Kimi...master of understatement....

and NOT a master of qualifying. Massa is wayyy more reliable in this department. Kimi has a lot of work to do. I have MUCH more faith in Felipe than Kimi at this point.

Kimi concedes his qualifying is a problem
Tuesday 5th August 2008 - PlanetF1.com

Kimi Raikkonen fears his Championship chances could suffer unless he and Ferrari resolve his qualifying quandary.


Raikkonen has so far been outqualified by team-mate Felipe Massa 7-4, and in particular in the last two grands prix in Germany and Hungary has started a lowly sixth on the grid.


The Finn knows the situation has to change if he is to have any hope of overhauling Lewis Hamilton at the top of the Championship standings and retaining his World title.


"We have the speed in the race, but if I can't get qualifying right we are going to end up at every race in the situation I've faced in the last two races," assessed Raikkonen.


"We need to sort it out and get back to the front so we can fight for the wins, otherwise we are just following people, and when you do that you can't use the speed.


"The car seems to be working well. We just need to find a good set- up again, to fix a few problems and then we can be back in the hunt for wins."


Despite his problems and the fact he has not won for seven races, the 28-year-old only trails Hamilton by five points.


Fortune was certainly on his side at the Hungaroring yesterday as his two main title rivals encountered trouble.


Hamilton suffered a puncture that resulted in him finishing fifth, whilst Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa was cruising to victory when his engine blew three laps from the finish.


Appreciating the luck, Raikkonen added: "It's been a bit difficult for me in the last few races, but we are still in the Championship.


"Despite my problems, finishing third yesterday and scoring more points than the guys in front of me in the Championship was not too bad a result. I will take it any way I can get it.


"We will see how we can sort things out for the next race and see if we can be stronger and fight for the victory.


"There are still many races to go, we're there in the Championship, so I'm not too worried about things."

 

IF KR had MS's work ethic, there would be no need for a whinge.

Sulking off to Switzerland ain't going to solve his problems.....and I'm a KR fan.

 

Funny that only yesterday i challenged another poster (Cantsleepnk) to mention a driver who says nothing to Cort attention during the F1 season. He mentioned Kimi and i had to concede the point/win to him
But now its funny how things change All drivers are at it now arnt they, they all have some thing to say and not just LH I wonder how many posters will say, "boy that Kimi should shut his mouth".....but i think not

 

I say Alonso & Button for Ferrari in 2010! It would be fun to watch!

 

Button is having his hands full with old man Rubens, I think Alonso would blow him away. I think even Mark Webber would be closer to Alonso than Jenson.

 

Your going to far now Jim............ flame suit on for a incoming Aussie attack..

I would like to see JB in a good car , he is a great smooth driver just hope he can get to prove himself before it's to late..

 

+1..I would like to see JB in a good car. He would be very good to watch in a superb car. He has always seemed smooth to me as well and a good team driver to boot.

 

What exactly did Raikkonen say in this interview that would bring anyone to suggest that he should keep his mouth shut? How does this compare to Hamilton's comments?

 

You are probably correct about Button. I think he is likely one of the best but has not been able to prove himself before he becomes too "relaxed".

 

I knew that some one would ask that predictable question. Now thats what i ask my self when the same is said about LH And i was having a light moment so get oh ya horse ya miserable git

 

Um..





















































wat?


Are you serious?

 

I am hoping that all the smiley's mean your joking right? What Alonso and Lewis(of late) spew is nothing but pat myself on the back and screw everyone else type of crap that nobody including their own team wants to hear. Kimi and the other drivers dont talk like this and it is so obvious ....at least to those who are listening.

