet of marble with golden handles with that money.

"We don’t have to support Kimi anymore. In that way things got
easier about a year ago. Kimi is living on his own earnings and we have
definitely noticed that!" Räikkönen’s say.

"I don’t want life to change, I want it to stay as it was before," Matti says.

"This has been Kimi’s dream but it was never our dream. We have
just lived and helped him the best we could to get forward. In this
genre the hunger gets bigger and bigger when you realise that you have
talent, you have to take it to the end and see where it takes you,"
Paula says.

"Many can say that I live through my children. It’s not true. We
just got a hobby that combined the whole family and it started growing
bigger," Matti says.

They both thank their employers who have been flexible and understanding.

"That has been essential to the whole business, it wouldn’t have
worked out if we couldn’t hold our vacations in parts," they say.

BROTHERS ARE LIKE NIGHT AND DAY

So what is this Kimi Raikkonen like – according to his parents?

"He is gutsy and terribly stubborn but also very sensitive," mother says.

"It think that Kimi has grown all the time along with his career.
Of course he has taken damn big steps during the last
days but I have never been worried about the boy’s head," father says.

"Kimi isn’t more mature than others his age. When he has time his
friends come over and they go to sauna according to the long schedule
and go to a disco after that. He has a girlfriend and things like that,
he is an ordinary boy," mother says.

The girlfriend is cute and wonderful but she doesn’t want to be in the spotlight.

"Kimi has lived in Holland and England, of course that helps to grow up and become independent," father thinks.

"The brothers are like night and day. Rami was something like
seven when we said that he is the smartest person in our family. Rami
always thinks first before acting, Kimi is the complete opposite, does
first and figures out afterwards what he went and did," father laughs.

Mother calls the firstborn a diplomat.

"Rami started driving a motorbike when he was 3,5 years old. You
couldn’t give Kimi one until he was 5. Kimi’s nature is of the kind
that you go always flat out," Matti describes.

"They drove karting together. Rami was softer, you can see his
goodness best when you drive against time or against your own best
performance. He is much more softer than Kimi as a driver. You have to
be more aggressive and rude on the track. It was clear ever since they
were small that they both drive in their own style. They didn’t want to
learn from each other – not even if we tried. They both thought that
the other one had no hands – therefore you can’t learn anything from
him," father tells.

He regrets a little of his scetching and says that you can’t compare your two boys, both are equally dear.

But you can read between the lines that Rami is
better off in rally where he can drive alone, Kimi again is better on a
track where he can squeeze in, ambush, overtake, go flat out, put
others in line without endangering anyone.

"The boys were always together ever since they were small. I
almost cried when I looked at albums and saw that in every picture
there was two boys. The other one was alone in only a few pictures,
they were always together and did everything together, Paula says.

"Of course they had fights, you polish one another through them.
But the relationship and the foundation is there even though they
wouldn’t see each other that often," she continues.

MANY TAKE PART IN A LOTTERY, ONLY ONE WINS

They talk about an eye for the game. Should you also talk about an
eye for driving, a natural ability to find the best driving line and
realise what braking causes in different situations?

"Absolutely. Everybody develop if they repeat enough but I also
believe that there is talent. Someone can learn to reach a certain
level and some other can already be there when he starts and continue
somewhere else where the other one never will reach," Masa describes.

Kimi Räikkönen is a driver talent, everybody has agreed upon that,
even those who have been doubtful about his quick progress to F1.

Fysiotherapist Jukka Viitasaari who has tuned the slim Kimi during
last months into a young man who is more tougher than an arrow goes
totally reckless. Viitasaari has worked a lot with drivers but he
compares Kimi to Mozart, a genious in his own profession who can play
any instrument: cello, violin, piano – everything goes and everything
plays.

Without even coughing Kimi jumped from a 185-horsepowered Formula Renault into an 800-horsepowered F1-car.

"Kimi has always stood out somehow and he has been picked and
taken forward because of his driving skills and showings, we really
didn’t have the money and we haven’t bought Kimi one single seat," Paula
Räikkönen says realistically.

It was a surprise for those in the Sauber-team how efficiently and
analytically Kimi is able to tell what kind of setups he wants to the
car and why.

"Ever since Kimi learned to walk he has fumbled with all kinds of
gadgets. I don’t think that anybody can make a fast car for anyone.
Everybody wants a bit different setups and you have to be able to tell
what it feels like and what might cause it," Matti explains.

Kimi was in technical school’s car-department for 1,5 year until he
had to leave school for other engagements. Many of his class mates
didn’t even know what the guy was doing – which tells a lot about the
young man’s character.

Concentration and self-confidence are in the right place in Kimi.
He often says: you should not bow in front of pictures, "we all eat the
same oatmeal".

Eddie Irvine wished Kimi welcome as his colleague, Ralf Schumacher again gave doubtful statements.

Kimi thinks that everybody can think what they want, it isn’t his business.

Matti says diplomatically like this:

"Very few get into F1, someone’s success is alway taken away from
someone else. Kimi has taken someone’s job who has been driving for a
long time and dreamt of the same thing."

Tens of thousaunds wishful boys race all over the world in
different races and they all have the same dream burning in their
veins: The Royal Class. 22 gets in there.

"Many take part in lotteries and somebody always wins it," Matti says.

Are you scared?

"Everything is always possible. Anything can happen in normal
traffic. In Europe we are more afraid of the journeys there than we are
of the tracks," Räikkönen’s answer.

Paula tells that the bigger classes that look so daring when
watching from the television always made her think with pleasure that
fortunately our boys never get that far but when getting there they
have proved to be okay. The boy has learned and matured during the
journey. But as a mother she can’t watch the races, it’s too exciting.

"Sometimes we have said when dreaming that if Kimi ever gets to F1
we will go to the first race! It’s just a shame that it’s so far away
in Melbourne!" Paula sighs – so far they have seen only one GP.

YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME

Many families have somekind of advice they say to their kids when
they walk out the door. Behave, drive carefully, remember to call.

"Our boys haven’t had time to circulate in any gangs but I always
tell them when they are going somewhere that ‘keep your sense in your
hand’. If someone jumps into a well then we don’t have to jump after.
Think before you do something," Paula says.

"And you can always come home. No matter what happens you can always come home, the door is open," Kimi’s father continues.

Kimi comes from F1-Racing -magazine’s photoshooting, the Swiss
filming teams is buzzing around him – they are making a portrait of
Kimi to a German channel’s sport news.

Kimi is quiet, careful, a man of few words. He grins if the other
one really makes an effort to entertain him – his dad says that he has
always strived to pull tricks and fool his boys so that they wouldn’t
become too serious.

The hero gets to come home for Christmas from Barcelona’s testing.
He has already got his parents christmas-presents – although he already
gave the best around the Independence Day.

When the news about Kimi’s F1-seat spread, Matti Räikkönen’s 4
cellphones got swamped with congratulations. Even Mika Salo’s father
called to congratulate. Someone brought a beautiful rosebush and two
bottles of champagne to their yard, otherwise life has gone on like
before.

But it’s just calm before the tornado.

Father gives his son a Sisu (Sisu is a pastill and also something like Mojo).

Räikkönen is training with full steam

2011-10-18T13:31:00.000+03:00

The speculations in the world about the comeback of Kimi Räikkönen to F1-tracks would at least not fall short on the physical side.

Mark Arnall who has for the last nine years taken care of Räikkönen's physics and wellbeing, knows what F1 demands from the physics and what rally demands from the physics. He assures that Räikkönen is in a good condition.

– In rally you don't need as intensive training as F1-driving demands. That's why the programs are slightly different.

– Kimi raced all the time and trained accordingly. Kimi is a sportsman who likes to train and doesn't try to skip it, Arnall tells 'suspicious judges'.

– Generally speaking anybody who has sometimes been in the prime of their life, they never have to start from scratch again in order to lift up their physical condition to a higher level.

Arnall knows what he is talking about. He has a wide experience from working with sportsmen from different genres.

– When I was in Surrey University there was also Allan Wells, 100 meter sprinter who won Gold in the Olympics in 1980. When our paths crossed I worked with Allan although he wasn't running any longer. Allan is not a young man anymore but he is still in excellent condition. If a physical condition has been taken care of the right way, then it's valuable.

Different driving position, different strain

Räikkönen left F1 two years ago in November 2009.

– The biggest difference between F1- and rally-driving is the driving position and how different muscles are strained, Arnall compares.

– Generally speaking training in F1 compared to rally differs because of it's intensity. A F1-driver has to always be in a really good stitch. Hence rally is in a certain way easier for the body than F1 is.

– If Kimi would go back to a F1-car, then the biggest work would be the process of strenghtening his neck muscles. He hasn't had that for two years. His neck muscles aren't the same as they were during his F1-season.

– However it's not a question of them not being restored. The situation is the same as when a F1-driver has a three months break between the seasons. When you go back to the winter testing the neck is always sore after the first day. You can't really train the neck muscles other than by driving. You get those muscles only by driving.

– Endurance, strenght and muscles will come back. Kimi has all along been training with the mindset of someday driving in F1 again. I can assure that he is in a good condition, Arnall emphasizes.

Could Kimi and Williams work?

2011-10-17T13:22:00.000+03:00

The rumours of a Kimi Raikkonen F1 comeback have surfaced again, this time with Williams-Renault next year, but could the 'Ice Man' really return - and if so what does each party have to gain?

Williams confirmed last weekend that former world champion Raikkonen paid a private visit to their factory in Grove before the Italian Grand Prix as they seek to finalise their driver line-up for 2012.

Pastor Maldonado is believed to have a spot guaranteed with backing from PDSVA but Rubens Barrichello's place is seriously under threat and he has spoken quite frankly about his situation, saying the team has "not given me a good car yet" but suggesting they "should stick together" to get the best out of the relationship next year.

In contrast, it seems Williams are looking elsewhere. Adrian Sutil is known to have also visited the factory while Bruno Senna could be a very attractive option (with Brazilian funding) if he finds no space at the Genii Captial-owned Lotus GP team.

As a former world champion, it is easy to see why Raikkonen would be tempting for Williams, from both marketing and performance perspectives. But does he come with too many problems?

THE DOWN SIDES

There are many who doubt Raikkonen's overall commitment to racing, with the famous 'icecreamgate' incident in Malaysia 2009 leaving a hard-to-erase black mark on the Finn's credentials.

It has also been suggested that the Finn lacks the ability to lead a team and drive it forward, with suggestions that he feels insecure if his team-mate appears to have the team behind him (as happened with Massa at Ferrari) and that he has a resistance to marketing commitments and a lack of motivation for engineering briefings.

