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Interesting that when interviewd by Jake and Coulthard, Toyota said that they made him an offer but he asked for more money? Is Kimi seriously wanting to go to Toyota and it seems that money may be his driving force afterall.
Kimi Raikkonen has an offer from Toyota for the 2010 season, and team president John Howett believes the Finn could fit well in the Japanese squad.
"We don't play too many games," Howett told Reuters. "We put on the table what we can afford and what we think is a serious offer in the current market.
"I think genuinely we could work well with him, give him a car that's quick."
He added: "We have had very good relationships with Scandinavian drivers in the rallying times that enjoy life and it works very well, so we could cope with it as a team."
Raikkonen is yet to decide on his future after agreeing to leave the Ferrari team a year before the end of his contract in order to make way for Fernando Alonso.
The Finn has made it clear that he is only interested in staying in Formula 1 if he can fight for wins straight away.
Howett, who had insisted it was very unlikely that Jarno Trulli would stay at the team next year, said the Italian has an offer from Toyota.
He also said the team is still in talks with Timo Glock.
"With both drivers we are still maintaining a degree of discussion," said Howett.
"We have put an offer on the table with Jarno, I think that he himself is not dissatisfied with the financial offer, the bottom line to some extent is certain issues on the contract and I don't think they are negotiable from our side.
"He may well be in the car next year but it's not at all clear."
Kimi Raikkonen has an offer from Toyota for the 2010 season, and team president John Howett believes the Finn could fit well in the Japanese squad.
"We don't play too many games," Howett told Reuters. "We put on the table what we can afford and what we think is a serious offer in the current market.
"I think genuinely we could work well with him, give him a car that's quick."
He added: "We have had very good relationships with Scandinavian drivers in the rallying times that enjoy life and it works very well, so we could cope with it as a team."
Raikkonen is yet to decide on his future after agreeing to leave the Ferrari team a year before the end of his contract in order to make way for Fernando Alonso.
The Finn has made it clear that he is only interested in staying in Formula 1 if he can fight for wins straight away.
Howett, who had insisted it was very unlikely that Jarno Trulli would stay at the team next year, said the Italian has an offer from Toyota.
He also said the team is still in talks with Timo Glock.
"With both drivers we are still maintaining a degree of discussion," said Howett.
"We have put an offer on the table with Jarno, I think that he himself is not dissatisfied with the financial offer, the bottom line to some extent is certain issues on the contract and I don't think they are negotiable from our side.
"He may well be in the car next year but it's not at all clear."
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 20th October 11:47
This translates as "We've offered Jarno £50 to be the 2nd reserve test driver, while we fancy Kimi so we're bunging $20m in his direction. The issue seems to be the downgrade in company motor, We've told Timo we'll sign him in March if we've not found anyone better and he should make his own way to the first race"
It really doesn't sound like there's any cryptic hidden meanings in there at all to me.
Toyota have three drivers, two of whom they wouldn't mind too much if they moved elsewhere, but that's no risk because there is no particular demand for them.
Kimi wants €x, Toyota want to pay €x-1.
Toyota have three drivers, two of whom they wouldn't mind too much if they moved elsewhere, but that's no risk because there is no particular demand for them.
Kimi wants €x, Toyota want to pay €x-1.
I dont think this is really going to light Kimi's fire somehow.
Yeah money and ice creams all seem very exciting until your sat behind a whole grid of cars better equipped.
IMO he'd only end up spoiling any potential enjoyment left for him in the sport.
Im hopefully he'll join either Mclaren / Brawn for another shot at the title.
Yeah money and ice creams all seem very exciting until your sat behind a whole grid of cars better equipped.
IMO he'd only end up spoiling any potential enjoyment left for him in the sport.
Im hopefully he'll join either Mclaren / Brawn for another shot at the title.
A911DOM said:
Im hopefully he'll join either Mclaren / Brawn for another shot at the title.
