he thinks Massa is great Raikkonen's form a mystery to Ecclestone Sat 04 Oct, 11:24 PM After Kimi Raikkonen admitted his 2008 title defence is now over, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has declared extreme "disappointment" with the current form of the reigning World Champion. "With Kimi I am extremely disappointed," the 77-year-old billionaire admitted in interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper, to be published on Sunday. 28-year-old Raikkonen, despite his sensational late dash to the drivers' crown a year ago, has struggled this season and is now a near-insurmountable 27 points behind the title lead with just three races to run. Ecclestone said: "Kimi is such a fantastic driver. I thought he had lost his motivation, but then he signed for two more years with Ferrari. It is a mystery to me." Last year, Bernie Ecclestone tipped Raikkonen's Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to take out the crown, praising the Brazilian as "stronger, faster and better than a lot of people think." In 2008, with the 27-year-old now a true contender, the F1 supremo adds: "I have to admit that I have supported Felipe for a long time and helped him wherever I can." "For so long he has been underestimated. Only recently was he in a position to show his true potential. He now has Kimi firmly within his grasp," Ecclestone said.
IMO Kimi in last half of this season is doing exactly the opposite of what he did last year, his do or die approach has not worked. Maybe it's the car not suited to his style, maybe it's his frame of mind. It wasn't a convincing win last year IMO, but it was with consistant point's in the races that he got there, this is where he fallen short this time, strange, maybe Massa's pace in qualiflying has unsettled him as well.
I don't know, but this soun ds to me more of mystery to Bernie why Ferrari signed KImi for two more years , than Kimi's form itself
I'm getting the impression that the F2008 is a beast. It doesn't kerb-hop, it doesn't do wet. Phil has gotten a handle on it in certain conditions; Kimi seems to still be struggling with it. Remember the F104 starfighter? It was an amazing bird .... if it didn't kill you first. I think this year's McLaren is a more "tossable" machine. When the F2008 hits its "sweet spot", it can leave the McLaren in the dust (as we saw at Hungary turn 1), but the McLaren isn't going to toss you into a wall. So there's the season: the tortoise and the hare: speed versus consistency.
Phil also seems to be working harder than Kimi is. The story about Kimi partying in Ibiza while Phil was in the simulator is a perfect example. Some people makes excuses for him but I simply think he's not putting in the effort anymore. Plain and simple. Such a dissapointment this year..
Kimi has amazing potential but we have never really seen it for a single solid season. He is always up and down. I told many in here about his drinking and partying problems before he came to Ferrari and that was the main reason I did not want him here. Im going out on a limb with what Im about to say and you can believe me or not, I dont really care. But I think Kimi is doing more than just drinking and I will leave it at that. If it ever makes the mainstream media you will know exactly what. Athletes like Kimi dont go up and down like he has simply because of a drinking problem. I believe that his extra year extention is tied to him cleaning himself up.
