youre just a big Kimi fan haha which is fine but the dude is past it if Ferrari ever wants another WCC he has to go. yes I care about the WCC as well as the WDC and YES it's very important to Ferrari. They don't put the WDCs on their road cars. you guys only bring up "well what if the supposed #2 beats Vettel" but you never bring up how Kimi basically never takes any points off of Vettel's rivals by finishing ahead of them. The pace just isnt there anymore He has served admirably but it's time for a new face. Brundle nails it: http://www.f1i.com/news/307110-brundle-raikkonen-reached-end-road.html
I hope he stays. But if he goes I hope the seat goes to either Leclerc or Ricciardo. Leclerc the smarter bet as easier control. Kimi has expressed some interest in LMP1 (''not the passenger cars'' he said) and of course more Rally. I'll miss him. Careers come to an end.
I think LeClerc would be better for team harmony. He would be thrilled to be in a Ferrari. Would prob drive for free. Plus you could tell him that he just needs to bide his time for a few years then be promoted to lead driver when Vettel retires like MSC and Massa. He would have more patience
Yes, by default Pironi became team leader after Villeneuve's death. He only raced 6 more GPs before his own accident, and in the first 3 of them, Ferrari only entered one car.
Exactly. He'd jump at the chance. Give him million a year + a decent bonus (and an extra large one when he has to move over). Groom him towards WDC contender in time.
In recent years (say the last twenty), has Ferrari ever promoted a driver from #2 to #1? I think signing on as #2 would be the effective end of LeClerc's WDC hopes.
Massa, for one. #2 in 2006/2007 and became #1 in 2008 when he began to outperform Kimi and Kimi was coming off of a WDC. Ferrari doesn't care.
Yep, Vettel probably has 4-5 good years left. I can't see him racing until he's 40. Same for Hamilton.
I agree with that. Can see Vettel wanting to drive the 2021 cars at least. Hopefully Ferrari can win this years title. Vettels real goal is 1 title with Ferrari at least.
I think that was more of a Kimi decision than Ferrari's. AND...it was to be very short lived. Going into 2008 I'm positive that SF thought Kimi would be #1. Ferrari always strives to have a seasoned and proven #1. I'm not sure why they even have a driver's academy.
Kimi the driver can be replaced. Kimi the team player will be a hard act to follow Kimi the character is unique and will be irreplaceable To me, one of the most pleasant F1 drivers of these last 20 years
I good summation and one that I think most of us will easily agree with. However, pleasant doesn't pay the bills, so to speak. They need Kimi to garner more points and he seems weak when the lights go out.
IF they can control him. And they'll be able to control him a lot easier than Ricciardo. I'm not ****ing blind and Kimi's career will come to an end at some point. He's on a 1 year contract. He's the #2 driver so replaceable. As I've said many times previously, you'll struggle to get a #2 driver as good as Kimi. Leclerc very talented but I'm not sure how to put my finger on it, as in many ways it's a bit the same with Verstappen. Red Bull funded his F3 and straight into F1, Ferrari funded Leclerc over a long period and now funded him into Sauber. Maybe it's because he's a bit quieter and less hype surrounding him, but for some reason I can see Ferrari able to control Leclerc whereas Verstappen at Ferrari would practically be the same loose cannon (for lack of better term) as he is at Red Bull.
As others have said, Kimi's race pace is on the wane, but my goodness he will be missed whenever he pulls off his helmet for the last time. Maybe he can be a TV commentator after he hangs it up.
The difference between Kimi and Massa and Barichello is that Massa and Ruben often came in #2 in the championships or on the track. Kimi drives like he's on social security...he can't cut it so it is time to cut him.
The difference between then and now is that when Barrichello was finishing 2nd to Schumacher, it was in the very dominant F2002 and F2004. And even then it wasn't as clear cut...Rubens often finished 3rd or outside the podium when Schumacher won races. Massa V Schumacher, same story (quite worse actually). Ferrari has a quick car. Mercedes has a quick car. Problem is, Red Bull has a very quick car also. What Ferrari needs is the seemingly impossible: A driver that is pretty much on Vettel talent and consistency level, but willing to finish behind him every single time. It breaks a driver. To me there are a couple of available drivers who can do the matching Vettel thing: Ricciardo and Alonso. You're having a laugh if either would move over. Leclerc is the only legitimate option. F2 showed his capabilities. A bit of a slow start this season (to be expected) but getting stronger every race. He's the only driver Ferrari has a hope of controlling that could be fast enough. The rest? They'll do the same job Kimi is doing, or worse. And likely with a lot more whining noise.
Ocon, Perez, Hulkenburg, Sainz would all outdrive Kimi in the same car, because they want to win. Kimi as a driver doesn't care about anything but getting his check.
