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Kimi 'would have to prove motivation'

Discussion in 'F1' started by AlexO91, Oct 5, 2010.

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  1. AlexO91

    AlexO91 F1 Rookie

    Sep 26, 2008
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    #1 AlexO91, Oct 5, 2010
    Renault team boss Eric Boullier says Kimi Raikkonen would have to convince him he was ready to fully commit to Formula 1 again if the squad turned to the Finn to replace Vitaly Petrov.

    The Anglo-French outfit is currently assessing its options over the second seat at the team for 2011, with rookie driver Petrov yet to have done enough to cement his future at the team for a second season.

    Boullier revealed last month that 2007 champion Raikkonen, who made a high-profile switch to the World Rally Championship at the start of this year after being released by Ferrari, had sounded it out over its second seat.

    Speaking to the official F1 website, Boullier, when asked if the Finn was still in the frame for next season, stressed that it would only start seriously considering alternatives to Petrov if and when it decided against retaining the Russian.

    The Frenchman says he would then seek to meet Raikkonen face-to-face to see if the 30-year-old really was hungry to get back into F1.

    “He contacted us,” he told F1’s official website.

    “But once again, our main issue at the moment is whether we should keep Petrov.
    “Only if this question is negated we will look for replacement. Regarding Kimi, I would have to speak personally with him first, look him in the eyes to see if I see enough motivation there for him to return to Formula 1.

    “It doesn’t make sense to hire somebody - even a former world champion - if you cannot be sure that his motivation is still one hundred percent. Why should you invest in somebody who leaves you guessing?”

    Raikkonen is one of several established names to have been linked to Petrov’s seat, with Lotus’s Heikki Kovalainen and German duo Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil also said to be in the frame.

    Asked about the rumours regarding the latter pair in particular, Boullier hinted they were aware they could be put on its shortlist.

    “Now I have to choose my words very carefully,” he said.

    “Let’s put it this way: we don’t have a direct contact right now and the door is not open yet, but we have signaled that it could open under certain circumstances.”

    Petrov himself acknowledged on Monday that he had to perform strongly in the season’s final four races to show the team he deserved a second campaign, the 26-year-old having scored just 19 points so far.

    Boullier confirmed Petrov’s season has now reached its crunch phase.

    “Vitaly has to show us in the four remaining races that he is the man we can hand over our second cockpit to in 2011 to follow our self-defined goal,” he said.

    “If he fails to convince us he will not drive our car.

    “If he satisfies us we will keep him. But we don’t put pressure on ourselves when it comes to our full driver line-up for 2011. Only one hint: we definitely will not wait until January.”

    http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=49378
     
  2. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 SRT Mike, Oct 5, 2010
    I'd love to see Sutil in the 2nd car... he is a fast driver whose never had the chance in a fast car. Heidfeld isn't bad, but he has teamed up with Kubica before and Kubica beat him like a redheaded stepchild.

    As for Kimi - what a dope the guy is. He turned his nose up at a drive with McLaren who wanted him to take a reduced pay based on his performance at Ferrari AND the fact that Ferrari were still paying him a lot of money to leave... this was beneath Kimi. And so he left F1 after being fired by Ferrari for sucking.

    He spent a lot of time assuring us he doesn't care about F1, saying he doesn't even know the standings and whose winning. He refused to go to the Bahrain event as a past WDC winner (only him and Piquet were so ******-ish in their actions).

    And after spending a year telling us how much he doesn't care about F1, we find that he's been making moves in the background and asking Renault to please give him a ride.

    LOL!

    And their response is "you gotta show us you want it, Kimi!"

    double LOL!!!!!

    What a chump.
     
  3. LightGuy

    LightGuy Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 LightGuy, Oct 5, 2010
    ^
    I nominate this as the understatement of the year.
    However;

    “It doesn’t make sense to hire somebody - even a former world champion - if you cannot be sure that his motivation is still one hundred percent. Why should you invest in somebody who leaves you guessing?”

    This.
    Coming from Renault.
     
  4. TifosiUSA

    TifosiUSA F1 Veteran

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    #4 TifosiUSA, Oct 6, 2010
    Possibly post of the year.
     
  5. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #5 SRT Mike, Oct 6, 2010
    hyeeeeup.

    The priceless irony is that a year ago Kimi was telling us he didn't need anyone, he refused to be questioned, anyone who thought he was unmotivated could shove it, anyone who wanted to pay him less can shove it, etc, etc.

    The fanbois assured us he was a hot commodity, was perfectly happy in WRC, didn't care about F1, and any contrary opinions were surely rooted in jealousy.

    Now we hear Kimi is groveling at Renaults door asking about getting a ride (so much for only coming back with a team who can win WDC's, eh Kimi?)

    Renault are now telling him he better prove he's still hungry (so much for dismissing those who question your motivation, eh Kimi?)

    We shall see on the salary. I will take any bet anyone wants to make that he will make a LOT less than

    a) What he made at Ferrari
    b) What he made for taking a year off
    c) What he would have made had he accepted McLarens offer

    So he's copping out on his salary demands.

    Truth is - he thought he was cock of the walk... turns out he was just a cock.

    And now he's knocking on 2nd tier teams doors begging for a ride. And they are telling him they MIGHT be interested, but he has to convince them why they shouldn't take Sutil or Heidfeld instead.

    Oh my! LMFAO!
     
  6. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 Bas, Oct 6, 2010
    I've got fairly reliable information that Kimi isn't to bothered about joining anyone in F1 anymore...

    (friend of mine who does the local coverage here has a few friends in various teams - including Renault -)
     
  7. Papa G

    Papa G Formula 3

    Dec 29, 2003
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    #7 Papa G, Oct 6, 2010

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