I can see some level of criticism today when the team gave him instructions on what to do to try to fix the car and he didn't know how to do it. What I've heard is that Kimi isn't one for studying.
This is "old new's" no matter how much a fan one can be of Kimi. He is not consistently fast enough to keep the seat. He has not been overall for some years, with FA etc. The only question remaining is who.....will take the seat. An answer sooner rather than later now?
Only if you like throwing your money away! Ricciardo is contracted to Red Bull for 2018 and they're not going to release him early to go to Ferrari - I can pretty much guarantee it!
Sergio said:- "Ferrari will not "think about the drivers" for 2018 "until September" JULY 10, 2017 Raikkonen must increase commitment says Marchionne Sergio Marchionne has issued a wake-up call to Kimi Raikkonen, whilst rejecting rumours Max Verstappen or Fernando Alonso are in the running to replace him. "We have not reached out to Red Bull about Verstappen and we are not interested in Alonso," the Ferrari president was quoted as saying in Austria. "We have received some suggestions about Alonso's return, but we have two good drivers. "So we are not interested -- it is not possible for now for Fernando to come." Sebastian Vettel's contract is also up at the end of the year, but Marchionne said the Maranello team is happy with the 2017 championship leader. As for the German's teammate Raikkonen, the Italian-Canadian is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: "He is a good guy and he is working, but we need him to (help to) win the constructors' championship." And the Finnish broadcaster C More also quoted Marchionne as saying: "I think Kimi has to show a higher level of commitment to the process. "There are some days when he is a little sluggish, but we'll see." Finland's Ilta Sanomat quoted Raikkonen as responding to Marchionne's 'wake-up call': "I would of course prefer better results but I cannot do any more than my best. "Unfortunately in formula one, everything does not always go as expected." Marchionne said Ferrari will not "think about the drivers" for 2018 "until September", which interestingly ties in with Alonso's own timetable for his plans for next year. "We have a world championship at stake and we want to arrive at the end of the season with the position we have now in the standings," Marchionne insisted.
I agree, Kimi is finished for me...love the guy, a brilliant talent, but somehow the spark is gone..he'll probably win at Spa though.
The comment was made BEFORE the race. After the race Marchionne commented he was pleased with Kimi's performance. How quickly everyone forgets Monaco pole. IMO he's close enough to Vettel but whatever, tired of retyping the same argument over and over to the same people that made up their minds long ago. IF Kimi is going, I'd be surprised to see anyone else that anyone else than Verstappen or Ricci taking his place. Sainz would be too expensive for what he is, since they'll have to buy him out of his RBR contract and he won't be an improvement over Kimi, the contrary even. Perez is another option, but is he worth it over Kimi? Kimi won't command much more in salary anyways. Hulk has a contract. Ocon is Mercedes' child so also too expensive to buy. Grosjean whines and slower. Kmag is inconsistent. They don't want Alonso. Vandoorne is Mclaren. It basically comes down to this: Keep Kimi as a dedicated #2 (he's not out here to win races anymore anyways), so quite simply stop asking him to constantly beat their #1, it's stupid Get either Verstappen (who'll be faster than Vettel) or Ricci (and risk Ricci beating Vettel and taking points away). Or...do something Ferrari has never done before: Take a step into the unknown, and take their Ferrari Acedemy driver, the fantastic Charles Leclerc.
It is time. Once again, he had a terrible start (does this every week) then faded in the race. If something happens to Vettel there is NO WAY Kimi can do anything to pressure Ferrari's rivals. He doesn't have the pace at the top anymore. Bottas outdriving Kimi is a good reason why Ferrari is losing major ground in the constructors. Case in point Hamilton has grid penalty today and Bottas duly wins the race. Could you count on Kimi to do that if Seb had a penalty? Nah. There is zero reason Ferrari should not have finished 2nd and 3rd today. Kimi is still a decent driver but it is time to replace him. He is the definition of an also-ran.
His start was good but was pushed out by Ricciardo, then early on he had KERS problems and was then used to force Bottas to stay out longer. He played his part. Baku he outqualified Seb again, had a great start and went to overtake Bottas but got used as a bowling pin...after this he ran over debris from the Pink cars (nothing he could've done) and the entire car was shot, when it was repaired in the pitlane he received a penalty... In Canada he did ok, not great but still top 4 in quali, but brake problems in the race. Monaco Pole and strategy call caused him to be 2nd Spain 2 tenths shy of Vettel in quali, good start and hit by Bottas in T1, race over. Russia Vettel pole, Kimi .05 behind him. Not bad...Bottas wins with Vettel 2nd Kimi 3rd I don't think he's done bad. Again, he's not there to be #1. Vettel is. Ferrari uses him as a pawn when they see fit (nothing bad about this but people quick to forget so) and he's been unlucky with reliability and others being idiots.
Only because Seb had to go back to that old engine. Meh I don't think he's been "bad" but Ferrari needs someone that can do better. Someone to push Seb.
Kimi is weird. I like him a lot however commonly have a feeling mild disappointment with him. I think the real thing is that even when he doesn't do bad there's a feeling that he could have done more given his potential and natural talent if perhaps he would have tried a little harder or taken a bit more interest. This being said when he killed it in Monaco he was noticeable feeling good and you could see it in his demeanor and then when he was robbed of that potential win you could clearly see his weather change.
Are we going to see another Massa incident again? Kimi needs to work harder and while that lost of a win was bad that should of been the spark to push to try again. I think Baku showed it when he outqualified seb on a track that was great for the Mercedes. He should be more confidence in himself to try. He has the car just needs the extra push.
Can't disagree with that. But that's exactly the thing...Who could that be? Someone to push seb the only viable option I see is Ricciardo. And even he wouldn't be best pleased if he finishes right behind Vettel constantly but can't/won't be allowed beat him. I genuinely believe that Verstappen will be faster. That's not a problem per se, but it is a problem when you pay your driver 50 million and the lowly paid other guy will beat him. I think Alonso will either match or edge him, he won't be behind. But again...Alonso is not in F1 for the long term anymore. It's better to get Verstappen in (or stick with Vettel). **** having Elton in. He won't be faster and the crying from either side will drive everyone away. Bottas? Great but why bother And the rest...I don't think they'll do a better job than Kimi is, so why bother changing him for someone else that provides the same performance? Kimi is one of the most popular F1 drivers in the field, he sells more than enough hats and shirts to pay his wages, he gets along great with Vettel, his technical feedback is fantastic...
I think Perez would get better results than Kimi. As would Max (my preferred option), Ricci, Sainz, Ocon hell I'd be excited to throw LeClerc in the seat over another year of Kimi. This is just starting to feel like another Massa situation to me
Look at FA vs Kimi. It was already a Massa situation. Kimi is interesting but Bottas is showing Ferrari what they do not have. Period.
Marchionne saying Ferrari is not thinking about drivers - means exactly the opposite. they are trying to get Vettel under contract... and most likely Verstappen and or Alonso... I love the idea of Leclerc but Ferrari are not development guys... you need to be pretty formed up as a driver to survive there. Raikkonnen is pretty much done... only reason he would stay is that Vettel wants him.... and makes it a prerequisite contractually. Kimi will either do Rally, sports cars or Indy... most likely Sports cars once done in F-1.
If Vettel's input means anything to sweater boy or anyone else in control at Ferrari, Kimi stays if Kimi wants to stay.