At 31, Raikkonen sits in the middle of the F1 age pack, not in the twilight of his career but not as young as the leaders of F1's latest era, the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

His raw talent has never been in question - his natural racing instinct is one of the sharpest seen in F1's recent years - but it is the regularity that he allows this to be seen that frustrates his fans.

It is worth remembering, however, that the Finn did put in a few strong departing performances in his final year with Ferrari, after Felipe Massa had been sidelined through injury. Racing a poor car faster than should have been possible, he took good podium finishes while Massa's replacements Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella struggled to even get through the first part of qualifying.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR WILLIAMS?

The former champions have been in slow decline in recent years and have had one of their worst seasons in recent history this year, suffering from a lack of performance with the customer Cosworth engine and failing to make their miniscule gearbox gamble work to full effect.

A ninth place finish in the constructors' championship will not bring much prize money to the table for future development, but the team has been starting to put things in place ready to rise again.

Mike Coughlan, who worked for McLaren when Raikkonen was there, has joined to take the technical lead in place of departing technical director Sam Michael and is supported by a strong backroom in all areas, ready to take control if long-time leader Patrick Head's rumoured retirement happens at the end of the year.

More important than that, however, is the incoming supply of Renault engines, which the team announced with a fanfare of excitement earlier this year, referring back to the era of success enjoyed by Williams-Renault in the past and pointing towards a promising future.

That said, since then Red Bull Racing has firmly sided with the French engine manufacturer, taking the position as the effective 'works' team and raising question marks over the strength of the Williams-Renault relationship and the level of support they will receive.

Bringing in Raikkonen will instantly take Williams into the headlines - and if the car is good enough to bring some good results the interest of potential financial backers could follow. If the car is not a step up, however, the relationship could be more damaging than good.

There is also a chance that Williams are playing the Raikkonen card in the same way that Renault did last year - using his interest to drive the price tag for the seat higher before settling for one of the younger drivers who can bring in the cash. And only Williams know if that is the case.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR RAIKKONEN?

Firstly, Raikkonen did not actually choose to leave Formula One - he was ejected by Ferrari in favour of Alonso, and with limited options he chose a 'fun' rally move instead.

That rallying experience has not been the success he had hoped, with numerous crashes caused by over driving and reasonable but not headline grabbing results. Kubica's crash will also have made it clear how lucky he has been not to suffer any serious injuries.

A foray into NASCAR earlier this year, which Raikkonen mixed with his rally commitments, looked promising initially but was ultimately unsuccessful, ending with a 27^th place finish and a return to Europe with his North American plans left 'open'.

If he wants to continue his racing career at the highest level, then, his options are reducing and his cache as an active F1 world champion will only go down the longer he stays off the Grand Prix grid, the longer he has without experiencing modern F1 machinery.

And that is why Williams might just do the job for next year - because it is 2013 that Raikkonen has his eye on.

If he does sign up for Williams, no matter what car the team gives him, then as long as he can drive like he did on those few occasions when he shone at Ferrari, his stock will rise just in time for what could be a major re-shuffle in the driver landscape...

SOURCE

Raikkonen talk gathers strength

2011-10-16T13:22:00.000+03:00

The word on the street is that Kimi Raikkonen is now favourite to join Pastor Maldonado at Williams next year.

The 2007 world champion and his advisors are known to have had talks with Williams some time ago but the Finn's return is believed to hinge on a sponsorship deal that will bring income to the team and pay Raikkonen a decent salary.

It has emerged that the team's attempts to pull off the Raikkonen coup are linked to backing from the Qatar National Bank as a major sponsor.

The Brazilian media, with Rubens Barrichello's interests close at heart, are monitoring the situation carefully and revealed at the weekend that Frank Williams has recently spent time personally in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Williams, of course, already has business interests in Qatar but many will remember that it was backing from that part of the world that launched the team on its route to the top more than 30 years ago.

Williams goes to Qatar as rumours of Raikkonen Formula 1 return intensify

2011-10-15T13:18:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen may have now signed a contract to return to Formula One with WilliamsThe Finnish daily Ilta-Sanomat reveals that its source is the Monaco domiciled former Simtek and Footwork driver Taki Inoue, a Japanese who last raced in Formula 1 in 1995.Inoue is apparently still well connected in Formula One circles, given his efforts to advance the careers of several rising Japanese drivers.Earlier this month, Ilta-Sanomat reported that the key to Raikkonen's return to Formula One was whether Williams could sign the Qatar National Bank as a major new sponsor.Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio wrote in O Estado de S.Paulo last Friday: "In recent days Frank Williams travelled to Arab states Qatar and Saudi Arabia."The beleaguered British team rose to the front of the grid some decades ago with Arab linked sponsors including Saudia, TAG and Albilad.

Heikki Kovalainen on His F1 Fantasy Wish List

2011-10-14T13:17:00.000+03:00

Question: You must choose a city for a new Formula One street circuit - which city, anywhere in the world, do you choose, and why?

Heikki Kovalainen: Helsinki, definitely. And, before you say it, it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m from Finland. I just think it’s a great city and an international city. It would make sure the race is amazing and the parties would be better than anywhere in the world. I’d make sure the music is proper metal, including Nightwish. It might not be normal party music, but at least I’d like it… oh… and it would have to be run in winter. With studded tyres.

Question: If you could choose one former world champion as your team mate, who would you choose and why?

Heikki Kovalainen: Kimi (Raikkonen). I suspect me and Kimi would have quite a lot of fun, on and off track. And we could talk to each other in Finnish and the engineers wouldn’t know what we were saying. That could be really quite funny.

Question: You can only drive at one circuit for the rest of your life - which circuit, past or present from anywhere in the world, do you choose?

Heikki Kovalainen: I’d take Suzuka. It’s a proper circuit that tests drivers and cars. The first sector, from Turn One to Turn Seven, is my favourite sequence of corners in the whole season. You have to commit right at the start, go in and make sure you keep on the power or you lose time. That’s what a real circuit should be like - gradient changes, proper high-speed corners, deeply passionate and knowledgeable fans and a real race. I love it.

Question: You have to design a new F1 circuit, combining all your favourite corners from other tracks around the world. Which three corners are top of your list and why?

Heikki Kovalainen: I can’t just pick three corners - but I’d say the Suzuka Esses, Becketts at Silverstone and probably Eau Rouge (at Spa). Eau Rouge isn’t really the challenge it used to be, but Suzuka and Becketts are still hardcore, so definitely them.

Question: What current Formula One regulation would you most like to change and why?

Heikki Kovalainen: There’s nothing I’d like to change really. The rules suit the era we’re in so I think they’re pretty much right.

Question: If you could pick two Formula One greats of the past (from different eras) to watch race against each other, who would you pick?

Heikki Kovalainen: Mika Hakkinen and Ayrton Senna again. I know they overlapped but they didn’t go head-to-head at their peaks. I think Mika in his day would have been a match for Ayrton, but that would have been amazing to see.

Question: If you were a team boss, which current driver would you pick first for your team (excluding yourself and your current team mate)?

Heikki Kovalainen: I’d take Fernando Alonso.

Question: You are having a dinner party and can invite four people from the world of motorsport, past or present. Who do you invite?

Heikki Kovalainen: Kimi, for sure. It’s not a party without Kimi. If you have Kimi you’d also have to have Eddie Irvine. And Tony Fernandes, for sure. Those three would be a party on their own - they don’t need anyone else. And the fourth? My girlfriend Catherine (Hyde).

KIMI RAIKKONEN'S LUCKY NUMBERS

2011-10-13T13:13:00.000+03:00

Today hasn’t been the luckiest day for The Iceman, who retired from the Rally of Spain on the opening morning of the event with engine problems. Still, at least it went better for him than it had done the previous year, when he crashed during the shakedown before the rally actually started.

So in order to give the flying Finn a bit of encouragement, here are some lucky numbers that have influenced the illustrious career of Kimi Matias Raikkonen…

3...

The Citroen DS3 WRC is Kimi’s rally car, run by his own Ice 1 Racing team. This year is his second season in the World Rally Championship, and he says it’s been a lot easier than the first year. “It just feels a bit more natural,” he points out. “With the pace notes it’s starting to get to the point where you don’t have to think about it too much.”

5...

Kimi’s best result on the World Rally Championship has been fifth place, which he took last year on the Rally of Turkey. His best result so far this year has been sixth, in Jordan and Germany. However, he’s already scored more points so far this year than he did throughout the whole of the season last year. “Actually, Turkey was quite lucky; lots of people had problems,” says the Iceman.

6...

This was the competition number of the Ferrari F2007 with which Kimi clinched the 2007 Formula One title. He started the final grand prix, in Brazil, running third in the standings but came through to win the title: the first person to reverse his fortunes in such a way since Nino Farina in 1950. “It was a strange year for us,” recalls Kimi of his championship-winning season. “It started off badly and then got much better.”

18...

The number of grand prix wins claimed by Kimi, equalled by Red Bull’s double world champion Sebastian Vettel at the Italian Grand Prix. Vettel was asked what he thought about matching Kimi’s total and said that he was pleased, but added that he reckoned that Kimi had a few more grand prix wins left in him. Let’s wait and see…

582...

The amount of horsepower that one of Kimi’s favourite road cars has: the Mercedes Benz CLK Coupe 55 DTM. Only a hundred of these were built, as a tribute to the DTM Merc. It pulls 1.35G under acceleration and has a top speed of 322kph, thanks to a supercharged 5.4 V8 engine. From 0-100 kph takes 3.8 seconds, so hold on tight. Many people have been truly terrified by this car with Kimi at the wheel.

1990...

When Kimi was still driving for Ferrari, he first contested the Rally Finland in 2009. You have to go back to 1990 to find the last time that an active Formula 1 driver took part in a World Rally Championship event, when Derek Warwick – at the time a Lotus driver – took part in the RAC Rally at the wheel of a Subaru Legacy.

SOURCE

Sebastien is harder to beat than Sebastian

2011-10-12T13:12:00.000+03:00

According to privateer Citroen driver (and former Grand Prix title-holder) Kimi Raikkonen, it’s harder to beat Sebastien Loeb than newly-crowned two-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel.

On paper, Loeb looks like he’s got the edge, with seven titles to Vettel’s mere two, but according to Raikkonen, there’s a lot more to it than that.

“In rally the cars are closer,” said the 2007 Formula One champion, now in his second year of rallying. “It’s not so much different whether you have a Citroen, a Ford or a Mini. In F1 you can have three seconds between two cars; and however good you are you are you will never get that difference back just by driving. So if you are in the best car, you’re much more likely to win.”

