http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/23082010/23/f1-return-unlikely-raikkonen.html
He's just basically cemented what most people had suspected anyway. Shame though would have been great to see him and Vettel at RB.
I can fully understand Kimi on that. He has already achived his goal and won a WDC. Compared to F1, rallying can bring a lot more enjoyements. There are no limitation on testing, and one can practise as much as possible to develop the car and tine tune the skills. There is more variety of events in different environments compared to a collection of F1 Tilke 'sanitised' tracks that increasingly look alike. The cars feel really quick on ordinary roads, as opposed to F1 on 'safe' F1 circuits. The element of risk is more of a challenge; missing a corner in F1 often means an excursion in the run-off zone - in rallying, it's a crash! The events are longer, giving more driving time. GPs are mostly decided by grid positions and there is very little chance to climb up the ladder during a race. Rallies are a succession of sprints, that reshuffle the field at the beginning of every timed stage. F1 is plagued by the problem of overtaking that is increasingly difficult. In rallying, drivers compete against the clock, not against each other. There are no 'tricks', no blocking tactics, etc... Less chance for animosity to grow between drivers.
On my end, the feeling is mutual. Sad, a notable talent but no "fire in the belly". The anthisis of a Frolain Gonzales.
I don't think Kimi likes all the uptight BS that goes on in F1. Even if you are a "fire in the belly" sort, the sport has the ability to extinguish that with all the politics and political hogwash we see year in and year out. His F1 career was pretty meteoric, and he made a mountain of money in his 9 years. Here's a story I hadn't heard:
I love that story of his. Kimi has said for a long time that he enjoys F1, but hates the politics surrounding it all. He just wants to get in the car, race, win, and go home, where he can do some snowboarding, powerboat racing or snowmobile racing... I believe he just raced in the wrong era. Up until the mid 90s would have been perfect for him. Let him enjoy himself in rally, powersliding a car inches away from some ditch and large trees can be pretty exciting I would assume, and trying to improve every race would be a good goal for now. He's got enough money to last looking at his lifestyle (The annual interest should be enough for him to continue powerboat racing and buying a car every now and then)...
I actually do miss Kimi. He's an exceptional driver and I like his character. Probably his lack of motivation was a direct reponse to the BS environment prevailing in F1. Both Montoya and Kimi seem happier out of F1 and they are/were far better drivers than most of who we currently have in the F1 grid. I can see how both of them are happier out of the F1 limelight.
I love F1 and the WRC, however I hate the 2011 rule changes for the WRC, no longer can you go to a showroom and buy a rally car... Hopefully 2011 rule changes for F1 will turn out well? Does a governing body of anything ever do a good job? Congrats Kimi, now please, please, dethrone the unimpeachable Loeb
+1 on that one. It's a good job he's now a WRC driver and not a co-driver, could you imagine him reading out pace notes: Kimi: "Mmmm mutter mutter mmmm left mmmm 6" Driver: "What?" Kimi: Right over mutter mutter 3 crest mmmm Driver: "WHAT!?" Kimi: Hairpin mutter mutter mmmm caution mutter into 3 mmmmm Driver: "WHAT!!??, Aaaarrrrggghhhh!!!!". Driver: "Control, We're off track upside down, please send rescue!!!". Kimi: "Mutter mutter mmmm mmmm not good!" Driver: "WHAT?!!!"
This story is obviously not true. Why? Well, someone on here claimed to know first hand "for sure" that Kimi would be at RBR next year. Interestingly, that guy hasn't been posting too much lately. I suppose the BS started to get thick when RBR re-signed Webber and already had Vettel on contract for next year. It probably got impossibly thick with this article. All that comes to mind is LOLOL!!!!!!! BTW, I agree with the above - won't miss Kimi one bit. He is a one-shot wonder. His WDC is probably the luckiest WDC any driver ever won. Not only because he didn't particularly deserve it, but because it was only won due to McLaren refusing to give team orders, and Ferrari giving illegal team orders. Not that Kimi doesn't deserve the WDC - he won it, but he was damn lucky to win it. It was hardly a convincing display of drive and talent that got him the WDC.
