Raikkonen says he might leave F1?
Discussion
Kimi Raikkonen says he is yet to decide if he will continue racing in Formula 1 next year after it was announced he will not be at Ferrari.
The former world champion, who joined Ferrari in 2007 and went on to win the title, will be replaced by Fernando Alonso from next year, despite having a contract that run out at the end of 2010.
Although Raikkonen has been linked with a return to McLaren, the Finn admitted he is still thinking about whether he wants to race on in F1 or not.
"So far I have not talked too much about what I will do next, as I still have time to make my decision and I will let you know when I have," Raikkonen said ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
"For the moment, I haven't decided what I want to do next, whether I want to continue racing or not. I had a contract for next year, but now I don't, so that changes things. So maybe I race, maybe I do not."
He said switching to the World Rally Championship was a possibility.
"Yes, there's a chance to do that, but there's as much of a chance that I continue in Formula 1. I will decide before the start of next year for sure! If I do decide to stay in Formula 1, I wouldn't go to any of the small teams, where I would not have the chance to fight for the championship.
"If I race next year, that would be my goal, otherwise there is no reason to be in Formula 1. I achieved what I wanted, but if I race, then of course, I want to win more races and championship titles."
Raikkonen said there were many factors for his decision to agree to terminate his contract early, and insisted he was pleased with his call.
"There are many reasons why this has happened," said the Finn ahead of the Japanese GP. "In F1, even if you have a contract, there can always be different options in life. There is not just one reason why this happened and we all reached the same decision.
"I'm still happy with what I have done in making this decision and I think I will still have a good future. Usually when you make a contract, you stick with it to the end, but there were reasons why it did not work out, but I'm okay with how things have turned out."
He added: "I have nothing bad to say about them as we always had a good relationship. I don't think anyone expected Ferrari to have this sort of season, which turned out to be so difficult. But this can happen in F1 sometimes, when you don't deliver a car capable of always being at the front, but this is just one year and we will wait and see what happens next.
"I would not have done anything different: of course I would like to win more races, but in terms of decisions about my life, I would not do anything differently to the way I have done it. I am happy with what I have achieved, even if whenever you look back, you think you might have done things differently, but that's easy to say when you look back.
"But in terms of contracts and so on, I would not do anything different. With Ferrari, I have achieved what I set out to do in winning the title.
"We had good times and sometimes more difficult times, but that's part of this business and you just have to get through those moments. We won many championships, one for me, two for the team and I have happy memories."
The former world champion, who joined Ferrari in 2007 and went on to win the title, will be replaced by Fernando Alonso from next year, despite having a contract that run out at the end of 2010.
Although Raikkonen has been linked with a return to McLaren, the Finn admitted he is still thinking about whether he wants to race on in F1 or not.
"So far I have not talked too much about what I will do next, as I still have time to make my decision and I will let you know when I have," Raikkonen said ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
"For the moment, I haven't decided what I want to do next, whether I want to continue racing or not. I had a contract for next year, but now I don't, so that changes things. So maybe I race, maybe I do not."
He said switching to the World Rally Championship was a possibility.
"Yes, there's a chance to do that, but there's as much of a chance that I continue in Formula 1. I will decide before the start of next year for sure! If I do decide to stay in Formula 1, I wouldn't go to any of the small teams, where I would not have the chance to fight for the championship.
"If I race next year, that would be my goal, otherwise there is no reason to be in Formula 1. I achieved what I wanted, but if I race, then of course, I want to win more races and championship titles."
Raikkonen said there were many factors for his decision to agree to terminate his contract early, and insisted he was pleased with his call.
"There are many reasons why this has happened," said the Finn ahead of the Japanese GP. "In F1, even if you have a contract, there can always be different options in life. There is not just one reason why this happened and we all reached the same decision.
"I'm still happy with what I have done in making this decision and I think I will still have a good future. Usually when you make a contract, you stick with it to the end, but there were reasons why it did not work out, but I'm okay with how things have turned out."
He added: "I have nothing bad to say about them as we always had a good relationship. I don't think anyone expected Ferrari to have this sort of season, which turned out to be so difficult. But this can happen in F1 sometimes, when you don't deliver a car capable of always being at the front, but this is just one year and we will wait and see what happens next.
