Räikkönen: A car would be available elsewhere besides at Ferrari

Apparently the Brits reported too on Kimi's Finnish interview that is the subject of this thread. And Ferrari seems to have read it as well.

In an interview with Finnish Iltalehti, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni appeared (or at least least pretended to be) surprised. Here are his direct responses translated (a bunch of extraneous BS in the article is omitted).

- I read that story myself. I don't know where it came from because Kimi has not given an interview to Daily Telegraph and he has not said in a press conference, at least not in English, anything what the story contained. I don't know what he has said in Finnish because I don't understand the language.

To the possibility of Kimi driving for some other team:

- He has a seat at Ferrari, that is all I can say today.

And to a question about any announcements regarding the team's drivers for 2010:

- We have no deadlines because we already have contracts with two drivers for next season.

http://www.iltalehti.fi/formulat/2009082910159930_fo.shtml


I think this is at the same time amusing, embarrassing and sad. It seems that Kimi/Robertsons and Ferrari are not communicating at all. Everyone appears to be jockeying for a position while Kimi has one year left of his contract. Is this the proper environment to foster maximum the race results? No wonder the results have not met expectations lately.

Where are all the American/British/German (read "effective") business consultants when they are so desperately needed?

 

I think Kimi will definitely leave Ferrari by end of this season.

 

Although I don't want it to happen, it may well be. If massa isn't fit to drive anymore we can get to see Alonso VS Kimi, that will be fantastic IMO. Kimi has always said he doesn't care if his teammate is a rabid dog or schumacher, as long as he can drive competitively he'll keep driving. Alonso on the other hand wants a rabid dog so he looks better and can win the championships easier.

 

Give Kimi a fast reliable car and he'll beat both a rabid dog and Schumacher
...he came within 2 points of doing it on '03.

 

He came within two points of losing it in 2007.

 

Bas, i think it's a massive regret if Kimi leaves and doesn't take the WDC for another 1-2 times. A driver with Kimi's talent should be at least a triple WDC. Such a shame. When he moved to Ferrari, with his raw speed and all, I really thought he would whoop everyone's @$$.

Clearly i was mistaken. I definitely feel it's a waste, but at the same time I do hope Fred comes and turn things around for us.

 

His stock went up today with the victory.

 

On the BBC coverage Martin Brundle let out the bag that Kimi has been linked to Williams and Mclaren.

 

Mclaren yes, definitely not Williams. They can't afford him.

 

I'm actually convinced he'll give schumacher a good run for his money. Schumacher makes fewer mistakes though. But Raikkonen has the unbelievable raw pace.

Coulthard said it earlier today.

'when we where at a test day, Kimi would get in the car, do a few installation laps, wait for the car to be set up. Then he'd fall asleep and after a while he woke up again, get in the car, put down the quickest lap, debrief and fall asleep again'.
That's Kimi. As long as his car is reliable no one will touch him. Not Alonso, not Hamilton, even Schumacher...

Over the season I'd expect Schumacher/Raikkonen to be very close to each other because of the occasional mistake of Raikkonen but I recon he could win it in the end.

 

Indeed. Personally i'd love to see Lewis vs Kimi. Admittedly i'd rather see Alonso vs Kimi but unfortunately i don't think that will happen.

 

If there is a LH/KR McLaren next year, then I hope we get a Schumacher/Alonso Ferrari..

 

If it comes down to Kimi vs Scuderia Ferrari, I pick Ferrari!

 

The last few races have been rather good for Kimi.

I've always liked Kimi, even when he was at arch rival McLaren. No BS, he just gets in the car and drives very fast. I'd hate to see him leave Ferrari on a sour note. After all, after many wasted years at McLaren, it was Ferrari that gave him his WDC---first try!! I know it's his Finnish culture to be icey, but I wish he'd show more signs of caring about this season....

 

+1 - WTG Kimi!