Odd that this only happens in Canada. This was the second year in a row.
Kimi Raikkonen has just three races to impress at Ferrari as their option to extend the Finn's contract runs out on 31 July. (Foxsports)
IMO Vettel is the ''complete'' package for Ferrari, and can easily see him stick around until he's finished with F1 (not ruling out a 2nd comeback, which is always possible). Vettel in many ways is ''our'' Schumacher. Hard working, intelligent enough not to throw the team under the bus when things go wrong, humble, great driver, a true love for Ferrari as well and enjoy private lives. Neither are perfect, but pretty damn close! On top of it he's got very good humor! I easily see him stay for the next 5-8 years. I'm sure he has Veto power in the team about which driver will join next after Kimi, which is fine by me, and necessary. Vettel (especially together with Kimi) brings harmony inside the team, and together with winning and lots of podiums, anyone would be a fool to suddenly bring in a toxic driver. Keep the harmony, focus on a good car and lots of joy will be had this era. Whether Kimi stays for another season, which I obviously hope, remains to be seen. Bottas would be a fantastic replacement. Quiet, humble, well liked. I see no driver more perfect to join when Kimi leaves.
I like Bottas, he's competent, but somehow not feeling that click....he is good but not as good as Seb i guess.....my favourire replacement if Kimi leaves would be Ricci, nice guy, very fast, almost mistakes free, he was to me by far the best driver in 2014....but i'm not sure how he would work with Seb, and team harmony van be more important than having a sligtly faster driver. What bothers me a liotle about Bottas is that He doesn't seem to be faster than Felipe (this would be just fine before 2009) but not now, when we all know Massa lost something after his accident.
Ferrari works best with a 1-2, Ricci I believe wouldn't be happy playing shot gun, besides the fact IMO he showing very good promise as of F1's future top drivers.
+1 - Managing the Ferrari driver situation will take a gentle hand at inclusion to remain harmonius in the team. Not an easy task at all!
+1 Too many people keep on saying that Ferrari need someone ''as good as vettel/hamilton/alonso'' to compliment Vettel...but there is no point. 2 top dogs in a team never works. It'll end in tears. I don't think Kimi quite has ''it'' anymore, what we saw of him in the Mclaren days or pre-new tires at Lotus. He finishes close behind Vettel which is what Ferrari needs...not to have a constant intra team battle for who gets 3rd because at some point, the drivers will crash into each other and the relationship is gone. We saw that with Senna/Prost, RSchumacher/Montoya, Vettel/Webber and Hamilton/Rosberg. So I don't see a point to immediately replace him what some people here want. He still has great speed and spacial awareness that few drivers have. +1
I'm not so sure about that, if they have a good car i see no problem in having 2 top drivers, look at Berger and Alesi, they always got along pretty well, same with Gilles and Jody, even if Jody was nº1, on the track Gilles showed him another thing, and there was never a problem between them...i guess it all depends on drivers personalities.....Berger and Alboreto, no problems either....If not Ricci, than Hulkenberg would be my choice, only then Bottas
Agreed vettel as the number one with kimi support driving right behind is perfect. Ferrari just need to find that little extra to go head to head with merc
Good news for those *****ing about kimis salary (how does directly affects you I don't understand), kimi likely to stay on if he accepts a reduced salary.
I reckon he'll get an offer between 8-14 million. So yes...more than other series. Interestingly I saw an interview he had with his friend Toni Vilander who asked if he was going to hold up to his end of the deal, to race Le Mans together. Kimi said he wants to, but wants something fast and ''not a passenger car''. Id love to see him do Le Mans...!
Yes to Le Mans! The radio chatter would be awesome. "mumble mumble - there are slow cars everywhere! blue flags! mumble mumble" ; ) I love Kimi, I hope he stays. You have to think that is running through all the driver's minds with Webber making the switch to sports cars and now Hulk in the winning Porsche.
Oh this is great. Apparently the pay cut is BS. Kimi: "You write stuff that is not true... Maybe you should start writing some stuff that makes sense." Sounds like something I would say ; ) Kimi Raikkonen responds to 'bulls***' contract rumours
OMG...you're an automotive photographer. That explains everything. What was the name of that other one that went a bit crazy again?? Why are they so up themselves?
Just for the record, I have this clown on ignore. But since you are now apparently conspiring to find out my real identity, I will just state this very clearly as I just did to you via PM. I am not Matthew Little. Matthew Little is an up and coming local photographer who has shot 2 of my cars (Scud and M3) and various others. He's a good dude and a family man and only a coward would involve him, or any personal information about anyone over an online debate. He has an impeccable reputation and does not post here to my knowledge. His links were in my profile to gain him exposure. I've taken them down thanks to weirdos like you. Any of the moderators can confirm that I am not him as I am rossa subscribed and they should be able to see that my payment information matches my information which I gave them. I'm actually semi-retired right now and pursuing racing in addition to being a father and a husband. Weirdo.
lol....conspiring?? You're hilarious. I don't care who you are...no one does....and I'm sure no one is going to go to the trouble of checking with the Mods! lol
That's good to hear. I won't be replying to any more of your posts, so I would assume this issue is closed.
Not a happy camper to say the least. GPGuide | News - Kimi loses cool amid pay-cut reports Ricci, Bottas, Hulk in the running as the replacement.
David Coulthard: Ferrari F1 team should look beyond Kimi Raikkonen By Mitchell Adam Monday, June 29th 2015, 09:59 GMT David Coulthard: Ferrari F1 team should look beyond Kimi Raikkonen - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com Kimi Raikkonen's former team-mate David Coulthard says it is time Ferrari considered replacing the Finn as he has reached a plateau Coulthard recognises from his own Formula 1 career. The 2007 world champion's Ferrari contract concludes at the end of the current F1 season and team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said earlier this month that it was "too early" to make a decision on 2016. Raikkonen endured particularly torrid weekends in Austria and Canada, and has scored just a single podium since rejoining Ferrari last season. Citing experience from the twilight of his own career, Coulthard feels Ferrari would benefit from fresh blood alongside Sebastian Vettel. "I think it's time for change," said Coulthard, who was Raikkonen's team-mate at McLaren from 2002-04 (pictured below). "I'm not anti-Kimi at all, but having lived through that experience myself, there's a point in your career where you just stop getting better. "It happened to me in my career; I was never the best driver, but there was certainly a point at the end where you just lose the edge. "Right now, if Kimi goes and wins the next race, we'll all be super-excited, because we need that. But Vettel's come in and immediately established himself. "When he was there with [Fernando] Alonso, Alonso was better. Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard in 2002 "The facts are that whether it's bad luck or something else, he hasn't delivered in the last couple of years at the level he did in his previous career." Coulthard nominated Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and Williams driver Valtteri Bottas as the best candidates should Ferrari elect to replace his former team-mate, noting Hulkenberg's recent Le Mans 24 Hours victory with Porsche. "The question is, is Kimi better value for money for Ferrari than say a Hulkenberg or a Bottas? One of these younger guys who are on the rise," he said. "If I was Ferrari, I would seriously look at who could be the replacement for Kimi. Marketing-wise, it's one aspect of what he brings, but in the end the best marketing is a winner. "Bottas has a contract at Williams, but of course everything has a price, and Ferrari can afford to pay that option. "I think Hulkenberg deserves a chance in a top car. He's won everything in his career and, OK, he didn't single-handedly win Le Mans, but it's a nice story to remind us that he's a winning driver. "I've got to believe he's worth a chance."
What is he pissed about? Alonso destroyed him and Seb is beating him pretty badly. Not sure why he believes he commands a top tier salary anymore
