CONFIRMED: Räikkönen driving for Lotus-Renault in 2012-2013

[VolvoT5]

Crafty_ said:

He should of slowed down to go faster, had to opposite lock to correct the car constantly, missed several apexes.. generally looked a bit scrappy.. compare to Button who was much smoother - even Lewis or Schu, although Lewis did have a stinking big lockup in to the last corner.
If Kimis lap was tidier he could of got on the front row I think, there was easily a tenth or two there.

That was his first run, we never got to see his second run. (which was approx 3 tenths quicker?)

[VolvoT5]

norfolkscooby said:

Id suggest he was more of a possibility at RB than Mclaren.

yeah I agree, Kimi to Mclaren is highly unlikely but it is still a nice fantasy. Not sure he would want to go to Red Bull given the performance of the Lotus at the moment?

[JMC1]

If Renault/Lotus/Geni can keep up the development pace why would he want to be anywhere else. He has a pleasant young hungry team mate to keep him honest and a team that has always done well in the past with one star driver and a decent support driver. It worked twice for Schumacher and twice for Alonso maybe in the next two years or sooner they could be a championship threat again.
Last Winter 2010/2011 the car was very quick in testing with Kubica unfortunately after his accident they went forward with journey men drivers on board for the 2011 season and they did not move forward fast enough. Maybe with Raikkonen they can keep the development pressure up to have the good season they should have had last year. Although Kimi is probably not yet 100% the team know it is within his grasp if they all keep trying, which is probably the motivating factor they were missing once they lost Kubica.

[C Lee Farquar]

Crafty_ said:

He should of slowed down to go faster, had to opposite lock to correct the car constantly, missed several apexes.. generally looked a bit scrappy.. compare to Button who was much smoother - even Lewis or Schu, although Lewis did have a stinking big lockup in to the last corner.
If Kimis lap was tidier he could of got on the front row I think, there was easily a tenth or two there.

The Mclaren does look a little more planted than the Lotus though? I know all F1 drivers reactions are fast but his corrections were like lightening.

For the moral/poor people who don't have Sky and may have missed the MB classic, it was along the lines 'I asked Kimi after FP3 what the car felt like and got a six word answer - He is very enthusiastic about that car'

[superkartracer]

Crafty_ said:

He should of slowed down to go faster, had to opposite lock to correct the car constantly, missed several apexes.. generally looked a bit scrappy.. compare to Button who was much smoother - even Lewis or Schu, although Lewis did have a stinking big lockup in to the last corner.
If Kimis lap was tidier he could of got on the front row I think, there was easily a tenth or two there.

5th and Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:40.722

[RichB]

superkartracer said:

5th and Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:40.722

Typical Kimi, that's what he always used to do - leave it until the end to wake up

[Crafty_]

RichB said:

ypical Kimi, that's what he always used to do - leave it until the end to wake up

Exactly.

[VolvoT5]

RichB said:

ypical Kimi, that's what he always used to do - leave it until the end to wake up

Yeah, so annoying... it always makes you wonder why he couldn't turn it 'on' 10 laps earlier.

I think it was another good solid result for Kimi though. I think they missed a trick in not beating Webber because at both stops the team stopped Kimi one lap too late, meaning he was too late to go to full wets and then too late to go to slicks.

The last stop cost him because the difference between slicks and inters was massive and Webber was able to leapfrog by pitting one lap earlier.

Anyway, still a good result.