Wow. If true, I think Ross Brawn is going to come out further ahead with Kimi as his driver than McLaren will with Jenson. Mercedes indicated that there were going to be some surprises with their driver line-up, and if Kimi has signed with Mercedes, then they weren't kidding.
What a season that would make. Mercedes factory team, Ferrari, and McLaren, all with WDCs in their cars! Let's hope...
The big unspoken question is where Kimi expects to go in 2011? Ferrari's obviously out. McLaren has two long-term contracts sewn up now. Mercedes is not in a position to spend the money Kimi wants and will likely have at least two-year deals for Rosberg and Heidfeld. Renault is on the brink and probably will continue to be. So what's that leave him with? I'm guessing it could be "Red Bull & Vodka" but not until 2012 at the earliest. Kimi could well be out a lot longer than he'd expected, much like Villeneuve has been.
I believe that would pretty much amount to Vitaly Petrov getting a seat at Renault. One less place for Kovalainen...but I cannot help myself cheering for the man from my ancestral home town. I bet Bernie would love it too.
*cough* *cough* Hey, I'll bet you she scores more points than Alonso next year! Damn this stuff is strong...
The thing that really disappoints me about Kimi is in part the following Autosport article. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80234 He wants to secure a top drive in 2011 but he wants that top drive largely handed to him on a plate, when other drivers will have gotten the car to "top drive" level next year. He's so unwilling to take the next season and actually help a team other than McLaren get a competitive car to top drive level, that it exhibits a complete lack of devotion on his part. Perhaps he thinks he is all that and a bag of chips but if he's not willing to take a risk and help a team get near the top in 2010, then he's certainly not going to be handed a top seat in 2011. He's really fooling himself.
Funny how he was paid $45 Million last year, for what? The powers that be did not have to do that considering what Alonso and Massa were making, no wonder he thinks his **** doesn't stink.