So according to Raikkonen, rallying is more of a meritocracy when it comes to driver talent. He knows he can’t beat Loeb through bitter experience, but could he beat Vettel?

“I think Sebastien Loeb could go just as fast in my car as in his own car,” said the Finn. “But if you’re not in the same car in F1 you never know, because the car makes such a difference. And Vettel’s car is certainly good. So it’s hard to answer the question. Although I have beaten Vettel in the past but not Loeb…”

Raikkonen could not do a better job for Williams in 2012

2011-10-11T13:11:00.000+03:00

Rubens Barrichello insists that Kimi Raikkonen would not be able to do a better job for Williams than he has if the Finn were to replace him next season.

The 2007 world champion has held talks with the team about a possible Formula 1 comeback next year, but Barrichello is determined to remain in the sport with Williams.

Barrichello also warned that it would be a false economy for the team to take a less experienced pay driver in his place as they would be more prone to errors.

"I don't believe that anybody else, including Kimi, can offer anything more than I do," said Barrichello. "They already know what I can offer. source

Raikkonen 'key' to Qatar sponsor for Williams

2011-10-10T13:07:00.000+03:00

Williams sees Kimi Raikkonen as the key to securing a major new sponsor, according to a Finnish newspaper.The 2007 world champion recently visited the British team's headquarters, and rumours in Singapore said the parties are serious about potentially working together next season.FIA press conference: Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia FerrariPhoto by: xpb.ccAccording to Ilta Sanomat newspaper, signing Raikkonen could secure the team the backing of the part state-owned Qatar National Bank.Williams already has links with Qatar, including the Williams Technology Centre located in the Arab emirate.The report said Sir Frank Williams has been trying "for several years" to sign the Qatari bank as a sponsor.During his last grand prix as Williams' technical director in Singapore two weeks ago, Sam Michael was asked if the team is now taking its driver decisions on financial grounds."I think Williams will make the choices that are best for the company and the best results. That's what it will come down to," he said.Williams will make the choices that are best for the company and the best resultsSam MichaelThe Australian also hinted that Pastor Maldonado, strongly backed by Venezuala, is set to stay in 2012."You can definitely start to see the signs as to whether a rookie is capable or not by mid-season and I would definitely put Pastor Maldonado in that category," he said."And if he wasn't in that category, he wouldn't have kept his drive going forward. So I can see the guy having an even stronger year next year," added Michael.

Räikkönen still has more to offer F1

2011-10-09T13:05:00.000+03:00

Kimi was an excellent driver, when he had something to prove. As soon as he didn't (when he won the championship) he went off the boil.

Being with a team like Williams, at the bottom of their game at the moment, could go one of two ways; either he will step up, put in the hours and make Williams great again or he'll languish at the back of the grid for one or two seasons and then disappear again. source

Does Kimi Räikkönen still have something to offer F1?

2011-10-08T13:04:00.000+03:00

I hadn't really paid much attention to the recent Kimi Räikkönen rumours - that he had turned up at the Williams factory for a visit, prompting much speculation that he was planning a return to Formula One. In fact, I haven't really given Kimi that much thought since he turned to rallying. He seemed a lot happier tackling a different discipline and I was sure we had lost him for good.

Only, now it seems he's dissatisfied again, and rallying isn't giving him the buzz he's looking for. I'm assuming that is the case, anyway, or why else would he visit the Williams team? It'd be unusual for a former F1 World Champion to show up for a random factory tour, however nice the simulator.

It is somewhat surprising to me that Kimi has become one of those figures that divides opinion so much - in a similar manner to Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, although for far different reasons. Most would agree that Räikkönen has pace when he gets in the car, but his motivation has always been a question mark.

He managed to make something of a laughing stock of himself with gorilla suits and ice cream incidents, but equally impressed when sitting behind the wheel. He never seemed keen on talking to the press or completing media and PR obligations, and it always felt as though whichever team he was with had to work hard to get the best out of him.

KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN: OUT BUT NOT DOWN

2011-10-07T13:02:00.000+03:00

Yesterday wasn't a particularly good day for Kimi Räikkönen, a freak crash ending his Rallye de France. But how does the longer term look for the Iceman, with all those F1 return rumours swirling round?

While warming up his tyres for the start of stage three in Alsace yesterday, Kimi somehow managed to run into the back of Ford driver Henning Solberg – who was doing exactly the same thing. With his suspension terminally damaged by the impact to his Citroën, Kimi was off for an early bath.

As his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom pointed out, these things can just happen: it’s nobody’s fault. When the person ahead is braking while the person behind is accelerating, the end result tends to be inevitable.

And maybe it’s karma kicking in, making up for the time when Lewis Hamilton ran into the back of Kimi in the pitlane at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

But this does mean that Kimi has a little more time now to consider one of the big issues of the moment: what will the Iceman do next year? There’s been speculation linking him to a Formula One return with Williams, while other people think he might keep on rallying. As Kimi himself says, there’s the third option of doing nothing at all. So what are the chances? Let’s speculate…

Go back to Formula One

Kimi’s been to visit the Williams factory and he certainly knows his way around Formula One, having won the title in 2007.

Pros: There are no road sections, it’s familiar territory, and you can make a lot more money in F1 than rallying.

Cons: Williams aren’t a top team any more, he’s been there and done that, it means dealing with the piranha-like F1 media. Again.

Keep on rallying

The Iceman has got two years’ worth of experience invested in rallying and he’s beginning to get the hang of it now. Why not persevere?

Pros: It’s beginning to get easier now, it’s a lot of fun, there are only 13 rounds a year and the journalists seem quite nice.

Cons: It seems harder to win than it is in Formula One and rallying is not especially lucrative. If you go off in Sweden, you might freeze to death.

Walk away

If in doubt, sit it out. Money’s not exactly an issue for the Iceman and it’s a shame to have a great collection of toys at home but not have the time to play with them.

Pros: Who wants to work for a living when you don’t have to? And it’s a neat solution to what might be a difficult decision. Also, it buys you time. Sounds appealing.

Cons: You might get bored. Apart from that, not much really.

Go racing but not in F1

Kimi’s tried NASCAR and also Peugeot’s 908 Le Mans car. But neither of those seems to have exactly grabbed him. There’s always DTM too.

Pros: There’s less pressure, not as much media attention, and it’s not as time-consuming as F1 – but you still get the chance of racing a car. Best of both worlds?

Cons: Do you really need to do any other sort of racing when you’re already a Formula One world champion? Wouldn’t it be just a bit boring?

So there are the options. Now over to the Iceman…

source

Kimi Räikkönen retired from the Rallye de France

2011-10-06T13:00:00.000+03:00

Kimi Räikkönen retired from the Rallye de France yesterday in the wake of a bizarre accident on the road section leading to stage three. He collided with the car of Henning Solberg, the latest drama in the 2007 F1 world champion’s incident-packed season.

Solberg and Räikkönen were in the process of warming up their MICHELIN tyres before the start of the third stage, Pays d’Ormont. The Finn’s Citroën DS3 WRC was running at #8 and he was due to start ahead of the Norwegian, in Ford #15 – it was logical, therefore, that Räikkönen should try to get ahead before the time control.

Räikkönen consequently put his foot down in an attempt to pass, but did so just as Solberg hit the brakes (Henning was warming those up, too). The Citroën ran into the back of the Ford and ended its rally in an adjacent ditch, its front right suspension broken.

Kimi could have restarted under SupeRally regulations, but preferred instead to return home to Switzerland. After withdrawing from Rally Australia, his ICE1 Racing team was excluded from the World Championship for Manufacturers, although Kimi is still entered for the forthcoming events in Spain and Britain. Elsewhere, meanwhile, the Finn is in close talks with the Williams team about a potential return to F1 in 2012.

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Kimi Raikkonen opts not to restart the Rally of France for day two

2011-10-05T13:00:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen has joined fellow Citroen DS3 WRC driver Sebastien Loeb on the official retirements list from the Rally of France - the Finn is on his way home to Geneva after his road accident this morning.

Raikkonen was sidelined with suspension damage after he hit the back of Henning Solberg's Ford Fiesta RS WRC on the way to stage three. The team says the damage could have been repaired, but it was felt there was no point when the penalties would have ruled out any chance of a top result.

Team manager Benoit Nogier said: "It's over, Kimi has gone [home]. The damage was not so bad, but he preferred to stop. That's it. This is very disappointing."

Nogier added that Raikkonen's early pace on the Alsace event, running inside the top 10, was looking positive for the rest of the rally.

"We could have made a good result here," he said. "The times on the first stages were good."

Raikkonen will contest the final two rounds of the World Rally Championship in Spain and Britain as expected. source

Rally of France road section shunt was a 'stupid accident'

2011-10-04T12:59:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen's Ice 1 Racing team manager Benoit Nogier said the Finn described his exit from the opening day of Rally de France as a "stupid accident."

Raikkonen explained his crash, when the Citroen driver hit the back of Henning Solberg's Ford on the road section to stage three, when he arrived back in service in Strasbourg earlier today.

Nogier said: "Henning had passed Kimi on the road section. They were both weaving to warm up their tyres, but Kimi had to go back past Henning because he was going to start the stage before him.

"Henning had stopped weaving and was in a straight line to the right side of the road. Kimi thought he had left the space for him to pass him, so he went by. Just as he was passing him, Henning braked hard to try and warm up the brakes."

It was at that point that the front-right corner of Raikkonen's Citroen made contact with the left-rear of the Solberg Fiesta. The collision broke the suspension on the DS3 and put Raikkonen in a ditch on the left hand side of the road.

"Kimi said Henning got straight out of the car and apologised, saying he hadn't seen him at all," continued Nogier. "Kimi said it was just a stupid accident, one of those things. He said Henning should get in the car and go drive the stage. It was one of those bizarre accidents."

Kimi Raikkonen hit him in Rally of France road section crash

2011-10-03T12:57:00.000+03:00

Henning Solberg has confirmed Kimi Raikkonen crashed into the back of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC ahead of the start of the third stage on Rally de France.

Former Formula 1 world champion Raikkonen has retired from the opening day of the Strasbourg-based rally with damaged suspension after the impact and resultant trip to a ditch.

Solberg, who was less than a mile from the start of the stage when the crash happened, said: "I was just driving in a straight line on a straight road. I wasn't weaving to warm up the tyre or anything like that, just driving.

"I felt the hit from the back of the car, but it was soft, not a big impact or anything. When I looked in the mirror I saw Raikkonen flying off and into the ditch. I don't know what happened."

Raikkonen was unable to retrieve his Citroen from the ditch and retired on the spot.

Solberg's co-driver Ilka Minor added: "It was really strange. I was just fastening the belts for the start of the stage when they hit us. I think maybe he lost concentration for a millisecond or something like that."

