No Red Bull seat for Raikkonen
Discussion
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109333
I'm pleased to see Ricciardo get the seat but at the same time it's a shame that we won't see a WDC up against Vettel in the same team, that would have been interesting.
I wonder if Vettel had a say in the outcome or not, if he didn't I wonder why Kimi has not signed up, I couldn't see any driver turning down a drive in the Red Bull.
I think Ricciardo will do well.
Autosport said:
Daniel Ricciardo is now set to secure the second Red Bull Formula 1 seat for 2014, with talks between the team and Kimi Raikkonen having come to an end.
Amid growing speculation that Red Bull had decided to pick Ricciardo, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson told AUTOSPORT on Monday that the Finn was no longer a contender to line-up alongside Sebastian Vettel next year.
Robertson confirmed the news, which first appeared in Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, that the former world champion's discussions with Red Bull had come to an end.
"It's true," said Robertson. "Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks, but a deal will not be happening."
Red Bull had openly admitted that its choice for Mark Webber's replacement was between Raikkonen and Ricciardo - despite being made aware in Hungary that Fernando Alonso could be available too.
Raikkonen had always been happy to stay at Lotus for 2014, but the prospect of racing for reigning champion Red Bull was given serious consideration.
The Finn's representatives opened negotiations with Red Bull, as the team weighed up whether to opt for Raikkonen's experience and guaranteed speed, or put its faith in a youngster like Ricciardo as a long term prospect.
Although Red Bull is insisting that it is not in a position yet to announce its 2014 drivers, Robertson's revelation that Raikkonen is now out of the running points to a Ricciardo deal being a formality.
An announcement about Red Bull's plans could be made as soon as this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, although the team may opt to wait for the following race in Italy.
Should Ricciardo be confirmed, he will move up to Red Bull's main team after two full seasons with its junior Toro Rosso outfit. He also competed in 11 races for HRT in 2011.
The collapse of the Red Bull talks means that Raikkonen's best option to remain in competitive machinery in 2014 is to finalise a fresh deal with Lotus.
But such a deal is not a formality, amid questions about the financial health of the team, with Raikkonen having been paid late on some occasions.
Robertson said that Lotus was just one possibility for Raikkonen as talks continued with a number of teams.
"We are pretty confident that Kimi will be in F1 next year," he explained. "There are options - and that is plural - out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I am hopeful we will sort something out in the not too distant future."
Amid growing speculation that Red Bull had decided to pick Ricciardo, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson told AUTOSPORT on Monday that the Finn was no longer a contender to line-up alongside Sebastian Vettel next year.
Robertson confirmed the news, which first appeared in Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, that the former world champion's discussions with Red Bull had come to an end.
"It's true," said Robertson. "Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks, but a deal will not be happening."
Red Bull had openly admitted that its choice for Mark Webber's replacement was between Raikkonen and Ricciardo - despite being made aware in Hungary that Fernando Alonso could be available too.
Raikkonen had always been happy to stay at Lotus for 2014, but the prospect of racing for reigning champion Red Bull was given serious consideration.
The Finn's representatives opened negotiations with Red Bull, as the team weighed up whether to opt for Raikkonen's experience and guaranteed speed, or put its faith in a youngster like Ricciardo as a long term prospect.
Although Red Bull is insisting that it is not in a position yet to announce its 2014 drivers, Robertson's revelation that Raikkonen is now out of the running points to a Ricciardo deal being a formality.
An announcement about Red Bull's plans could be made as soon as this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, although the team may opt to wait for the following race in Italy.
Should Ricciardo be confirmed, he will move up to Red Bull's main team after two full seasons with its junior Toro Rosso outfit. He also competed in 11 races for HRT in 2011.
The collapse of the Red Bull talks means that Raikkonen's best option to remain in competitive machinery in 2014 is to finalise a fresh deal with Lotus.
But such a deal is not a formality, amid questions about the financial health of the team, with Raikkonen having been paid late on some occasions.
Robertson said that Lotus was just one possibility for Raikkonen as talks continued with a number of teams.
"We are pretty confident that Kimi will be in F1 next year," he explained. "There are options - and that is plural - out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I am hopeful we will sort something out in the not too distant future."
I'm pleased to see Ricciardo get the seat but at the same time it's a shame that we won't see a WDC up against Vettel in the same team, that would have been interesting.
I wonder if Vettel had a say in the outcome or not, if he didn't I wonder why Kimi has not signed up, I couldn't see any driver turning down a drive in the Red Bull.
I think Ricciardo will do well.