"I would not have done anything different: of course I would like to win more races, but in terms of decisions about my life, I would not do anything differently to the way I have done it. I am happy with what I have achieved, even if whenever you look back, you think you might have done things differently, but that's easy to say when you look back.
"But in terms of contracts and so on, I would not do anything different. With Ferrari, I have achieved what I set out to do in winning the title.
"We had good times and sometimes more difficult times, but that's part of this business and you just have to get through those moments. We won many championships, one for me, two for the team and I have happy memories."
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of.If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
+1He may be an above average driver (when he can be bothered!) but his lack of interest or respect for anything else won't be missed - by me at least.
If he does leave (rather than go to McLaren) then I imagine that Lewis will be both disappointed and relieved at the same time!
TheArchitect said:
where is this article from? will be a shame to see him go but as said doesnt sound like he is too fussed about staying in f1 now.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79082Edited by kaese on Thursday 1st October 11:23
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of.If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?
I have thought for a long time that Kimi was unhappy, and have said many times that it wouldn't surprise me if he turned his back on F1.
He strikes me as the type of guy that likes to enjoy what he is doing, and he gains his enjoyment through being competitive and winning. Also I think the relentless media presence and corportate bulls
t that goes with F1 doesn't suit him. He seems like a chilled out guy who likes to go for a blast in a competitive F1 car every now and then but doesn't like the bits in between.
To be honest I'd say the WRC would suit him better, its a far more relaxed environment, far less media, far less corporate nonsense. If he does a year or two there he could come back, after having a break from it all, or go and do Le Mans etc.... he has so many options open to him, I wouldn't blame him for opting out, especially considering that F1 just seems to be getting more and more political and its not like he has to worry about money anymore is it?
He strikes me as the type of guy that likes to enjoy what he is doing, and he gains his enjoyment through being competitive and winning. Also I think the relentless media presence and corportate bulls
t that goes with F1 doesn't suit him. He seems like a chilled out guy who likes to go for a blast in a competitive F1 car every now and then but doesn't like the bits in between.To be honest I'd say the WRC would suit him better, its a far more relaxed environment, far less media, far less corporate nonsense. If he does a year or two there he could come back, after having a break from it all, or go and do Le Mans etc.... he has so many options open to him, I wouldn't blame him for opting out, especially considering that F1 just seems to be getting more and more political and its not like he has to worry about money anymore is it?
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of. If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?mchammer89 said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of.If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?
Maybe you could let us all know why you love Kimi? Personality? Set-up skills? Reasonable wages? He is Finnish?
Ian Davidson said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of.If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?
Wanta996Gotta said:
Ian Davidson said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
Not so sure. He has a WDC and seems to be loved by many with his habit of posting fastest laps (when it does not matter may i add) BUT, i would have liked to have seen him go up against Lewis in the same car to finally see what he was made of.If he does leave then it just proves that Ferrari were maybe right to get rid of him as his heart is no longer there OR the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?
Wanta996Gotta said:
mchammer89 said:
I'm not so sure his fans are fans because he has a habit of posting fastest laps.
Why else? Massa showed him how to drive in 2008 and all i hear from Ferrari fans is that he is the quickest driver and has a good record for fastest laps? Maybe you could let us all know why you love Kimi? Personality? Set-up skills? Reasonable wages? He is Finnish?
e. He just wants to go to a race, race, and go home, and I respect that. Plus he has had a few Hakkinen/Gronholm-esque interview moments which are always good to see.ETA - I absolutely love how PH's perception of Massa has completely turned around in the past few weeks, it's pretty funny and I still don't quite understand it.
Edited by mchammer89 on Thursday 1st October 11:44
Wanta996Gotta said:
Mini1275 said:
No big loss in my opinion.
the cynics could say he has'nt got the bottle to go up against Lewis?"For me it makes no difference who drives the second car. I don't think it is 100 per cent sure that he will drive as he is still checking things out. But it will be nice to have him as a team-mate. It nearly happened before," he said. Planet F1.