 

Thanks for posting the RESULTS of the Hungarian Grand Prix - I was really looking forward to watching the race later this week, now I have the punch line before the joke - SPOILER

 

Really? You're a KR fan? If you were than you'd know he's been doing as much if not more testing than Massa. Everyone screams about his work ethic but this year he's been up-and-at-em and on the job. He's had a couple of bad races, scratch that... He's had a couple of bad qualifying sessions and has had to make up for it in the races. And he's been racing very well. On the other hand Massa's had some good qualifying session and didn't race very well during the beginning of the season. I will say he was robbed of a brilliant drive this past weekend. But, if you'll notice Kimi's leading the WDC charge for Ferrari. Why? Well, because he's been more consistent in the race. Even if Massa had won this past weekend Kimi would still be in the hunt.

It surprises me to no end how so many are ready to go back to last year and throw Kimi out of the team for a few poor qualifying results. Something he's admitting to and admits he needs to change. I'd bet some of you were also screaming Ferrari were in crisis coming into this weekend. They looked pretty good to me. Look, he showed he could turn it around last season and I'm sure he can do it this season as well.

We're coming to a point in the season on tracks that Ferrari is very strong. Kimi will have his hands full with both Massa and LH but I do think he's up for the job. I think all three of them are and I'd love to see them fight it out down to the last race. At this point I think all three are deserving of their position in the championship.

 

Agreed, However the only chink I see in the Ferrari armour, is they have 2 drivers fighting for the WDC, unlike Mclaren who have 1, and a good 1 at that.

Bit like a situation at Mclaren last year ...

 

Steve, not even close to McLaren of last year. Last year at McLaren, you had two drivers that did not like each other, both acting like jerks, and a team owner/manager that simply stated IS a jerk, and a team caught with their cheating pants down.

The fact that Ferrari has two drivers fighting for the WDC is not a problem, as was shown last year. When it came time, one of of those drivers gave up the win in his home country to let his teammate win the WDC.

I do not remember anything close to that EVER happening at that team that is an embarrassment to the name McLaren.

 

Since joining Ferrari Kimi has been having problems with the Bridgestone rubber. Remember that he favored the Michelin tires and still can't get used to how slippery they are when cold. Ferrari is having a hard time getting Kimi used to the fact that his tires won't work for him during qualifying. That is why he has no problem during the races. Once Bridgestone figures out how to get the temp up in the tires Ferrari and Kimi will be unstoppable. Just wait until next year when the slicks come back. Any comparison between Massa and Kimi is a joke! They simply do not compare at any level. Massa should be the guy filling up Kimi’s car with gas during the pit stops and the sooner he realizes that the better off he will be. I have no doubt that he will be replaced as early as next year by Alonso (which is why he only signed on with Renault for 1 year) now that Jean Todt is gone (his son manages Massa). He knows his role which is why he moved over in Brasil last year!

 

agreed. I think Ferrari should start running Kimi's car a bit lighter for qualifying too just to get him back to the front. Massa always seems to pit earlier meaning they're sending him out with slightly less fuel.

 

It's sad we have a guy that basically is saying he has no chance to win from the 3rd row.

THIRD ROW.

This guy is mental toast - I would not want him on my team.

 

With Massa only 3 points behind Kim, how can you say this ?

They BOTH have had downright awful races this year, but the fact remains, being 3rd in points is NOT 'filling station attendant' material.

 

Agreed not a good analogy when taken to the extreme, just a comparision when 2 drivers are battling for the same thing on the same team, however I must add I'am all for it. We will have to wait and see who start's to edge ahead.

 

Kimi was robbed of a minimum 2nd place finish at Canada (if not an outright win) and he would likely have won in France were it not for his late race problems.

Kimi may have some trouble in qualifying of late but he is still 2nd place in the points and, but for the previous problems, would be leading the WDC. Kimi is still a major threat to win the WDC this year and I firmly believe he will finish ahead of Massa in the points this season.

 

+1!

I for one am not worried about Kimi winning the WDC again. IMO, I think the bigger question is who will end up in second place.

 

Sigh... Third row at most tracks you've got a chance. Third row at the Hungaroring you've got about a snowballs chance in h@ll unless those in front of you have bad luck. With the competition as tight as it is this year getting by a car in front of you is even harder than in years past. When you've got a track that's got only one real passing zone it makes it that much harder.

 

yep.