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Raikkonen crashes out of Rally France before start of SS3

2011-10-02T12:56:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen has retired from Rally de France after crashing before the start of the third stage this morning.

The Finn had been running in ninth place after the first two stages of the Alsace event, but the Citroen driver is reported to have dropped his DS3 WRC into a ditch while warming his tyres up prior to SS3, the longest stage of the rally.

There has been speculation that Raikkonen was avoiding another competitor when he went off the road. The impact is believed to have damaged the suspension and ended his participation in the event.

The 22-mile Pays d'Ormont test has taken its toll on this year's Rally de France, with Sebastien Loeb stopping with mechanical trouble and both factory Fords of Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala going off the road, but making it to the end. source

Kimi gets to grips with French asphalt

2011-10-01T12:55:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen – who is of course better known as the Iceman – is planning to use his illustrious circuit racing experience on the Rallye de France this weekend, which unlike last year, is expected to be hot and dry.The 2007 Formula One World Champion had a successful shakedown to finish eighth overall, less than a second behind the two factory Citroens of Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier. And he thinks that the cleaner road conditions this year should help him to a strong result.“Generally, everything feels a lot easier this year,” said Raikkonen, who retired from the 2010 event after sliding off at low speed on a slippery left-hand corner. “The car was good in the shakedown and the weather conditions seem to be a lot more stable, so I think it could help us as it’s more normal driving.”The famous poles on some of the stages, designed to stop cars cutting corners and dragging mud onto the road, also mean that the surface will be much more like a grand prix track, rather than the gravelly skating rink that caught out Raikkonen last year.“I think it’s good: a tarmac rally should be a tarmac rally,” said his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom. “Last year it was terrible: you could hardly see the road for all the mud in some places." via

Raikkonen crashes out of Arctic Rally

2011-09-23T15:14:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen has crashed out of the Arctic Rally on the second stage.

The Red Bull driver lost control of his Citroen C4 WRC on a right-hand corner in SS2 and hit a tree. It is hoped he and co-driver Kaj Lindstrom can return under superally regulations tomorrow.

Raikkonen had made a strong start to his first ever competitive outing in the C4 WRC, posting a time just five seconds shy of Citroen World Rally Team driver Dani Sordo on the event's opening 11.27km test.

A member of the Arctic Rally organising team said: "From what we hear, Kimi has hit the tree and knocked it down. We will have to wait and see what is the damage to the car.

"Maybe it's possible for them to come back tomorrow - we hope so."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81120

Crash-crazy Raikkonen

2011-08-25T20:01:00.000+03:00

CRASH-CRAZY Kimi Raikkonen took a trip to Lapland last week to prepare for the Swedish Rally but smashed into a tree during his first outing in the Redbull Citroen.

Dani Sordo and Marc Marti won every stage of the Arctic Lapland Rally, while Kimi Räikkönen and Kaj Lindström struggled to get to grips with the Citroën C4 WRC.

With Rally Sweden just two weeks away, the team were able to fit in some useful practice by entering two C4 WRCs. With World Rally Cars not allowed on the Finnish Championship, a special category was set up by the organisers.

After his first rally at the wheel of a WRC machine Kimi Räikkönen said: "Things didn't exactly get off to the best start as we went off the road during the second stage, but luckily there was no mechanical damage and I was able to continue in the rally. From there it got a lot better for me and we were much more consistent. We put a few more kilometres under our belt, which was vital to help us continue learning the C4 WRC. As well as being pleased by our performances I was also pleased by the way we were able to work with the team. We developed our set-up in the right direction and now we are going to continue our work in order to arrive in Sweden in the strongest possible position."

Read more: http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/motorsport/721430/VROOM-AT-THE-TOP-Crash-crazy-Raikkonen.html

Kimi revved up after test

2011-08-18T19:59:00.000+03:00

KIMI RAIKKONEN tested his Citroen C4 world rally car for the first time and beamed: I can't wait to get started!
The 2007 Formula One world champ covered 50km at a private gravel test track near Citroen's Versailles HQ in France.

He said: "It was good to try out a few different things. I was very interested to see how the car reacted when you changed some of the settings.

"Now, I'm really keen to get back behind the wheel of the C4 again!"

Finn Raikkonen is contesting 12 rounds of the World Rally Championship with the Red Bull Citroen Junior Team.

He is scheduled to compete on the Arctic Lapland Rally on January 28 to prepare for the WRC opener in Sweden on February 12.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/motorsport/2810174/Kimi-revved-up-after-test-drive.html#ixzz0esGYvp9l

Raikkonen backed for solid Acropolis

2011-06-17T16:27:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen's co-driver Kaj Lindtsrom is confident the Finn's improvement on the stages will continue on this week's Acropolis Rally, despite a two-month lay-off since his last outing.

Raikkonen's last event was the Jordan Rally, where he finished sixth, just missing out on equaling his best ever WRC result in his Citroen DS3 WRC. Since the Middle East event, Raikkonen has had just one day of testing in the Citroen - a day spent close to Marseille in France last week.

Lindstrom said: "The test was a good day, not just to improve the feeling in the car but also to test a few [set-up] things for Greece. There were no problems [getting back in the car after two months away] because Kimi felt comfortable straight away and found the feeling. The road was rough and loose for the test, a bit like what I remember Greece to be, but it's a long time since I was there."

This week's Acropolis will be Raikkonen's first taste of the notoriously tough Greek roads.

"Sure it will be a new rally for Kimi but he will be okay," said Lindstrom. "We made some improvements to the car in the test and Kimi was confident, no question. Like in Jordan he felt comfortable in the car and I think we can see another strong performance by him.

"It's always difficult to say what that result will be and there's still a long way to go [for his learning] but we are closing the gap all of the time and I'm confident we will be even closer in Greece.

"The first day of the event is a tough day with only remote service but I don't think the approach will be any different. It's the same for everybody, a matter of luck if you have problems or not. If something breaks you know you have to live with it and get through. We will look to make a clean run but I am not that concerned for Kimi."

Raikkonen's team manager Benoit Nogier was equally confident in the former Formula 1 world champion's ability to deal with a new event. The Frenchman added: "We were very happy with his performance in Jordan and he has a good opportunity for Greece.

"We found a road with a condition as close as possible to Greece and Kimi was quite happy. It will be a tough rally, not necessarily for the drivers but for the cars. The first day is very long with only a remote service but Kimi is not a rookie anymore and will be able to manage this situation."

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2005 Japanese Grand Prix - Kimi Raikkonen

2011-06-16T16:23:00.000+03:00

McLaren’s Raikkonen started the rain-hit Japanese event from only 17th, but in the race he had arguably the best pace and by the last lap was just a tenth behind race leader, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella. As the duo went into Turn One for the final time they were wheel-to-wheel and Raikkonen managed to go round the outside of the Italian and into the lead to seal his ninth F1 victory in spectacular fashion.

Acropolis Rally- Preview - Citroen Racing Technologies

2011-06-15T16:19:00.001+03:00

This weekend, the seventh round of the World Rally Championship will take place in Greece. In addition to the two Citroën Total World Rally Team cars, Citroën Racing Technologies is supplying four DS3 WRCs available for Petter Solberg, Kimi Räikkönen, Peter van Merksteijn Jr and Peter van Merksteijn Sr, which they are running in their respective teams.

A week before the Acropolis Rally, Citroën Racing Technologies held a test session in the Marseille region to prepare for one of the most demanding events of the 2011 season. Kimi Räikkönen, Peter van Merksteijn Jr and Peter van Merksteijn Sr drove the Citroën DS3 WRC to get the right feel for the car and test different setups.

"We ran on roads similar to those that the crews will face in Greece," commented Benoît Nogier, the Citroën Racing Technologies manager. "Like the ones that make up the route, we had a section that was a real car breaker and another that was quicker. Our drivers were happy with this base and the setups of the DS3 WRC."

At the beginning of the week, it was Petter Solberg’s turn to shakedown his car in Greece. "It was a good run to make sure everything was working properly," Nogier went on. "Petter has always been quick on this type of terrain. He can score a very good result here."

"Kimi Räikkönen is having his first outing in this rally, but his performances in Turkey and Jordan on stages like these prove he has the right skills to adapt to difficult conditions where necessary. He has a good opportunity to show what he can do. Fifth or sixth place overall wouldn’t be a surprise. The aim of the two Van Merksteijn Motorsport drivers is to finish. The whole team’s worked very hard to get the DS3 WRCs ready to tackle the Greek roads."

Friday, the first day of the event will already be a severe test with 141,33 timed kilometers, and a single remote service halt halfway through the leg. The next day, the crews will have to cover another 141,89 kilometers with a night stage. The rally will finish on Sunday at 15h30 after 18 stages. After scoring two podium finishes in the last two rallies, the Petter Solberg World Rally Team lies fourth in the Manufacturers’ World Championship. Ice 1 Racing is sixth at the moment.

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Kimi Raikkonen: F1 Misses the Iceman

2011-06-14T16:17:00.001+03:00

As Mika Hakkinen’s illustrious career was coming to an end, another Flying Finn was ready to take his place on the grid and in the McLaren F1 team. Kimi Raikkonen of Finland had completed a mere 23 races apart from go-karting before he was drafted by Peter Sauber in his Formula 1 team. The FIA reluctantly granted this unknown Finn a super license to compete in the 2001 season.

Despite being numerically outperformed by his team mate Nick Heidfeld, his cool head behind the wheel was not unnoticed. Much to the annoyance of the German, Kimi was chosen over him to replace the ‘on sabbatical’ Hakkinen in the McLaren hot seat.

McLaren

Raikkonen: The Nearly Man in McLaren
2002 was Kimi’s first season in McLaren and it was another year of Schumacher-Ferrari domination. The ‘Iceman’ almost won his first race in the French GP, only to slip on a patch of oil on the track and let Schumacher pass him for first. Someone like a Hamilton or Vettel may have wallowed at the Podium or press conference, but Kimi was poker-faced and monotonous as usual.

In his frustrating stint with the Woking team, Raikkonen mounted credible title challenges in 2003 and 2005. The first of these was a three way battle between himself, Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher. Eventually, Schumi edged the young Kimi by 2 points. Reliability cost Raikkonen the title in 2005, where he actually won the same number of races (7) as the eventual champion Alonso. On two occasions, his McLaren let him down while he was in the lead and on both occasions, Alonso took advantage to win the race.