Raikkonen was due to partner Schumacher when he joined Ferrari, as he alludes to in his last sentence.
He wasn't worried about Schumacher. He wouldn't be worried about Hamilton.
mchammer89 said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
mchammer89 said:
I'm not so sure his fans are fans because he has a habit of posting fastest laps.
Why else? Massa showed him how to drive in 2008 and all i hear from Ferrari fans is that he is the quickest driver and has a good record for fastest laps? Maybe you could let us all know why you love Kimi? Personality? Set-up skills? Reasonable wages? He is Finnish?
e. He just wants to go to a race, race, and go home, and I respect that. Plus he has had a few Hakkinen/Gronholm-esque interview moments which are always good to see.Out of all the drivers, who would you choose to go on a night out with?
Sometimes, what they do on the circuit has nothing to do with how they are viewed by the public. I liked Zsolt Baumgartner, not because he deserved a place in F1, or because he had a (oh so important to some people) flamboyant driving style, but because his name sounded like "Bum-Gardener".
I like Kimi for his don't care attitude.
mchammer89 said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
mchammer89 said:
I'm not so sure his fans are fans because he has a habit of posting fastest laps.
Why else? Massa showed him how to drive in 2008 and all i hear from Ferrari fans is that he is the quickest driver and has a good record for fastest laps? Maybe you could let us all know why you love Kimi? Personality? Set-up skills? Reasonable wages? He is Finnish?
e. He just wants to go to a race, race, and go home, and I respect that. Plus he has had a few Hakkinen/Gronholm-esque interview moments which are always good to see.ETA - I absolutely love how PH's perception of Massa has completely turned around in the past few weeks, it's pretty funny and I still don't quite understand it.
Edited by mchammer89 on Thursday 1st October 11:44
es??? Great, you must love the Buemis,Heidfeilds and Badoers of this world as i dont think they are in the media spotlight atall.You must have hated Schumacher as he grossed over £100 million one season for being a media corporate w
e??? Racing a fighter jet down a runway sound familer? Or does it not count when its Ferrari or Schuey?P.S. How much do you think he gets paid for hanging around the Ferrari paddock or unveiling the new Ferrari 458 road car taliking to potential customers how close to an F1 car it really is? Corporate Media w
e?Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Thursday 1st October 11:55
Mini1275 said:
Hamilton drives in F1 because he has a passion for F1 and close racing, Kimi does it for the money - he wouldn't give a st if he never drove a car again.
I think you meant to write, Hamilton is the corporate F1 yes man that surrounds himself with look-at-me-celebrity bling, and Kimi just wants to drive stuff fast, whatever it is and doesn't give a toss about the circus of F1.t if he never drove a car again.They are both very good and very quick drivers, but Kimi is the true petrolhead IMHO.
Wanta996Gotta said:
mchammer89 said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
mchammer89 said:
I'm not so sure his fans are fans because he has a habit of posting fastest laps.
Why else? Massa showed him how to drive in 2008 and all i hear from Ferrari fans is that he is the quickest driver and has a good record for fastest laps? Maybe you could let us all know why you love Kimi? Personality? Set-up skills? Reasonable wages? He is Finnish?
e. He just wants to go to a race, race, and go home, and I respect that. Plus he has had a few Hakkinen/Gronholm-esque interview moments which are always good to see.ETA - I absolutely love how PH's perception of Massa has completely turned around in the past few weeks, it's pretty funny and I still don't quite understand it.
Edited by mchammer89 on Thursday 1st October 11:44
es??? Great, you must love the Buemis,Heidfeilds and Badoers of this world as i dont think they are in the media spotlight atall.You must have hated Schumacher as he grossed over £100 million one season for being a media corporate w
e??? Racing a fighter jet down a runway sound familer? Or does it not count when its Ferrari or Schuey?es or not, I said that was a reason I liked him. You're right though, I do like Heidfeld for that reason, he's a very good driver, but stays away from the spotlight, as opposed to Buemi (who admittedly is doing pretty decent for a rookie) and Badoer who aren't in the spotlight because they're not good enough.Now run along little chap, lunch time is almost over, don't want you being late for class.
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