Rumour: Raikkonen has signed with Williams for 2012 drive
Discussion
t car if they give him a massive pile of cash. He'd get neither at Williams.RESSE said:
1. Apologies if posted before.
2. Any other news on the rumour?
A year making a good impression & working hard at Williams & he'll be knocking on Red Bull's door. 2. Any other news on the rumour?
Indeed wern't they involved with his rallying? Maybe the deal is already done - "get yourself in a car & back up to speed in 2012 & you can have Webber's car in 2013" ?
RUBENS NEWS
(From Autosport)
Rubens Barrichello says he has been assured he will not go into the winter without any news from Williams on his future with the team.
The veteran Brazilian is still hoping to secure a new deal with the squad, although Williams is set to wait to decide on its line-up for the 2012 season.
Barrichello has made it clear he will do whatever it takes to be racing in Formula 1 next year, and says he has been told by Williams that he at least will not be kept waiting going into the winter.
"I hope before Brazil we know," said Barrichello. "The fans need to know. Williams told me they would like to make a decision before Brazil, so I hope at least that is a positive. I would like that to happen."
Barrichello admitted Renault would also be a possibility for him if there was a seat available.
But the Brazilian insists he does not want to be in Formula 1 without a competitive car.
"For sure. I think that there are two or three opportunities that are quite good," he said. "I would not drive in F1 for anything, just for the sake of saying, 'oh yes I completed 20 years now even though I don't have a competitive car'.
"That is not the question. The teams I am talking to have the qualities to build a good car and perform."
He added: "If my destiny tells me that it is not for me to be involved in F1 then I had a wonderful 19 years. I am going to try and think of something and see if they want me to drive the Disney cars at Disneyworld!
"I've had a wonderful time. All I want to say is that I belong here, and I have never been as quick as I am right now and I want to be driving next year. But if destiny turns it into a way that is not for me, then I will be home."
(From Autosport)
Rubens Barrichello says he has been assured he will not go into the winter without any news from Williams on his future with the team.
The veteran Brazilian is still hoping to secure a new deal with the squad, although Williams is set to wait to decide on its line-up for the 2012 season.
Barrichello has made it clear he will do whatever it takes to be racing in Formula 1 next year, and says he has been told by Williams that he at least will not be kept waiting going into the winter.
"I hope before Brazil we know," said Barrichello. "The fans need to know. Williams told me they would like to make a decision before Brazil, so I hope at least that is a positive. I would like that to happen."
Barrichello admitted Renault would also be a possibility for him if there was a seat available.
But the Brazilian insists he does not want to be in Formula 1 without a competitive car.
"For sure. I think that there are two or three opportunities that are quite good," he said. "I would not drive in F1 for anything, just for the sake of saying, 'oh yes I completed 20 years now even though I don't have a competitive car'.
"That is not the question. The teams I am talking to have the qualities to build a good car and perform."
He added: "If my destiny tells me that it is not for me to be involved in F1 then I had a wonderful 19 years. I am going to try and think of something and see if they want me to drive the Disney cars at Disneyworld!
"I've had a wonderful time. All I want to say is that I belong here, and I have never been as quick as I am right now and I want to be driving next year. But if destiny turns it into a way that is not for me, then I will be home."
Great news. I'd imagine Kimi would become a shareholder in the recently floated team. That should motivate him.....
If Williams had ended up with Bruno Senna or another pay driver partnering Maldonado it would have been very difficult to take them seriously.
Has there ever been six world champions racing together?
If Williams had ended up with Bruno Senna or another pay driver partnering Maldonado it would have been very difficult to take them seriously.
Has there ever been six world champions racing together?
"Rumour" was (I think) a good choice of words:
April 2011
Juan Pablo Montoya: said Friday he's heard the rumors that former Formula One teammate Kimi Raikkonen is headed to NASCAR.
September 2011
Ecclestone: No one really knows why Kimi left F1, and many have tried to bring him back again*.
BBC Sport understands that Raikkonen is keen to join the team and Williams are weighing up the idea.
Raikkonen, 32, would partner Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado at Williams.
Maldonado is in his first season, but the team's sponsorship with his country's national oil supplier is understood to guarantee him a seat.
The veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello is Maldonado's team-mate this season, but his future with the team looks shaky.
One potential stumbling block is whether Williams and Raikkonen can come to an agreement on the size of his salary, but the team is hoping that his presence could attract new backers, which could help the move make financial sense.
But it is believed that Raikkonen is serious about returning to F1 after failing to match the pace of the front-runners in the World Rally Championship and he has few options.
There is no space at any of the top four teams and although Williams are struggling they have strong engineering depth and are restructuring their team and Raikkonen is believed to consider that they are a good option for him.
The joy of the internet.
April 2011
Juan Pablo Montoya: said Friday he's heard the rumors that former Formula One teammate Kimi Raikkonen is headed to NASCAR.
September 2011
Ecclestone: No one really knows why Kimi left F1, and many have tried to bring him back again*.
- 22nd September 2011
BBC Sport understands that Raikkonen is keen to join the team and Williams are weighing up the idea.
Raikkonen, 32, would partner Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado at Williams.
Maldonado is in his first season, but the team's sponsorship with his country's national oil supplier is understood to guarantee him a seat.
The veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello is Maldonado's team-mate this season, but his future with the team looks shaky.
One potential stumbling block is whether Williams and Raikkonen can come to an agreement on the size of his salary, but the team is hoping that his presence could attract new backers, which could help the move make financial sense.
But it is believed that Raikkonen is serious about returning to F1 after failing to match the pace of the front-runners in the World Rally Championship and he has few options.
There is no space at any of the top four teams and although Williams are struggling they have strong engineering depth and are restructuring their team and Raikkonen is believed to consider that they are a good option for him.
The joy of the internet.
IainZ said:
A year making a good impression & working hard at Williams & he'll be knocking on Red Bull's door.
Meh.Schumacher proved that being out of the game makes it hard to come back. Why would RBR bother when you have the likes of Vettel and Hamilton showing interest to stay / join... then you have the likes of Paul di Resta who has shown he has talent.
there are two rumors over last couple of days.
First one from one of Brazilian web-sites saying that the contract has been singed
Another - (again from Brazil), that there is no contract yet.
General feeling that there are three-side negotiations between Williams, Kimi and Arabian bank. Bank wants to come to Williams and Williams want them to come and both would love to have Kimi as prize driver as one of the conditions. But if there is no agreement between Williams and bank, than there is no ground for Kimi's contract.
Judging by timing - we might not know the result till end of season, unless it is negative and Williams confirms 2012 contract with any other driver before the end of season
First one from one of Brazilian web-sites saying that the contract has been singed
Another - (again from Brazil), that there is no contract yet.
General feeling that there are three-side negotiations between Williams, Kimi and Arabian bank. Bank wants to come to Williams and Williams want them to come and both would love to have Kimi as prize driver as one of the conditions. But if there is no agreement between Williams and bank, than there is no ground for Kimi's contract.
Judging by timing - we might not know the result till end of season, unless it is negative and Williams confirms 2012 contract with any other driver before the end of season
From what I understand SFW has been trying to get the Qatar National Bank on board for years but never managed it. Talks with them are under way again. This would give them the cash to hire Kimi.
I think SFW has lost the plot if any of this is true, the money would be better spent on the car. Less than 2 years in and Kimi is bored with rallying and couldn't be bothered to go to Australia, in Spain the car was damaged and is repairable but he quit it anyway. I can see him walking mid season when he gets bored.. is he even going to turn up with any motivation ?
Knocking on red bulls door in 2013 ? what you mean like everyone else ? I can't see them being too interested personally, they have the STR drivers and plenty of other young guys in their driver program, why would they need an awkward driver that wont to PR gigs and wouldn't talk to anyone if he could help it.
F1 has changed since he left, its more open, more media savvy.. it just doesn't suit Kimi IMHO.
I think SFW has lost the plot if any of this is true, the money would be better spent on the car. Less than 2 years in and Kimi is bored with rallying and couldn't be bothered to go to Australia, in Spain the car was damaged and is repairable but he quit it anyway. I can see him walking mid season when he gets bored.. is he even going to turn up with any motivation ?
Knocking on red bulls door in 2013 ? what you mean like everyone else ? I can't see them being too interested personally, they have the STR drivers and plenty of other young guys in their driver program, why would they need an awkward driver that wont to PR gigs and wouldn't talk to anyone if he could help it.
F1 has changed since he left, its more open, more media savvy.. it just doesn't suit Kimi IMHO.
grandprix.com say -
The word on the street is that Kimi Raikkonen is now favourite to join Pastor Maldonado at Williams next year.
The 2007 world champion and his advisors are known to have had talks with Williams some time ago but the Finn's return is believed to hinge on a sponsorship deal that will bring income to the team and pay Raikkonen a decent salary.
It has emerged that the team's attempts to pull off the Raikkonen coup are linked to backing from the Qatar National Bank as a major sponsor.
The Brazilian media, with Rubens Barrichello's interests close at heart, are monitoring the situation carefully and revealed at the weekend that Frank Williams has recently spent time personally in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Williams, of course, already has business interests in Qatar but many will remember that it was backing from that part of the world that launched the team on its route to the top more than 30 years ago.
The word on the street is that Kimi Raikkonen is now favourite to join Pastor Maldonado at Williams next year.
The 2007 world champion and his advisors are known to have had talks with Williams some time ago but the Finn's return is believed to hinge on a sponsorship deal that will bring income to the team and pay Raikkonen a decent salary.
It has emerged that the team's attempts to pull off the Raikkonen coup are linked to backing from the Qatar National Bank as a major sponsor.
The Brazilian media, with Rubens Barrichello's interests close at heart, are monitoring the situation carefully and revealed at the weekend that Frank Williams has recently spent time personally in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Williams, of course, already has business interests in Qatar but many will remember that it was backing from that part of the world that launched the team on its route to the top more than 30 years ago.
Crafty_ said:
I think SFW has lost the plot if any of this is true, the money would be better spent on the car. Less than 2 years in and Kimi is bored with rallying and couldn't be bothered to go to Australia, in Spain the car was damaged and is repairable but he quit it anyway. I can see him walking mid season when he gets bored.. is he even going to turn up with any motivation ?
Presumably the intention is that the sponsor will give them £x, they'll spent £.5x on Kimi leaving them having an addional £.5x that they wouldnt have had to spend on the car without Kimi?Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff