The above is true, they only care about the WCC, not the WDC. It would be best for their team goals, as far as personal goals for the drivers, until they get a car that can rival the "cans" car, there likely won't be a WDC for anyone in a red car. IMHO next year is the year to take advantage of the lack of experience of Ricardo, but Mercedes may have the best driver team to take advantage of that, and it appears they may have the power plant as well.
Sorry, my misunderstanding, I thought you guys meant status 2 with driver number 2. However I don't see any logical reason for Kimi to go to Ferrari - even if negotiations would had taken place - I was hoping and hoping and hoping for him to go to Red Bull and it was a cold shower to hear that negotiations ended a long time ago.... then again who knows what is going on behind the scenes, lol. Pekka Franck shocked everybody, it's not common for a reporter to state things like that as a matter of fact. Did he only want to put an extra spin on it all? Who knows? It's very bold to claim something to be true, just because a source has told him. Maybe he has deliberately wanted to rock the boat Steve Robertson was interviewed in Spa by a Finnish tv-reporter. Comedy gold to see him cringe and smile and look the other way all the time. He said something though: I am never going to tell you what goes on behind scenes, not now and not afterwards. This is how it has always been in F1 and this is how it will always be! Steve replied to the question if he is blatantly lying. So as much fun it has been so far, now it has become exhausting already and I only hope for official announcements for all drivers so that the silly season can be put in rest!
Mika Häkkinen has now weighed in on the subject and he doesn't believe that Kimi goes to Ferrari either. He also said that it's an exceptional an interesting silly season with drivers from almost all top teams being on the move.
And, more as an aside, Martin Whitmarsh has said that he does not see any reason why Jenson Button or Sergio Perez would not stay at McLaren, and that he hopes to keep the two... So, apart from Red Bull's n°2 seat, I guess everyone will stay put (with the question mark over Massa...) Good to read some news from Mika! The last gentleman driver. Rgds
Imagine the following scenario: Pekka Franck has a new website SuomiF1 he needs to promote. He's the kind of guy who has no problem creating a bit of trouble doing so. Kimi's management knows the above. They tell him (remember Franck claimed having insider knowledge) that Kimi has a contract with Ferrari etc etc. Their target is not the public, who mostly does not follow an obscure Finnish F1 website, but Lotus. It's very possible that Kimi has no where to go but to stay with them, and Lotus knows that, but a grain of doubt like Franck's insistence on a Ferrari contract may be enough for Kimi's team to get an advantage in the negotations. And Franck will be caught with his pants down at the end. Plausible?
It could well be just like you said! If that's the case then Franck has no problems with getting his personal image and repuation put in question. He might be retiring soon anyway and maybe just wanting to retire with a bang
In the scenario outlined above, Franck would not realize that he is being fed wrong information - I doubt that he is part of the "conspiracy", if there is one.
Well, I find it hard to believe: if he is a professional Formula One journalist, he knows fully well that there is such a risk; anyone on this forum knows that during the "silly season" drivers, managers, etc, are all trying to leverage any information they might give towards an advantage... Rgds
And McLaren using this to negotiate Button's contract: McLaren: Kimi Raikkonen "determined" to leave Lotus for F1 2014 - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com
It's true, but remember Button won when there was barely any cash left in the team. The rest of the team simply just caught up in the development stages. Brawn didn't have much cash left.
Why does everyone makes it sound like as if Fred owns Santander? He might want to take Santander, but the question is, will Santander actually go? Which is more glamorous and provides more visibility? Ferrari or Lotus?
Kimi back at mclaren would be awesome. Id love to see him back with ferrari but wont be as good of a match i fear
My memory is that SF treated KR like crap when he was their driver and the KR was a loose canon and not a team player. Would he really go back and eat crap for any amount of money? And then there is Fred who only will tolerate you if you are the designated lackey IMVHO. My guess is KR does not like SF and they do not like him either. I would love to see Kimi back at SF however I think the odds are nil. Sorry.
Here is a wide range of opinions, Mr. Kulta usually asks some question from certain reporters in the media center and they are always an interesting read - no matter what the question is. However it's this time Kimi & Fernando so it could be put here:
There is nothing out of hand. He isnt going anywhere. Fernando isnt either. Kimi's options are limited to put it mildly. He has ZERO. Red Bull closed the door and LdM doesnt want him back. He stays at Lotus or moves out of F1.
I would have put it more mildly, or more diplomatically, but basically this is what I think, so "+1".
This is stupid. For the first when Kimi was at Ferrari he became world champion in his first year with them. Have Alonso done that? The reason Kimi was paid off was because a Spanish friendly sponsor of Ferrari(big money)wanted a Spanish driver they twisted Ferraris foot and the result is that Kimi left. I am a big Formula 1 fan and i have been watching the races since the late 80`s and everybody that knows something about Formula 1 knows that there have never been a more natural talented driver in Formula 1 than Kimi Raikkonen! I really enjoy Ferrari cars but i really do not like the Ferrari Formula 1 team and their clear number 1 and number 2 drivers(that started when Schumacher arrived) Really fun when Rubens brakes right before the finish line to let Schumacher win. It is just the same in the Ferrari Formula 1 team now. People think Massa does not perform but you have to remember that the Formula 1 car is built to suit Alonso. As i said i really enjoy Ferrari road cars but not Ferraris Formula 1 politics If Kimi is offered to drive for Ferrari i really hopes he turns down the offer. It would be great to see Kimi in a Red Bull winning races, but the thing that is most important to Kimi is that he must enjoy himself in the team And when Kimi is happy with the team he delivers really good results
Gentlemen, The french magazine "Auto-Hebdo", rather serious, existing since 1976, has an interview of Stefano Domenicali today on his internet website, in which Stefano says: "my first choice for 2014 is to grant Felipe Massa another year"... Game over?
As posted by Saward: Kimi doesnt move, FA doesnt move and aids in keeping Felipe. No shock at all. LdM doesnt want Kimi. Evidently Hulk doesnt matter either. Silly season!
But it would have been nice to see Hulkenberg in a competitive car in a competitive team Somehow Hulkenberg have not gotten the chance to show his true potential