Twice in the 2005 season, Raikkonen started the race behind the top 10 (due to engine failures in Qualifying) and finished on the podium. In one of the most memorable races of his career, Raikkonen starting from 17th place, won the Grand Prix in Suzuka Japan. He hunted down his rivals one by one, stormed past the likes of Alonso, Schumacher and passed the race leader Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap of the race! It is doubtful if the modern day punks like Hamilton and Vettel can match that.

Ferrari

Sadly, Kimi’s McLaren was much too fragile to win him World Championships and he made the switch to Scuderia Ferrari in 2007 to fill the boots of Michael Schumacher. It can be an intimadting task for anyone to replace a legend of the sport. It didn’t seem to affect Raikkonen. He was notably absent in a media event where Schumi would ‘hand over’ his place to Kimi. When asked about it, Kimi replied in his typical monotonous tone – “I had gone to take a shit”. He never gives any, that’s for sure.

In Ferrari, he won his first race and made a strong start to the season. The 2007 season was a four way tussle between Kimi, Massa, Hamilton and Alonso. Massa fell away and it came down to the other three in the last race of the season. As things stood, Hamilton had 107 points, Alonso 103 and Kimi 100. So, for Raikkonen to win the Championship, he had to win AND hope that Alonso finishes 3rd or below AND Hamilton finishes 7th or below.

World Champion 2007
Kimi qualified 3rd behind teammate Massa with Hamilton in 2nd place. In a clever opening move, Massa pulled ahead of Lewis Hamilton and slowed down, allowing Kimi to pass both of them on the first corner. Hamilton then lost his bearings and though he will never admit it, accidentally pressed the Pit Lane speed limiter button (according to reports, and McLaren never offered a convincing alternative). When he finally realized it, he was in last place. Hamilton could only finish 7th, and the Ferraris finished one-two. Thus, Kimi became World Champion in the most dramatic fashion, finishing a mere 1 point ahead of Alonso and Hamilton.

Driving Style

Kimi liked adventure in his driving. He never fussed much about the car setup with his mechanics and engineers, choosing to simply drive what he got. His only preference was to have a slight understeer, which enabled him to make a wide swinging turn out of the corners. Perhaps he got a kick out of the extra acceleration. Naturally, he enjoyed the ups, downs and twists of Belgium Spa Francorchamps the most, and was rightly called the ‘Spa Master’.

Apart from this, Kimi was a smooth driver, easy on the tires, brakes and good at overtaking (Fisichella can testify). He was as brief and monotonous on the car radio as he was in press conferences and as cool as ever. This sometimes led to criticism over his motivation levels by some commentators. But of course, he never gave a s**t.

Personality and Legacy

In 2009, Raikkonen left Ferrari and F1 itself to join rally car racing. With a solitary championship to his name, he wont be considered one of the ‘greats’, but he will never be forgotten either. Raikkonen was a man who thoroughly enjoyed racing and didnt care about the rest. While drivers like Schumacher and Hamilton obsess about rivals, car setup and so on, Raikkonen simply turned up, set the track on fire and left in the evening without a fuss.

Behind his ice-cold face and monotonous voice, was a colorful personality. No wonder he entered a snowmobile race under the pseudonym “James Hunt”, a party loving F1 champion from the 70s. While many of the drivers nowadays are PR stuntmen, Kimi lived his life for himself. He celebrated his championship by getting drunk, being thrown out of the bar and sleeping on a public bench with an inflatable dolphin. He also once, fell headfirst in a yacht while being drunk.

He never apologized for any of it, he didn’t have to. Kimi never kept any pretenses, preferring to speak little, let his driving do the talking and enjoy himself off the track. With his retirement (doesn’t look like he will be back), F1 has possibly seen the end of an era.

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Busch: Next move up to Raikkonen

2011-06-13T16:16:00.000+03:00

Kyle Busch says he remains open to running Kimi Raikkonen in further NASCAR Camping World Truck or Nationwide Series outings, although no more races are planned for the time being.

The NASCAR star fielded a Toyota Tundra truck from Kyle Busch Motorsports two weeks ago for Raikkonen's stock car debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He then ran the Finn again a week later in the Nationwide Series through NEMCO Motorsports at the same track, where Raikkonen ran well until a pit speeding penalty put him two laps down.

Busch had initially spoken about running the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion in as many as five Truck races, but plans quickly changed and Raikkonen made the jump immediately to NASCAR's second tier series.

The owner/driver says the decision whether to carry on with the team is down to Raikkonen himself, but he says Kyle Busch Motorsports would be able to run him again either in the Trucks or Nationwide Series.

"If they want to come and run a few more Truck races, we've got the opportunity to do a couple more Nationwide races, and I'm sure myself and [NEMCO Motorsports boss] Joe Nemechek can put something together," said Busch. "It's all up to those guys, really."

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Former champion Kimi Raikkonen denied entry in Flavio Briatore’s Billionaire nightclub

2011-06-12T16:14:00.000+03:00

Former champion Kimi Raikkonen denied entry in Flavio Briatore’s Billionaire nightclub – Formula 1

It has been revealed that the 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen was so eager to enjoy this past weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix that he rushed from a nationwide race in the US late Saturday night in order to get to his yacht’s open spa.

Later on, the Finn decided to go to former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore’s famous “Billionaire” nightclub with some friends where he was refused entry.

Raikkonen with his friends who are apparently “The Dudesons,” a group of comedy actors who appear in a TV show. They enjoyed some time together at Kimi’s famous spa before heading to Briatore’s nightclub where the guards on duty refused to recognise the 18-time race winner.

The 31-year-old driver as a result failed to rebuke the bouncers of the nightclub and took the party somewhere else while enjoying his secrecy.

Briatore on the other hand, recently came on the highly famous motoring show Top Gear this past weekend during the Monaco Grand Prix in order to talk to the media. The former Renault boss also strolled the paddock and grid during the Monaco Grand Prix and it seemed like he had a nice time.

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Kimi Raikkonen Places 27th In National NASCAR Debut

2011-06-11T16:13:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen struggled to a 27th place on his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Raikkonen, driving the #87 NEMCO Motorsports Toyota prepared by Kyle Busch Motorsports, suffered a pit road penalty and damage to the front of his car, dropping from 15th to 27th place.

The iceman enjoyed a great run in practice on Thursday and set some competitive lap times. He felt much more comfortable ahead of the race than a week ago when he made his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series.

Raikkonen qualified 22nd despite skimming the wall on his first flying lap, he made early progress despite not being happy with his car’s balance.

“It was nice in the beginning and I could overtake on the restart and it felt really good when [the car] turned,” said Raikkonen. “Then it really it turned out to be really bad, the handling. Just because I couldn’t even get the car in, even I felt I had to stop in the corner and it was just pushing all the time.

Raikkinen also faced heat issues early in the race. He complained that his feet were getting very hot. NASCAR drivers wear heat-isolating heel protectors over their racing shoes, but Raikkinen said he did not wear them because he did not have any issues last week in the Truck race.

Raikkonen is planning to return to Europe to compete in the Rally Acropolis in Greece next month. He is unsure if he will be travelling back to the US for a possible NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut next month.

[Source: AutoSport]

Raikkonen hot-foots out of NASCAR—for now

2011-06-10T16:12:00.000+03:00

On the heels of a disappointing 27th-place finish in Saturday’s Top Gear 300 Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Europe with future NASCAR plans completely up in the air.
Though Raikkonen’s test of Robby Gordon’s Sprint Cup car at Virginia International Raceway on Tuesday fueled speculation that the 2007 Formula One champion would make his Cup debut June 26 at Sonoma, Raikkonen said Saturday that his two appearances at Charlotte—the Nationwide race and the May 20 Camping World Truck Series event—are the only ones on the docket right now.
“My plan was always to do these first two races, and then I have to go back to Europe and do some rallies and see what happens,” Raikkonen said after Saturday’s race.
Raikkonen competes in the World Rally Championship under Red Bull sponsorship.
In Saturday’s Nationwide event, Raikkonen got his first taste of heat in the cockpit of a stock car. A native of Finland, where a substantial portion of the country lies within the Arctic Circle, Raikkonen wasn’t used to the temperatures in the greenhouse of his No. 87 Toyota.
Because Raikkonen wasn’t wearing foot shields in his driving shoes, he complained throughout the race that his feet were being burned.
“The floor got really hot under the seat,” Raikkonen said. “I don’t know why the car was so hot inside. It was hurting on the heels, but I couldn’t really do anything—just tried to keep my foot off the floor and just hold them up.”
Further clouding his NASCAR future is the revelation made by car owner Kyle Busch on Thursday that Raikkonen and his NASCAR sponsor, Perky Jerky, have not met the payment schedule that was agreed upon when their association was announced.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2011-05-29/notebook-raikkonen-hot-foots-out-of-nascar-for-now#ixzz1PXSZgC8X

The ten funniest things Kimi Raikkonen said in his NASCAR debut

2011-06-09T16:09:00.000+03:00

Tom Joslin —If you weren't listening to Kimi Raikkonen's in-car audio during his NASCAR Nationwide series debut yesterday (he raced a truck last week), you missed some gems. During the race he managed to curse his car, his burning ass, and the lack of hydration.

Luckily Jeff Gluck, Motorsports Editor at SBNation.com, captured some of the funnier exchanges during Kimi's first race and shared them via Twitter. We present to you the ten funniest things Kimi Raikkonen said in his Nascar Nationwide series debut at the Top Gear 300.

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"I don't understand how this car can be so hot. My ass is even burning in here!"

Kimi decided not to wear heat shields because heat had not been an issue in the truck he raced the week beforehand. It appears it certainly became one.

"Why you shouting on the fucking radio?"

Water bottle confusion also plagued Raikkonen throughout the race. After a crew member gave Kimi an empty bottle, the crew chief started yelling. Kimi quickly told them to take it off the air.

"I am out of the drink again. It's so small. Mark has to make sure it's completely full, because it is too small."

As the liquid related chaos continues, it becomes obvious the Iceman just can't get enough to drink.

"We're so fucking shit, it's unbelievable."

Regardless of his 27th place finish and uncertain racing future it became clear pretty quickly that Kimi certainly sounds like a NASCAR driver.

"Did you see how fucking bad it is? I cannot even turn the car into the corner. ..And remember, I need water."

As he was about to get lapped, Raikkonen stuck with his pre-existing strategy of asking for more water and complaining about the car.

"I need my drinking water. Hey!! Give me my drinking water!!!"

Jeff Gluck thinks Kimi might have said "bottle" instead of "water" as he was coming into the pit. We hope his second interpretation was correct because "Give me my drinking bottle" could quickly become the official catchphrase of NASCAR fans worldwide.

"You just have to do what you have to do to get fast laps."

In response to Kimi's spotter pointing out he is on old tires and his car is handling accordingly. We aren't really sure what it means either.

