Kimi and Lotus - Issues and drama

That'll be nice indeed. I think in a way this whole thing coming out so violently is not just an embarrassment for Lotus, but for F1 in general.

Remember what Kimi said after he was asked his opinion about Bernie right? ''Funny guy''

(And schumacher? ''Old man'' )

Some figures don't add up. 51 x 3 is already 153m . He's worth north of €150m by most estimates.

Still...lots of money. Anything over €100m is bonus IMO. With that you can have a couple of nice houses, plenty of cars and a nice little canoe and enough money to keep it running till the end of your days .

 

Yes, when it comes to Kimi, lots of things don't add up. Perhaps the exchange rates quoted between BPS, USD, and Euros is the reason?



Kimi's net worth: Kimi Raikkonen Net Worth | Celebrity Net Worth

Kimi's Lotus salary amount: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-kimi-raikkonen-threatens-to-quit-lotus-before-season-end-if-not-paid-17-million-pound-salary-1912965

 

I thought he was making 50 mil/yr at Ferrari?

Like Bas said, that's 150 mil right there. He raced with McLaren for 5 years, making great money for sure and now Lotus for 2.

With endorsements, I'd guess he's worth over 200 million $ unless he made some really bad investments

 

I'd say both TifosiUSA and Bas Jaski are right about Kimi's net worth. It has to be more than at least $153M just from Ferrari alone, plus his previous and post racing years. Maybe his gold canoe sank?

 

Taxes prob steal half his salary lets not forget that

 

He's not American

 

Don't know if he is a resident of Monaco or Switzerland. He did get divorced last year. I'm sure that he has enough to get by.

 

Some sources - sorry to be so imprecise ("some sources"), but I didn't kept these at hand, as money does'nt interets me that much, but I was surprised by the figures this time - so some sources have claimed that his managers, the Robertsons father & son, claim a large chunk of his income as fee for their services, I've read very high percentages like 33% ??

Rgds

 

After his immediate departure upon his retirement, I'm still shaking my head in disbelief that the Scuderia actually wants KR back. Obviously, things aren't well in the Lotus team. But, this is, in so many ways, a replay of what happened previously. It shows KR hasn't matured, IMO.

CW

 

Kimi is a talented driver. I think he can score wins for Ferrari again.

I think one of the other reasons Ferrari let him go was over money. He and his agent probably wanted more that Ferrari was willing to pay.

As far as personality and PR go, Kimi is not very polished in this area.

M. Schumacher who was much better in this area also did some things which offended Ferrari, such as not giving the Italian Anthem respect while standing on the winner podium.

And lets not forget his parking his F-1 car at Rascasse in Monaco in order to prevent other qualifiers a chance to beat him. And then when he returned to F-1, he ruthlessly and unsportingly and dangerously tried to run folks off the track when they were trying to pass. Remember poor Rubens who was almost squeezed into the wall.

Kimi behaves much than Michael-- on the track.

 

17 million pound (not sure if that includes the bonus money for performance) is about 27 million US dollar.

 

Agree as to the first. But, things won't always go swimmingly at times, and we see how KR responds. He's sullen, withdrawn and rebellious. Maybe he's also a bit of a smart ass. He may be fast, but this is a trade-off. If his attitude, demeanor and personality create conflict within the team, it may be more destructive than productive. A team player sits in the pits, supports and helps his teammate(s) and is encouraging. Clearly not KR's forte.

As to the second, I don't agree or disagree. MS was indeed teutonically ruthless and calculated on the track, and throughout his career he had many incidents. Still, his reputation is largely intact. But, then, what would you say about the Senna/Prost battles? Or the Alonso/Hamilton strifes? No one is beyond reproach. They all want to win and will do what it takes.

And, while KR may win races, MS won multiple championships. The dream team (JT, RB and MS) were all a part of the puzzle. I'm not sure how or whether KR even fits in.

CW

 

Exactly my point, btw...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/f1/427620-kimi-crashes-deliberately.html

Speculation? Sure. But, this is demoralizing for the team and members that are still working hard. If he's not happy, he's sullen and distant. And, let's his team know it. The Scuderia's been through this before. Is he really so fast that the Scuderia should look past up-and-coming talent?

CW

 

There are two drivers and two myths.

1.

- best car developer
- team leader
- motivator
- brings in extra 6 tenths
- gives always 120 % of himself
- gets along with everyone
- never critisizes the team
- team player
- the most complete driver on the grid

2.