Not a surprise, but still a shame for F1. It would have been fascinating to see Kimi take on Vettel in the same machinery.
Perhaps Vettel disagrees with this view and has insisted that his new team-mate be given undisputed number 2 status, safe in the knowledge that Kimi would never agree to this.
Ricciardo is obviously talented and seems like a nice lad. I wish him the best of luck at Red Bull. He could be in for a frustrating few years as Seb's b
h.
Perhaps Vettel disagrees with this view and has insisted that his new team-mate be given undisputed number 2 status, safe in the knowledge that Kimi would never agree to this.
Ricciardo is obviously talented and seems like a nice lad. I wish him the best of luck at Red Bull. He could be in for a frustrating few years as Seb's b
h. I hope Lotus get their finances sorted. It's the perfect team for Kimi. Just like Nelson Piquet Senior at the same team in 1990 and 1991 it is allowing a driver to flourish again late in his career. We'll never really know how hard he has to work to be successful, but I guess it's not as hard as it would be in the same team as Alonso or Vettel....
As for Ricciardo,it's a good move for both team and driver. If he can be top five in the title race next year, it'll be similar to Webber, but with more potential ahead of him.
As for Ricciardo,it's a good move for both team and driver. If he can be top five in the title race next year, it'll be similar to Webber, but with more potential ahead of him.
Redlake27 said:
I hope Lotus get their finances sorted. It's the perfect team for Kimi. Just like Nelson Piquet Senior at the same team in 1990 and 1991 it is allowing a driver to flourish again late in his career. We'll never really know how hard he has to work to be successful, but I guess it's not as hard as it would be in the same team as Alonso or Vettel....
As for Ricciardo,it's a good move for both team and driver. If he can be top five in the title race next year, it'll be similar to Webber, but with more potential ahead of him.
It's a good job they don't pay Kimi on the same basis as they paid Nelson...the letter's results improved massively when they agreed that deal....As for Ricciardo,it's a good move for both team and driver. If he can be top five in the title race next year, it'll be similar to Webber, but with more potential ahead of him.
I totally agree that Enstone is a better place for Kimi than MK though...
God, if EJ calls it right again after the Hamilton to Merc move I might find the need to listen to him. That's not a place I want to be!
An open seat at RedBull should be a really juicy prospect after the driver is named. I just can't get excited about Ricciardo getting it. If you took all drivers with under 3 full seasons under their belts plus the younger reserves and some of the top GP2 drivers how far up the list would he be? I'm not sure. I can totally understand why RedBull feel they need another go at producing another long term F1 driver from their scheme though. Hope they call it right.
An open seat at RedBull should be a really juicy prospect after the driver is named. I just can't get excited about Ricciardo getting it. If you took all drivers with under 3 full seasons under their belts plus the younger reserves and some of the top GP2 drivers how far up the list would he be? I'm not sure. I can totally understand why RedBull feel they need another go at producing another long term F1 driver from their scheme though. Hope they call it right.
So all this speculation about Kimi being either RB (not now obv.) or Ferrari bouund, who does that leave for the Lotus seat? Despite dodgy finances they've put a championship challenge together for two years, are race winners and seem to have a handle on the tyre shenanigans.
Whoever ends up in that Lotus seat should have a quick car and a teammate who should be easily beatable with a bit of patience.
I don't know if Lotus would be interested, but assuming no other top names want to take a vacated Kimi seat, then I think Di Resta would be a good fit and would get the measure of Grosjean pretty quickly.
Whoever ends up in that Lotus seat should have a quick car and a teammate who should be easily beatable with a bit of patience.
I don't know if Lotus would be interested, but assuming no other top names want to take a vacated Kimi seat, then I think Di Resta would be a good fit and would get the measure of Grosjean pretty quickly.
Hulkenburg would replace Kimi and may even replace Grosgean depending on the remainder of his season.
Is no one excited by the thought of Kimi vs Alonso??? I know I am and I personally would rather see that battle than Seb vs Kimi.
Kimi wants out of Lotus to a better team as he is savvy enough to know the teams budgets etc. But he wont leave to a worse team thus currently its Ferrari or Lotus as as much as I would like sergio to disappear it wont happen and all other seats are done.
Is no one excited by the thought of Kimi vs Alonso??? I know I am and I personally would rather see that battle than Seb vs Kimi.
Kimi wants out of Lotus to a better team as he is savvy enough to know the teams budgets etc. But he wont leave to a worse team thus currently its Ferrari or Lotus as as much as I would like sergio to disappear it wont happen and all other seats are done.
Edited by TheArchitect on Tuesday 20th August 10:47
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