"The car is just so fucking bad (mumble mumble)."

Who knows what the mumbles were exactly, but a cry for more drink wouldn't be a bad guess.

"The car is shit because I cannot get it turned! It is so frustrating! I cannot get the fucking car turned!"

This one does a nice job explaining itself.

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"Don't talk about other things on the radio"

Kimi quickly made it clear after his spotter began discussing an incident on track he didn't want to hear about it. We imagine this was well received in the pits where the crew had been listening to Raikkonen's burning feet complaints and demands for more water the whole race.

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Iceman boils in second NASCAR try

2011-06-08T14:56:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen dominated the Nationwide Series in similar fashion to how he vanquished all others eight days earlier in the Camping World Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Raikkonen won neither race. He brushed the wall in both.

Where Raikkon thrashed the opposition was in attention. The Fussy Finn was in rare form during the Top Gear 300, complaining that his feet were hot, loudly demanding his water bottle and describing his car repeatedly in language normally reserved for … a restroom.

Raikkonen was penalized for speeding on pit road. Though his rather diffident personality sets him apart from other stock car racers, his profanity skills are advanced. He may have sped on pit road while preoccupied with berating his crew.

Riding a wave – Carl Edwards has led the Sprint Cup point standings for five consecutive weeks and at the end of seven of the season’s 11 races. Prior to the current season, Edwards’ only time at the top of the points had been during the first two weeks of the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

First time’s the charm – Kenseth’s victory on Saturday occurred in his first race since the Nationwide Series vastly changed the technical composition of its cars.

Kenseth’s first victory in a Mustang occurred in his 246th series start. It was his 26th victory in the series.

“There are differences,” said Kenseth, “but the feel a lot like the Cup car.”

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Kimi, Whitt make Charlotte N'wide debuts

2011-06-07T14:55:00.000+03:00

A former Formula One world champion and a young driver who many expect to be winning for a long time in the NASCAR ranks shared common ground Saturday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Each made his Charlotte debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. And each experienced a little of the frustration that battling an ill-handling car can offer a driver.

For Kimi Raikkonen, an F1 champ testing the NASCAR waters, and Cole Whitt, at 19 the youngest to ever lead the Camping World Truck Series standings, Saturday was a lengthy, hot day. It was also a learning experience and a race in which they both gained knowledge about handling the cars in this series.

Whitt is just trying to gain some ground and experience, to methodically work his way through the ranks. In his third career Nationwide Series race Saturday he ran in the top 10 at times before finishing 15th, a solid and respectable run in his debut.

Raikkonen’s exact plans are a subject of speculation, but he raced through setbacks — he brushed the wall, he ran over someone else’s front splitter that was laying on the track, he was penalized for speeding on exit to pit road — and finished 27th.

source

Raikkonen drove a Nemco Motorsports entry that was prepared by Kyle Busch Motorsports. After the race, KBM general manager Rick Ren also addressed Raikkonen’s outing. The driver made his NASCAR debut a week ago, driving a KBM entry in the Truck race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Kimi Raikkonen says he's paid up

2011-06-06T14:35:00.000+03:00

Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen says there was a misunderstanding with Kyle Busch on the financial arrangement concerning Raikkonen's venture into NASCAR.

Busch said Thursday that Kyle Busch Motorsports was "supposed to receive so much, and we have not" in the deal to run in three to five Truck Series races.

Raikkonen said Saturday he has paid in full for driving Busch's truck last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and for driving a Nationwide Series car for Busch and Joe Nemechek Saturday at CMS.

He said further payment will depend on whether he drives another Truck Series race for Busch.

"I mean, it's a situation we paid," Raikkonen said after qualifying 22nd for Saturday's race. "Who knows if we want to do more."

Todd Hirschfeld, who manages Raikkonen's racing efforts in the United States, said Raikkonen's situation changed when he added the Nationwide race to the schedule. "It was taken out of context. Kimi doesn't know what he wants to do, but everything so far has been paid for."

There has been speculation that Raikkonen, after finishing 15th in his Truck Series debut, is ready to speed up his NASCAR progression and will make his Sprint Cup debut next month at the road course in Sonoma, Calif. He tested one of Robby Gordon's Cup cars earlier this week at Virginia International Speedway.

Hirschfeld said he has been told nothing of Raikkonen's plans. Raikkonen said he will return to Europe after Saturday's race.

"I have other things to do," he said Friday. "After that, I don't know when I will be back. I have a rally in Greece and some other rallies." source

A Finnish start: Raikkonen makes NASCAR debut in Nationwide race at Charlotte

2011-06-05T14:33:00.000+03:00

Raikkonen could make more money and enjoy more international fame in Formula One, but like most racers, that's not what drives him. That's why he's the newest open-wheel driver to migrate to NASCAR.
Raikkonen, who will make his Nationwide Series debut in today's Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, won a world F1 championship in 2007. Now he's racing Rally cars with hopes of working his way into a Sprint Cup Series ride.
"For sure, it's a different sport, different type of racing than what we have in Europe," he said. "It's very popular here, and maybe it looks easy, but it's not so easy to be fast. We'll see how it goes and what the future will bring. We go step-by-step and see what happens."
Raikkonen made his NASCAR debut last week in the truck series race at Charlotte. He started 31st and finished 15th on the lead lap. Like others before him, Raikkonen said he was compelled by the competitiveness in NASCAR.
Joe Nemechek and Kyle Busch worked together to make today's race a possibility. Nemechek supplied the car. Busch brought most of the crew. Now it's up to Raikkonen to do the rest.
"They needed to take about 500 pounds of right-rear spring out of that thing," Carl Edwards said after watching Raikkonen in Thursday's practice session. "He was loose, and he was driving the wheels off it. I was just surprised. I didn't know who was in that car. ... I thought it might be him, but he definitely has some car control, that's for sure. That's not lip service. That was pretty amazing. I might have seen smoke off the right rear."
Raikkonen already has tested a Sprint Cup car for Robby Gordon with hopes of driving in next month's road-course race at Infineon Raceway.
The Finnish driver isn't the first driver from the world's stage to wind up in NASCAR. Juan Pablo Montoya has found a home with Chip Ganassi Racing after winning seven F1 races, including the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and an IndyCar championship. Jacques Villeneuve, a former F1, IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 champion, still is trying to find substantial work in NASCAR. And former F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. currently drives in the truck series.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/racing/2011-05-27/story/finnish-start-raikkonen-makes-nascar-debut-nationwide-race-charlotte#ixzz1PX3mtCnL

Raikkonen has the thrills, but not paying the bills

2011-06-04T14:31:00.000+03:00

The mystery that is Kimi Raikkonen’s foray into NASCAR took two strange turns this week. On Wednesday, Raikkonen drove—and damaged—a Sprint Cup car in a test at Virginia International Raceway, where many NASCAR teams practice to get ready for road-course races. Raikkonen was driving Robby Gordon’s car, leading to speculation that Raikkonen, a former Formula One champion, would make his Sprint Cup debut at Infineon Raceway on June 26.

That would be quite an accelerated timetable for a guy who had never driven a Nationwide car until Thursday in that series’ practice in preparation for Saturday’s Top Gear 300. But he’s considered a world-class driver with a wealth of experience on road courses, as opposed to most Sprint Cup newbies who have never or rarely had to turn right. He has yet to commit full time to NASCAR; he’s still running a Rally car series in Europe.

Kimi Raikkonen's test at Virginia International Raceway resulted in a damaged car after he drove through the grass and hit a hole. (AP Photo)“It would be nice to go and do (Infineon), but I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not,” he said. “We’ll see what happens this weekend. I have to go back and do my Rally (car) stuff, and we’ll see.”

In the test at VIR, Raikkonen drove through the grass, hit a hole and “destroyed the front a bit.”

Raikkonen, who made his NASCAR debut last week in the trucks series, was expected to run 3-5 races for Kyle Busch Motorsports. But that’s been cut back because Raikkonen hasn’t been paying his bills to KBM, Busch said. It’s common for drivers trying to break in to NASCAR to pay a team to field a car for them. It is not common for an owner to publicly say one of the world’s most renowned racing talents has not paid. That he isn’t paying his bills is baffling considering he was once the highest paid driver in F-1 at a reported $51 million per year.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2011-05-26/raikkonen-has-the-thrills-but-not-paying-the-bills#ixzz1PX3Eeyhp

Monaco, Indy, Coke 600: Racing's biggest weekend

2011-06-03T14:29:00.000+03:00

Now, Kimi Raikkonen has left the truck series ("Been there, done that,") and will race in the Nationwide Series event at Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. Kyle Busch and Joe Nemechek have teamed up to get Kimi in the show.

Next up for the Kimster? The Sprint Cup Series. You’ll remember that Kimi went F1 racing directly from karts and he’s not wasting any time launching his NASCAR career either.

Now, at Mosport, D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas will be out to defend his championship against all his old foes – Kerry Micks, Scott Steckly, Don Thomson Jr., Mark Dilley, Jason Hathaway, Jeff Lapcevich, Jason White, Pierre Bourque and all those guys.

Practice will take place early Saturday afternoon with qualifying set for 5 p.m. and the green flag scheduled for 7 p.m.

via

Raikkonen eager for Sprint Cup road race

2011-06-02T14:28:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen says he wants to run a Sprint Cup Series race at a road course, having tested Robby Gordon's Cup car last Tuesday at Virginia International Raceway.
The 2007 F1 World Champion said he ran few laps in Gordon's car but his test was hampered by an early off that damaged the nose of the car and then rain in the afternoon. Despite his short experience, The Finn said he enjoyed the test, which came just a few days after his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series at Charlotte, where he finished 15th.
"We had few issues in the test with the Cup car," said Raikkonen at Charlotte on Thursday. "We didn't do an awful lot of running in the morning and then in the afternoon we knew it was going to start raining. I went out and just ran a bit wide and decided to go over the grass but there was a big hole or something in the grass, so it destroyed the front a bit and then it started to rain anyhow. It was fun to drive it, the road course with that car."

via http://www.racer.com/raikkonen-eager-for-sprint-cup-road-race/article/203926/

Kimi Raikkonen finished 15th in his NASCAR debut last weekend

2011-06-01T14:26:00.000+03:00

Two-time Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen said Friday he might run next month’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway.

But Kyle Busch, who is providing two vehicles for Raikkonen’s NASCAR debut, said he is still owed money from the Finnish driver and will not be working with him going forward after this weekend unless and until he receives additional funding.

Raikkonen made his NASCAR debut last Friday night, finishing 15th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is entered in the Top Gear 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at CMS this weekend, piloting a Nemco Motorsports-owned Toyota built by Kyle Busch Motorsports. KBM also provided his truck last weekend.