- crap when it comes to car development
- lazy
- never takes part in sponsor events
- doesn't get along with anyone
- can't lead a team
- has 'good' and 'bad' days
- doesn't test
- alcoholic
- autistic
- overrated
- overpaid
- no team wants him

___

Fact is that Lotus hasn't paid him one dime this whole year. He flies to races, rents his car, books his own hotel rooms - and he pays for all that himself.

Same last year.

*
Mr. Räikkönen, please explain us one thing. You threat to go on strike for your money but Lotus boss Gerard Lopez says however, it was agreed that you get it only at the end of the season.

Räikkönen: We have not signed a contract for nothing, he must accept it. But that does not change my relationship with the other Lotus employees.

Is it a lack of respect towards you?

It was not nice to hear in India that you are not a team player and on the other hand not getting paid. But I do not want to talk further about the situation.
*

He has really worked for the team, during these two years it's Kimi who spends Fridays testing new parts and it gives him only Saturday to find his own setups for the race and quali.

The team has collected data from his car and based upon his feedback.

He has never cried when he has been hunting for the title and Grosjean has been told many times during many laps to let Kimi by. Grosjean has never given him space to overtake automatically or naturally.

In India the situation was the same as in Korea, where they were allowed to race against each other. In India it was Gro who cried 'Tell him!!' and Permane immediately went on the radio telling Kimi to get the ****ing out of the way - in the middle of a fast corner.

The team decided to keep him on the track with shot tires. The recommendation from Pirelli was max 35 laps, Kimi was kept out for over 50 laps before they took him in.

First the team ****s to him on the track, after that they launch the statements about Kimi not being a team player and not thinking of the team's interests....

The team's disrespective behavior was the only reason why Kimi decided to come clean and tell how he hasn't been paid one dime. He had raced and worked for them for free all year long and they dare come with him not being a team player!

It's Grosjean who isn't a team player - he never thinks of the team's best interests, he only thinks about his own success on the track and doesn't pull over for Kimi despite being asked to do so many times.

Who scored points for Lotus in 2012? Kimi. It was irrelevant if Gro raced or not since his points didn't make any difference to the WCC-position.

Somewhere down the line they started to take him for granted and lost their respect for him. That was clear in India, but it was clear even before that in many ways.

Kimi has earned every bonus coming to him by driving. His base salary was 5 million euros in 2012, yet he was willing to lower his salary to only 3 million euros this year.

He has been testing the Long Wheel Base although it doesn't suit his driving style and the team has collected data from it. I don't know what discussions they had before Abu Dhabi, because all of a sudden they returned the Short Wheel Base to Kimi. Permane argued with Kimi about using it on Friday, but Kimi kept his head and wanted the SWB.

Then on Saturday it turned out that Lotus hadn't bothered to fix the part in the floor which Gro was questioned for but not penalised. The commission said that they have to fix the part, otherwise they will get a hefty penalty for it the next time. And that penalty was given in Abu Dhabi.

Just for the record; Kimi isn't allowed to participate in any technical meetings anymore, which serves Ferrari more than it serves Lotus. If things were chilly before in Lotus, now they are ice cold. I guess they have never seen Kimi angry before and that they are now panicking. He set thngs straight in public invalidating all their earlier false statements. Not paying him + being disrespective towards him + relying on him keeping quiet was a massive PR-disaster from Lotus.

Have you ever heard him say one bad word about Ferrari? There is a reason for that. Ferrari terminated his contract but it was legally done. Kimi raced flatout for them the last races in 2009, hence also respecting the contract he had with them.

He got well along with the staff in Ferrari, they remained his friends and this was repeated many times ever since 2010.

It's just amazing how quickly he his critisized now, he was the victim, not Lotus.

I hope he doesn't show up in Austin or Brazil. His work there is done already and it's about time for Grosjean to take the team leader -role and start scoring points on a regular basis

 

Here are some opinions from the paddock:

 

Quickly one last article on the subject:

 

The only person at ferrari that wanted micheal gone was ldm . Ldm hired kimi because he wanted the merchandising in come back from Michael . Ldm was going to slander Michael Schumacher all over Italian in German press over his income and how he wouldn't take a pay cut to help Ferrari which she was bringing in 400 million dollars a year in income for merchandise sales alone . Ldm couldn't sell kimi to new sponsors so he takes banks cash and listen to them . The only person to blame for this mess is ego maniac and clown hack lawyer who wouldn't sign the hulk is ldm

 

Oh, yes, this is ALL Lotus' fault, Lycanthrope.

