(from autosport) Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says world champion Kimi Raikkonen will play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa if needed to secure the title. "If needed, Kimi will help Felipe," Domenicali was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "We spoke about it at the beginning of the year. "Before then, however, let's see how things evolve." Raikkonen has struggled to match Massa's pace in recent races and the Finn has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix in April. Massa, currently in second place in the standings seven points ahead of Raikkonen, has won four times to the Finn's two. Domenicali is convinced, however, that Raikkonen will return to form. "For me it doesn't represent a problem. He'll react, he'll soon be strong again, he knows how to keep away from criticisms and polemics," he added. The team boss said it was up to the team to give Raikkonen a car he feels comfortable with. "He isn't happy with the way the car enters corners. He would like it more aggressive, and this influences him. It's up to us to carry on giving him a hand." Domenicali is also adamant that Massa is strong enough to win the championship. "Certainly. We will have to give him an always competitive car. He's mature to manage it and we'll help him." The Italian conceded the team cannot afford losing any more points through reliability problems, and revealed Ferrari have strengthen their quality control process. "We can't anymore afford the luxury of losing important results because of reliability problems," he said. "However, it's also true that McLaren last year had 35 points more than today, and we had 16 more. "It's been decided to strengthen controls over the whole component production of the cars. We have 40 people between metallurgy and quality department. "What is about to start in two weeks' time in Belgium will be a sprint championship over six races, so we can't give away anything anymore."
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has fended off claims that World Champion Kimi Raikkonen's cool approach to Formula One has finally caught up with him. In the eight races since his last victory at Barcelona, the 28-year-old Finn has added just 28 points to his championship tally -- little more than half the number achieved by chief title contenders Felipe Massa, who drives an identical F2008, and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Exploring the possible reasons for his performance struggle at present, the major German newspaper Bild claims that while Massa prepared for Valencia in a simulator, fellow Ferrari driver Raikkonen enjoyed three consecutive nights out with friends at Ibiza. "Kimi goes flat-out only at night," the newspaper headlined. Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali this week told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I have never forced matters of a personal nature with him. " "I don't think his way of preparing for a Grand Prix has anything to do with the current situation," the Italian added. Domenicali also would not be drawn on the latest suggestions that, irrespective of Raikkonen's personal plans for the future, Ferrari may be moved to replace him sooner or later. "His contract expires only at the end of next year," the team boss insisted. "So we do not have any hurry to decide. Right now we are concentrated on the title."
Kimster is just having a bad time thats all. even MS had some bad time for a while back in 2000 season.
Not really - just more media BS. The pundits have nothing better to do than hound F1 insiders with stupid questions and then to weave a story based on 1% fact and 99% conjecture and pass it off as a poignant article. What's SD going to say.... "No, Kimi will not help Felipe, Kimi is only in it for himself" Or perhaps he would say "Massa took the lead in the Ferrari-WDC this last race, so we're kicked Kimi to the curb and no longer care about him". Regarding Kimi's 'tude, what's SD going to say... "Yes, Kimi just parties too much and we know he's not serious about F1" I mean - come on - this is just sterilized PR-speak. I could have given that interview and provided 100% the same answers as SD did - any one of us could have. Then the hapless pundit has to take what we all know are the standard answers and create a story out of them... Nothing against the poster at all, the ire is aimed squarely at these nitwits who call themselves F1 journalists. I expect some more shockingly great news content to come forth soon.... like "Button throws down the gauntlet! ...says he wants Honda to improve their pace" "F1 shocker: Lewis Hamilton says he has what it takes to win!" ad nauseum....
F1 media spins faster than my high tech clothes dryer of course I like to keep informed yet I know that I actually know very little because of the things you have posted above! We dont really know what the teams are thinking to any great degree. Keeps posting and speculating here fun though!
As someone pointed out elsewhere: It is kinda hard to help Massa in the title chase when you drive around on 5th place. Kimi has no interest in helping Massa. He'll try to win a few races for himself and otherwise will just earn his paycheck.
I think Massa has done a decent job to deserve the title provided he continues to put in performances like he has in the last few months. This year, Raikkonen is not as dominant as was expected. Felipe made terrible mistakes in 3 races but otherwise has generally matched or out-performed Kimi particularly recently. Kimi has done very well at the high speed / low downforce circuits like Canada, France and out-performed Felipe in rained out races. Massa has done well at his fave tracks: Turkey, Bahrain and also improved at driver's circuits like Monaco. Here's how I think the two Ferrari drivers will perform relative to each other in the next 6 races: Spa: Definite advantage Kimi (high speed track) Monza: Slight advantage Kimi (high speed track) Singapore: Definite advantage Massa (expect Kimi to suffer in qualifying getting sufficient heat into his tires) Fuji: Slight to large advantage Kimi (will it rain again?) Shanghai: Slight advantage Kimi if it rains again. Otherwise both drivers have equal chance. Brazil: Sure win for Massa Even if it does not rain in the next 6 races, then Kimi has a slight advantage over Felipe. If it rains, Kimi is the man. Kimi has to win Spa or else Ferrari might lose hope in him and put their resources behind Felipe.
Time will certainly tell if Kimi has been pulling what appears to be a "sleeper" strategy. Personally I think that his lifestyle and lack of burning desire have caught up with him. Hopefully he makes the choice to reach deep within and make it happen.
Nice post. I would love to see it as well. You just never know with Kimi - he can always come out of nowhere and win. That is why we all shake our heads when he doesn't - we expect a lot from him. Perhaps too much.
with a 7 point difference between the two I doubt there is a team order yet. I believe though that the first order is: win ahead of the McLaren and a s 'team'orders: "make sure to tie down those muffler screws".
don't forget that Kimi will get a rather fresh start next week. new engine, and a track he loves. if he wins in Spa, i could say the title is his, because, if he starts winning and getting on form, he's unstoppable.
+1 I'm expecting him to have a bit of a resurgence. I think he'll win at Spa, and carry the momentum into the next races. Singapore is the only track that worries me.
Yeah, I agree. Raikkonen seems to have better things to do at night than race anyway! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Maybe this years Ferrari needs more than a get in it and drive appoach, and if Kimi is suffering it maybe because he isn't putting as much effort in as Massa, in this department. Kimi can be, and is the fastest man out there, IMO.
What one can be and what they are are two different animals. I love the way many in here laughed when I posted that I did not like Kimi coming to Ferrari because everyone in pit lane knows that he is a big party guy on race weekends. Now Ferrari is reaping what the sowed. That’s just another reason they won’t make the same mistake with Alonso or anyone else who just wants the car prepared for them so they can jump in and drive on race day. Kimi can bounce back but he has to make a huge commitment and that means getting away from the party. He has done it in the past but it only lasts a few weeks tops.
I might even give that a bit of credence the day I read the first "Late night slows Kimi?" piece. Just not seeing them, despite a press that prints every rumour and follows him around all race weekend. The way the Italian press have been with him in recent weeks if there was any grounds to criticise him on they'd have printed it. No. Sorry. You need some evidence to support that.