Thursday afternoon at CMS, Raikkonen briefly met the press in a session that was announced at the last minute and lasted just 6 minutes and 29 seconds, less than half the customary time for NASCAR media availabilities.

Earlier in the week, Raikkonen tested with Robby Gordon Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway, leading to rumors he would enter the Infineon road race.

“Of course you always have it in mind to try to do it,” Raikkonen said of competing in the Cup Series. “The other thing is, is going to happen or not? I don’t know. Of course, I’m probably more keen to do road courses than ovals.”

Asked if we could consider Sonoma, Raikkonen added, “It would be nice to go and do it, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. We’ll see what happens after this weekend. I have to go back (to Europe) and do my rally stuff.”

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-kimi-raikkonen-may-run-sonoma-nascar-sprint/

Kimi revelling in new challenge

2011-05-11T19:24:00.000+03:00

PARIS (AFP) - Finland has produced a long line of great Rally drivers but never one quite with the pedigree or potential of 2007 Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

The 30-year-old former McLaren and Ferrari driver, known as the 'Iceman', has opted to forego the massive wages on offer on the Formula One circuit to have a tilt at capturing the world rally title this season - the first leg gets under way in Sweden next Thursday.

It is a decision the impassive unemotional Finn - though his readiness for laughs extends to competing in a powerboat race dressed as a gorilla under the pseudonym James Hunt in honour of the late Formula One champion (gaining his team the award for best dressed group) - is not regretting making.

"This is a different challenge," conceded Raikkonen, whose older brother Rami is a rally driver, when the pilots came together for a press conference in Paris earlier this week.

"To be frank I am more interested in this than Formula One. Even when I was testing my Formula One car I never paid any interest to the times of the other drivers," added Raikkonen, who will be racing for the Citroen Junior team.

Raikkonen, who was released by Ferrari at the end of last season and replaced by Fernando Alonso despite a year remaining on his contract, said he preferred the atmosphere and camaraderie around the Rally paddock to Formula One.

"This is very nice and more open than in Formula One," said Raikkonen, who had 18 wins in 156 starts in Grands Prix with his first coming in the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix.

"The teams are more friendly with each other. It's great.

"It (the Rally stables) is very small. The people are closer in terms of personal relationships.

"Of course the challenge is different as in Formula One you are racing against each other, whereas in Rallying it is racing against the clock," added Raikkonen, who has raced in one previous leg of the series, the 2009 Rally of Finland, which he failed to finish.

Raikkonen, who had an offer from McLaren which broke down over financial terms and didn't fancy a move to Toyota, admitted he didn't expect to make an immediate impact.

"Everything is new. I don't know the places or the stages," he confessed.

"It's always exciting. You have to learn everything, gain experience and in all sorts of conditions. Also writing the notes on each stage and the direction to take is extremely important.

"I am learning from zero. With the notes, you have to write them so you can understand them. If they are not legible you make mistakes."

Raikkonen, who when he first joined Ferrari replacing seven-times champion Michael Schumacher was on 51million dollars a year, also was at pains to downplay the rumours that this year was a means of breaking him in so he could step up and be six-time champion Sebastien Loeb's team-mate.

"There are always stories like that. I just want to learn and we'll see what happens," he said.

Raikkonen also insisted that thoughts of him winning the title were overly ambitious.

"It would be great to win but let's wait and see what happens," he said.

"I don't really know what to expect, I want to get into the points first and later in the season we can work on getting the car to go faster."

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/6771473/raikkonen-revelling-in-new-challenge/

Raikkonen Drives his Citroen C4

2010-09-14T19:49:00.000+03:00

Kimi Raikkonen got his first taste of the Citroën C4 WRC on this week, at a private gravel test track close to the team’s French workshops. This initial shakedown allowed the Finn to start getting used to the car that he will drive on the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship.

With only a few weeks left before this year’s World Rally Championship season gets underway in Sweden on 12 February, Kimi Raikkonen has already started his preparations in earnest.

The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion travelled to Paris to see Citroën Racing’s facilities for himself and test the C4 WRC on a gravel test track within the on nearby gravel roads. Having covered around 50 kilometres, the latest Citroën Junior Team driver appreciated the chance to familiarise himself with his new car.

“I very much enjoyed meeting the team properly for the first time” he said. “It was good to try out a few different things; I was very interested to see how the car reacted when you changed some of the settings. Now, I’m really keen to get back behind the wheel of the C4 again!”

Kimi Raikkonen’s first competitive outing will be on 28 January when he competes in the Arctic Lapland Rally in a Citroën C4 WRC to prepare for the forthcoming Swedish Rally, the first round of the 2010 World Rally Championship.

Loeb tested with Kimi as co-driver

2010-02-06T19:47:00.000+02:00

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb warmed up for Rally Sweden yesterday by testing in northern Värmland. Loeb did a full day test arranged by Citroen and former Citroën driver Thomas Rådström. At the afternoon, even Kimi Räikkönen showed up and did two rounds with Sebastien in the co-driver seat of the car. However, Kimi was there as a private person and didn’t do any tests himself.
Source: VF

Raikkonen all set for Rally Sweden

2010-02-05T19:18:00.000+02:00

For its second consecutive season in the FIA World Rally Championship, the Citroën Junior Team will enter two Citroën C4 WRCs for Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia and Kimi Räikkönen / Kaj Lindström. The season’s opening round is held over the snowy stages of Rally Sweden, which takes place around Karlstad from February 11-14.
After a learning year in 2009, the 2010 season holds plenty of promise for the Citroën Junior Team. Sébastien Ogier, who formed part of the team last year, is joined this season by the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen. By pairing up one of world rallying’s brightest young stars with a wellknown driver embarking on the ultimate challenge, the Citroën Junior Team will be well and truly under the spotlight this year!
The wintry conditions of the Rally Sweden present a tough task to the crews on the season-opener, but most drivers love the high speeds reached on the ice and snow. Thanks to stages that sometimes have an average speed of more than 120 kph and racing lines that thread their way precisely through imposing snow banks, spectators are sure to witness a breathtaking spectacle.
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia enjoyed a remarkable first full season at the wheel of the Citroën C4 WRC in 2009 and they start the 2010 season with the same motivation – and a year’s worth of extra experience under their belts. "I just can’t wait to start driving the Citroën C4 WRC in the heat of competition again," said the Frenchman. "It seems a very long time now since the 2009 season ended!"
Having contested the Monte Carlo Rally at the start of the year, Sébastien was in Finland last week to prepare for Rally Sweden with a day of testing close to Rovaniemi. "We covered around 200 kilometres in order to get to grips with the car again and work on the set-up of the Citroën C4 WRC," he reported. "I’m very pleased with the way that the car is handling. I quickly felt comfortable again and I love driving in these conditions."
Rally Sweden will be a brand new experience for Sébastien Ogier. Nonetheless, he hopes to put the experience he gained on Rally Norway last year to good use. "Actually, we’re getting rather used to driving on rallies for the first time," added Sébastien. "I hope that we can show what we are capable against what is always very strong opposition on these winter rallies. Our objective on this first event of the year is just to continue to progress."

Making his debut alongside the 2008 Junior World Rally Champions is Kimi Räikkönen. The handful of rally events he contested in 2009 has given the Finn the desire to embark on a full season with the Citroën Junior Team.
Following some test sessions and a run on the Arctic Lapland Rally a few days ago, Kimi Räikkönen has covered nearly 600 kilometres with the Citroën C4 WRC. "I’m just really keen to get to the start of Rally Sweden now," he said. "With Citroën, we have made some good preparations for this event. All the kilometres I already have behind me will allow me to begin the rally with no particular worries. I know that I still have many things to learn though and plenty of experience to accumulate. My goal is simply to do my best with the Citroën C4 WRC. My debut in the World Rally Championship is an enormous challenge but any driver who has competed in motorsport at a certain level always maintains the same way of working and the same desire to push themselves. I feel that I’m ready to take on this challenge now."

http://www.rallybuzz.com/kimi-raikkonen-rally-sweden-preview/

I’m looking forward to everything!

2010-02-03T19:43:00.001+02:00

Kimi Raikkonen insists he is looking forward to everything about his debut season in the World Rally Championship and has admitted he isn't thinking about the possibility of returning to F1 in 2011.

Raikkonen will compete in all-bar one of the events on the 2010 WRC calendar with the Citroen Junior Team after leaving his role with Ferrari, and had his first outing at the wheel of the Citroen C4 WRC on the Arctic Rally last weekend.

Speaking at the launch of the 2010 season, the Finn insisted that he was excited by the challenge of taking his career in a new direction and was hopeful of impressing as the year goes on.

"I would say everything, because everything is new and completely different to Formula One,” he told the official WRC website when asked what he was looking forward to the most. “At this stage it's all exciting; it doesn't really matter where we go or what we do, it's a new thing.

"First of all we have a lot to learn from the rallies, and that's not going to be an easy challenge. We did one rally last weekend and it definitely helped us going to Sweden. We'll just take things from there. We need to do our best, learn as quickly as we can and hopefully get some good results."

Raikkonen added that he was deadly serious about his WRC programme for the season ahead and refused to be drawn on the possibility that he may look to return to F1 for 2011.

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't serious,” he said. “Anytime I start something new I want to learn, and try to do the best I can. It's something that's going to be a big challenge and I'm looking forward to it."

"It's a completely different world [to F1]. The events themselves are different and the people are different. At this launch, with everyone together, there seems to be a more open and easy relationship between the teams and that's one of the very nice things about rally. There is also a sense that the sport is picking up. There have been maybe some difficult times but it looks like everything is turning better and in the next couple of years it should be even more popular that it is now. It's quite strong.

“I really enjoy it here now, and if it's like this, then maybe I stay or maybe I try something else. I have no plans, no deadlines yet. Let's see what happens."

http://www.crash.net/World+Rally/news/156534/1/raikkonen_im_looking_forward_to_everything.html

Lorenzo's Ideal Team

2010-02-02T20:04:00.000+02:00

Test/Reserve? Kimi Raikkonen. His talent cannot be questioned, although we are all aware of his commitment issues and dare I say laziness over a season? I have a feeling that he would be horrible at developing the car for me and he would definitely hate the thought of me plonking him in the simulator for hour after endless hour, but I think I could tell when he has that glint in his eye and needs to be in the car. I might even arrange a special sponsor outing where we send Jean Alesi motocross riding on the weekend before Spa (no harm intended of course!) just so that I could slot Kimi in for his customary Belgium win, and then let him party for the rest of the year.

