Kimi to take sabbatical in 2010 | FerrariChat

Kimi to take sabbatical in 2010

Discussion in 'F1' started by GoFerrari28, Nov 17, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. GoFerrari28

    GoFerrari28 Formula 3

    Jun 16, 2004
    2,313
    Ridgemont, CA
    Full Name:
    Jeff Spicoli
  2. SROC4

    SROC4 Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2005
    1,893
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Alex
    This blows! I doubt Kimi will ever come back to F1 especially if he joins the WRC next year...What a waste...
     
  3. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    +1

    And the winner is: Heidfeld, who has now a very good chance to get Jenson's spot at Merc.
     
  4. lmunz22

    lmunz22 Formula 3

    Jan 16, 2007
    1,224
    He valued himself far too high for the current state of the economy and Formula 1 in general. When you price yourself out of reach of every team, what do you expect to happen?
     
  5. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 6, 2004
    16,445
    ON
    Full Name:
    CH
    Guess he wasn't a fan of Norbert after all. Nice paid leave...
    CH
     
  6. SROC4

    SROC4 Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2005
    1,893
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Alex
    I think the flexibility was also the reason. He wanted to do rallies and less sponsor commitments...

    Oh well... it's a loss to F1 I think...
     
  7. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    48,581
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Any F1 champ who retires is a huge loss to F1.

    But I respect the man and his decision: He is at a point in his life where he no longer needs to play the clown for anybody and can pick what suits his style and interest.

    My feeling is, that he'll fail at rallying (kinda like Mika did) and then quietly retires.
     
  8. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    14,500
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    I for one will not miss him. I think he has always been highly over rated, yes he won the WDC, but it was more that McLaren and Hamiton lost it than Riakkonnen won it!

    However from his lifestyle, Rally would be more his speed. I wish him well.
     
  9. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
    23,343
    Taxachusetts
    Full Name:
    Raymond Luxury Yacht
    I like Kimi a lot, and I hate to say this, but... good riddance.

    I am very dejected with Kimi as of late. He sucked at Ferrari a large % of the time, and he simply is out of touch with his current market value.

    If he really did have the fire still, he would have taken one of the teams up on their offer. But he wants to get paid a lot of money to show up and drive the car, do little or no R&D work, and little or no sponsor days.

    What message does that give to the team - that he doesn't want to put the time in to win? What message does it give to sponsors that he doesn't want to give them any time, after they are dropping millions into the team?

    He is done in F1. There are too many guys who are good - and lots of young up-and-comers. Honestly, he should never have left McLaren.
     
  10. sindo308qv

    sindo308qv F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    3,575
    miami.fl.
    Full Name:
    sindo
    +1 , sad to see someone in any field, who has an exceptional
    talent, just pack up and quit like that. We were all spoiled
    with Schumachers drive,determination and joy for the sport.
     
  11. Earthboundmisfit

    Earthboundmisfit Formula Junior

    Aug 7, 2009
    886
    Ontario
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Agree, ultimately, there'll be a buzz about some drivers next year, maybe Vettel, maybe Kubica, maybe Hulk but there will be no buzz about Kimi. He will be even less desirable to teams than he is now.
     
  12. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2008
    41,690
    Sarasota
    Full Name:
    David
    A year in a Red Bull sponsored Citroen and then back in a Red Bull F1?
     
  13. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,447


    What? Raikkonen in the Citroen WRC team already?

    I can't see that. He is unknown quantity on stages.

    In a private team maybe, but not in the 'works' team.

    F1 and rallies are completely different ball games.
     
  14. Qvb

    Qvb F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 9, 2003
    2,827
    Newport Beach Ca.
    Full Name:
    John Dixon
    He has proven to be fast and brings huge publicity and can secure sponsorship.
     
  15. VIZSLA

    VIZSLA Four Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2008
    41,690
    Sarasota
    Full Name:
    David
    Today's reports are that they offered him twice what they pay Loeb.
     
  16. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 3, 2006
    25,447

    But a works WRC team like Citroen already has sponsorship and is looking for results more than publicity!!

    That team is so successful right now, that sponsors are queuing up!!

    Loeb has just won their 6th WRC title!!
     
  17. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
    7,299
    NJ
    Full Name:
    RMani
    such a shame. still the best driver IMO he shall be missed. I hope ferrari fall flat on their face next year
     
  18. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    37,984
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    Button at McLaren? I do not think so. Too slow.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  19. canadiantifosi

    canadiantifosi Formula Junior

    Jul 2, 2008
    919
    uh...guess...
    Full Name:
    Canadian Tifosi Sr.
    Sad to see Kimi out of F1. He seemed to be the only driver from the current line-up that wasn't cookie-cutter, corporate crap. I know this works against a driver but when he was on his game, he showed his finely-tuned driving skills and this was where he earned his keep. Too bad Ferrari had Clydesdales this year

    Can't put my finger on the exact reason but Kimi's driving style reminded me of Gilles Villeneuve. Hope he gets another seat in F1 in the future because with all of the turmoil in F1 the sports more than ever needs racers like KR to draw in the fans.

    Cheers-Colin Firth -Ontario Canada
     
  20. technom3

    technom3 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 29, 2007
    14,724
    Phoenix AZ
    Full Name:
    Justin
    I disagree but we are all aloud our opinions.

    I think Kimi pushed and pushed and pushed, he deserved that title.
     
  21. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,163
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Anthony T
    +1 he should never have left McLaren.
     
  22. TurboFreak650

    TurboFreak650 Formula 3

    Jul 10, 2004
    2,363
    Atlanta, GA
    Kimi was certainly capable of being the fastest driver in a single race lap, but couldn't be bothered to give his everything all season. Michael always gave all, even when he was a lap down. Very disappointed that Kimi doesn't seem to care at all about the sport and absolutely not about Ferrari. He's still going to receive his Ferrari payout, so why be bothered with competing? He can just goof off, maybe do some rallying here and there. He had potential to place himself very high in the history of F1 champions, but I think he's looked quite bad in what is almost certainly his last year in F1.

    Oh and I hope Ferrari is reawakened and blows McLaren into the weeds in 2010. If they can do that, they can probably beat everyone else also. Massa will do his best to make sure Alonso doesn't have all the glory. Should be interesting!
     
  23. Darkhorse575

    Darkhorse575 Formula Junior

    Mar 20, 2005
    634
    Pasadena, CA
    Full Name:
    DJ
    Given how they turned things around with the MP4 22 & 23, he left at just the wrong time.
     
  24. Cornbread

    Cornbread Formula Junior

    Mar 21, 2009
    590
    Bham/Maple Valley WA
    Bring on the Gorrila suit and Booze.
     
  25. Rodan

    Rodan Rookie

    Nov 8, 2003
    29
    Ultimately, it was his own decision and contract demands. A shame for the sport, really. It would have been great to have 4 WDCs in contention in 2010. I still think he would have given Hamilton a good run for his money (no pun intended) at McLaren.
     

Share This Page