CW

 

CornersWell, is it too much to ask some gratitude from them?

They probably use their media channels and soon this is ALL Kimi's fault and they are the innocent victims of his greedy nature...

 

So, what was KR's excuse when he first drove for the Scuderia? I'm sure he was paid on time per his contract. He was sullen and fickle then. What's changed? Last weekend, the guy couldn't wait to leave the track.

I'm just saying he still may have some very serious maturing to do. Is he so fast that LdM is willing to risk it again? Over some very talented up-and-comers? Yes, we know he's fast. We also know he comes across, well, semi-disinterested in the whole affair of racing.

Maybe it's the Finnish personality. Maybe he's just into having fun and can't take things seriously. Who knows? All I know is that with Alonso as Number 1, there were some very good options for the Number 2 seat. Putting KR in there is not only a risk, it's also Machiavellian.

CW

 

I don't understand what you mean? 1 WDC and 2 WCCs during his three years doesn't sound that bad.

Last weekend he had his first and only DNF with Lotus, it was already clear that the team didn't like him at all. Why should he had sat in the corner waiting for the race to end?

Did you ever see him leave for home right after a DNF in Ferrari?

I have no idea why Ferrari wanted to sign him, I doubt Kimi forced them to hire him... so I am not the right person to ask why they chose Kimi.

Semi-interested in racing?!? Yeah, he the car has taken him to podiums and points for two years with him just sitting like a duck, lol.

Shouldn't you rather ask why Grosjean still hasn't won a GP?

Or why Ferrari has chosen equal treatment after all these years?

Is that also Kimi's fault?

 

KR inherited a seat in one of the, if not the, best cars on the grid. Much of that work was done prior to his arrival. Further, WCCs are team awards, which is more of a testament to the team than it is to the driver. I don't know that KR can be "credited" with WCCs.

Well, I've already written why. It's a TEAM sport. He should be available to discuss strategy (tire, pit, whatever) regarding the remaining car. He should be encouraging his teammates, instead of distancing himself as quickly as possible from them.

Don't recall if it was at the Scuderia or during his tenure at Mac, but he had an early retirement at Monaco. Instead of returning to the pits (albeit, at Monaco, it's not exactly easy to do, depending on where the breakdown occurred), however, he chose to go directly to a yacht in the harbour and party it up. Again, an apparent exercise of poor judgment?

Me, neither. LdM seems to have a hard-on for KR, though. And, KR's last departure from the Scuderia wasn't exactly a love-in. Maybe LdM is focused on motivating FA. Maybe there's something else. Don't know. All I do know is that if I were the guy making the decision, I'd be looking hard at other drivers over KR.

It's his ATTITUDE. Maybe there's a certain amount of seeming aloofness in his character and personality. I don't know. Maybe that makes him seem disinterested. To me it does, at least. Consider how hard these drivers have to work to win. If you're not motivated, there are people who are who will overtake you out of sheer hard work. Talent only takes you so far.

RG is knocking on the door, isn't he? However, when the RedBull is running, everyone else seems to be vying for second place. It may also be that the team has emphasized set-ups for KR, and RG has had to take the hand-me-downs. But, RG is making good headway. He also doesn't yet have the experience KR does. It may be that RG is starting to eclipse KR in ways. Only the team knows for sure, though. But, sure, results speak.

Ferrari's tactics are somewhat unique, IMO. They have chosen to buy two highly experienced drivers, as opposed to developing younger talent from within. They tend to poach once the talent has emerged and pay a price for it. They have that luxury. Personally, I'd prefer to see a more traditional clear No.1 (senior, more experienced driver) and No.2 (junior, developmental driver) arrangement. But, again, I don't control the show. But, no matter what the company line is, I rather doubt FA and FM are getting exactly equal treatment.

CW

 

I still for the life of know how some pays a guy to go away and 5 years later pays him again . How does ldm not have a plan for his driver's they are his biggest single expense he had to know that massa was going to have to be replaced some time . Hell the samurai warrior would be good for one year fa is going to leave next than he can find some one .kimi is going to get what he wants a nice pay day from the only guy in f1 with any money wich is clown hack lawyer ldm great deal for ferrari. All the while red bull get vettel for like 7 to 12 million a year