A final thought, sure Alesi, Villeneuve & Raikkonen mightn’t be a conventional choice for an ideal team but I have a secondary element to my choices. Jean owns a winery, Kimi loves a tipple and Jacques can sort of hold a tune. So when/if team Lorenzo F1 fail dismally, the year end Christmas party will be one to savour. Jean will supply the wine for Kimi to drink whilst Jacques provides the entertainment. I can’t lose!

Read more: http://sidepodcast.com/2010/02/05/thursday-thoughts-lorenzos-ideal-team/

Cold ride to Robertson

2010-02-01T21:24:00.000+02:00

Kimi Räikkönen’s manager Steve Robertson arrived from his home Dubai, which had 28 degrees of heat, to the arctic cold Lapland. He got a cold ride also from his protégé’s initial difficulties in Lapland-rally.

What did it feel like when you heard that Kimi had driven out?

- We have to remember that this is Kimi’s first day in his rally-career. When you go to an entirely new class – like from F1 to rally – everyone certainly understand better after this how different it is – from driving style onwards.

- Kimi knows how much work it is to understand notes and make them in the best way. It’s a map where he now navigates. He has all the experience from F1 but it doesn’t help when you must suddenly do notes to places which experienced drivers have gone through already thousands times. It is not easy when there is no baseline to compare with.

- Kimi is certainly a natural talent in every way but it takes its time that he starts to understand the rally-world completely. And it doesn’t help that he’s a F1 champion. That’s why he is all the time in the spotlight and he can’t hide anywhere when he’s trying to adapt to these challenges. Kimi needs time but let’s wait when he adjusts his own things. I’m certain that he will become super-competitive by the middle of the season and he is an entirely different Kimi than he is now, Robertson assured

But what if these kind of crashes happen again?

- Everything doesn’t always to according to plans. It’s not easy for Kimi, but the learning phase has to be gone through. But it’s certain that this kind of set-back does not make Kimi any less determined about the fact that he will become very competitive also in WRC-rally, Robertson concluded.

Source: Turun Sanomat

Loeb backs Raikkonen to succeed

2010-01-31T20:08:00.000+02:00

Six-times World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb feels Kimi Raikkonen will prove to be a natural when he makes his competitive debut with Citroen this week.

The 2007 Formula One world champion has switched to rallying this year, and on Friday continues his preparation for the WRC campaign that starts in Sweden next month with a drive in the Arctic Rally. The event, which is run over two days and includes 12 stages, will be a true test of Raikkonen's credentials as he will be up against Dani Sordo, Loeb's factory Citroen team-mate.

"It's very difficult to say straight away how he will get on," said Loeb. "What we can look at is what he did in Rally Finland last year when he was close to the pace in the Group N class. This was very good. It's easy to see he can drive the car - there's no doubting he's a very good driver."

Loeb added: "He's a Finn, he has been brought up on slippery surfaces and I'm sure he was playing around on them for a long time.

"It's natural he will be good like the other Finnish drivers."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5glVCUsudJDKBjKCxUFtfWWob80fQ

Raikkonen aims for better second day

2010-01-29T15:05:00.000+02:00

Kimi Raikkonen has made it to the end of the opening day of the Arctic Rally in Finland, but the former Ferrari star has set his sights firmly on improving his pace tomorrow.

The Red Bull Citroen Junior Team driver suffered a fraught morning on the Rovaniemi-based event after crashing on the second stage, where he dropped more than half an hour in a ditch.

Citroen fixed his C4 WRC at the ensuing service allowing the 2007 Formula 1 champion a clear run through the afternoon's three stages. Due to his morning shunt, his overall position in the Finnish Rally Championship event has not yet been clarified.

Raikkonen's co-driver Kaj Lindstrom said: "The afternoon has been good. Kimi is back on top of the car after the problem this morning. We've been just under a second per kilometre slower than Dani [Sordo], who's leading the event. The focus for me tomorrow will be to get that gap down to half a second per kilometre."

Raikkonen, who was second quickest to Sordo on all three of this afternoon's stages, made adjustments to the C4 WRC at service ahead of the final stage in northern Finland this evening. He adjusted the suspension on the car to assist turn-in to corners, while also working to help with traction at the back of the car.

Sordo remains clear at the head of the field.

"It's been good," he said. "I'm driving the car at about the same sort of pace I would drive during a test. Sometimes, when the road is nicer and I have some more confidence, I am pushing a little bit more. It's good, though, I'm enjoying it."

There are six further stages tomorrow, with three of those repeated. Sordo felt the repeated stages would help more for the forthcoming Swedish Rally.

"With 180 cars having gone through, the road will have more gravel in it," he said. "I think this can be a bit more like a test for Sweden, which will be useful."

Elsewhere in the field, Markko Martin's protege Ott Tanak continues to turn heads in Rovaniemi. He holds a strong second in class behind Sordo, following an exceptional run in his Group N Subaru Impreza.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81133

Raikkonen finishes Arctic shakedown

2010-01-28T23:11:00.001+02:00

Kimi Raikkonen insists he has no particular target in mind for his first competitive outing at the wheel of the Citroen C4 WRC on this weekend's Arctic Rally, after completing the shakedown yesterday.

The 2007 Formula 1 world champion is using the first round of the Finnish championship as a warm-up for his inaugural World Rally Championship campaign with the Citroen Junior Team, which gets underway in Sweden in a fortnight's time.

Joining him on the event is Citroen's factory driver Dani Sordo, who will provide a useful benchmark a near-identical car.

"I don't have any special target," said Raikkonen at the pre-rally press conference in Rovaniemi. "This is just for learning. We will just drive and see how we are. There are many things to find out."

According to his co-driver Kaj Lindstrom, Raikkonen's biggest challenge will be learning to use pace notes: "You need the confidence to trust and commit to the notes," he said. "This is where we will improve most. But I have no doubt that Kimi has the speed."

Raikkonen completed yesterday's shakedown stage without any problems, taking just two runs through what will be his final preparation before his inaugural rally in the Citroen.

Raikkonen and Sordo will face little opposition on the event, as the overwhelming majority of entrants are driving Group N machinery. The opening stage of the rally gets underway at 12:23 (local time) today. The first car is due to enter parc ferme after leg one at 21:12 tonight.

The conditions for the event are perfect, with temperatures hovering around -20C and snow still falling.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81112

Q & A: Loeb on Raikkonen

2010-01-27T21:18:00.002+02:00

Six-time title-winner Sebastien Loeb has a Formula 1 champion for company in the World Rally Championship this year with the addition of Kimi Raikkonen to Citroen's line-up.

As the Finn prepared for his first rally in a WRC car in this week's Arctic event, AUTOSPORT heard Loeb's thoughts on his new stablemate's chances in 2010 and beyond.

Q. Have you met Kimi yet?

Sebastien Loeb: No, I haven't met him really. I don't know him at the moment. I will be delighted to meet him, he looks like a cool man and I'm sure we will get on well.

Q. What about these stories that, if all goes well for him this year, he could be your team-mate next season?

SL: That's something I don't have to decide on. Olivier [Quesnel, Citroen team boss] will take the best drivers for the car next year. And if he is good this year, then why not?

I am happy he is here in the sport. I think he can be good for the rally. It's great to have his name with us, there's a really good story for you and the media. It's something exciting for us.

Q. What will he be good at this year?

SL: Driving fast! He is a natural driver. Look at what he achieved in Formula 1. For sure, he will be able to drive fast on the road he knows.

Q. What will he struggle with this year?

SL: I don't know for sure, but probably the most difficult thing for him will be to drive fast when he doesn't know the road and he has only seen the road while driving slowly two times before. Making precise notes is really important for him this year.

Q. And what do you think of the WRC in general before the start of this season?

SL: I feel that, today, it's only two manufacturers and that's not so good. Okay, for me, the two manufacturers we have in the sport are the best two and they are both very competitive - which makes for a nice battle at a very high level.

The cars are very good, and the drivers are not so bad, the level of competition is very tough. I think the thing we could do better is to get some more manufacturers.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81086

Je n’avais jamais piloté une F1 à -25°C !

2010-01-26T20:45:00.002+02:00

Présent en Finlande pour préparer sa saison 2010, Kimi Räikkönen a participé à ses premiers essais au volant de la C4 WRC du Citroën Junior Team.
Vous commencez votre première saison en rallye. Découvrez-vous des aspects différents en WRC par rapport à une F1 ?
« Ce sont des disciplines totalement différentes. Ici, il fait -25°C durant les essais. Je n’avais jamais piloté une F1 à -25°C ! Lors des séances d’essais F1, on boucle le même tour tout le temps. En rallye, même si nous restons sur la même portion de route, les conditions changent à chaque passage. Il y a plus ou moins de neige. »

Qu’aimes-tu dans le rallye ?
« J’aime tout ! C’est un nouveau défi pour moi. C’est le plus grand défi de ma carrière de pilote. C’est très excitant… »

Qu’attendez-vous de vos premières épreuves ?
« Je débute en rallye. Nous verrons où nous nous situerons face à des pilotes qui ont plusieurs années d’expérience dans la discipline. Dans un premier temps, l’objectif sera de terminer. Il faudra apprendre la voiture avant de pouvoir attaquer un peu plus. »

Sur quelle surface pensez-vous être le plus à l’aise ?
« J’ai roulé sur toutes les surfaces la saison dernière. C’est peut-être sur la neige que j’ai le plus roulé en essais et en course. J’ai donc davantage d’expérience sur ce terrain. Mais j’imagine que j’aurai de bons repères sur asphalte. C’est la surface qui m’est la plus familière. »

Pour un débutant en rallye, le système de notes réclame un travail important. Est-ce quelque chose sur lequel vous avez déjà progressé ?
« Nous allons utiliser le même système que l’an passé. Il fonctionnait très bien. L’expérience aidant, nous allons continuer à l’améliorer et nous verrons son fonctionnement durant les premières épreuves. »

Quelles sont vos ambitions au départ de l’Arctic Rally ?
« C’était mon premier rallye la saison dernière. Cette participation est un bon entraînement. Je vais pouvoir faire des kilomètres avec la voiture avant la première épreuve du Championnat du Monde. C’est aussi un sympa de rouler en Finlande. »

Le Champion du Monde de F1 2007 sera au départ de l’Arctic Rally qui se déroulera vendredi et samedi à Rovaniemi. Outre Räikkönen, Dani Sordo (Citroën C4 WRC), Mika Salo (Ford Fiesta R2), Rami Räikkönen (Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000) sont engagés.

http://www.autohebdo.fr/rallye/wrc/article-26-1-2967/260110-raikkonen-je-n-avais-jamais-pilote-une-f1-a-25%C2%B0c-