Ideally that's what he'll do, which would maybe leave Trulli's seat open for Kobayashi. (I'm a bit of a fan already....) I really can't see Kimi moving to Toyota, even if they can offer him the sort of salary he's after. They haven't won a race in almost 8 season after all, no guarantee that will change next yearEdited by norman156 on Tuesday 20th October 12:52
Wanta996Gotta said:
"We have put an offer on the table with Jarno, I think that he himself is not dissatisfied with the financial offer, the bottom line to some extent is certain issues on the contract and I don't think they are negotiable from our side.
"He may well be in the car next year but it's not at all clear."
They are keeping one seat open for Kobiyashi and one for Kimi if he wants it. Trulli's experience would be useful as a test driver, or a replacement who'd be quickly up to speed should Kobi prove to be a lot less capable than his debut suggests."He may well be in the car next year but it's not at all clear."
If Kimi doesn't sign, Trulli is their preferred second option rather than Glock. However the Toyota board want a Japanese driver in the #2 seat and are holding firm on this aspect.
Here's a money offer on the table, Jarno: do you want to be employed in F1 next season or not?
According to the Sun !
He gonna say no, not surprised either.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/motorsp...
Regards
TJ
He gonna say no, not surprised either.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/motorsp...
Regards
TJ
Hes a funny character Kimi, very capable im sure but sometimes he just doesn't come to the races take Sunday for example, first few laps he was a man posessed overtaking everything then he went to the back and stayed there.
Pretty sure he won't be attracted to a lesser team just for the money.
Pretty sure he won't be attracted to a lesser team just for the money.
I think Kimi has had one of his best years ever.
The Ferrari has been pretty difficult (ask Luca and Fisi, and Massa struggled to work wonders with it as well)
Front row at Monaco, win at Spa, feisty at Hungary and Brazil, outperformed the car at Suzuka and Monza....
This year he has reminded me of Villeneuve in 1981.
Toyota could be a good fit. Low profile, but workmanlike, with a very good car this year.
The Ferrari has been pretty difficult (ask Luca and Fisi, and Massa struggled to work wonders with it as well)
Front row at Monaco, win at Spa, feisty at Hungary and Brazil, outperformed the car at Suzuka and Monza....
This year he has reminded me of Villeneuve in 1981.
Toyota could be a good fit. Low profile, but workmanlike, with a very good car this year.
If he is talking to Toyota, it will only be to make Mclaren sweat a little. I would have thought he will be alongside either Lewis or a co-driver next year!
It wont be the money driving him, he has earnt enough of that at Ferrari. Why would he be considering rallying if he only drives for money? Virtually any team on the grid could pay him what he would earn driving a rally car next year.
It wont be the money driving him, he has earnt enough of that at Ferrari. Why would he be considering rallying if he only drives for money? Virtually any team on the grid could pay him what he would earn driving a rally car next year.
Redlake27 said:
Toyota could be a good fit. Low profile, but workmanlike, with a very good car this year.
I agree, if people don't think Trulli, Glock or Kobayashi are the fastest drivers in F1 then imagine what a Raikonnen could do in a car that has achieved podiums, pole position and fastest race laps this year.FourWheelDrift said:
Redlake27 said:
Toyota could be a good fit. Low profile, but workmanlike, with a very good car this year.
I agree, if people don't think Trulli, Glock or Kobayashi are the fastest drivers in F1 then imagine what a Raikonnen could do in a car that has achieved podiums, pole position and fastest race laps this year.I think Toyota were in a odd position - having a fast car but only average drivers. Trulli was always good in qualifying and then went backwards, that can't all be down to the car can it? I've never heard the drives complaining about set-up during the race.
BoRED S2upid said:
Hes a funny character Kimi, very capable im sure but sometimes he just doesn't come to the races take Sunday for example, first few laps he was a man posessed overtaking everything then he went to the back and stayed there.
Prob cus he had fuel burning his eyeballs? just a thought.I think Kimi is living on a different planet if he thinks that any team thinks he is worth 25 Million Euros a year, the guy is delluded
Toyota Team President John Howett admits that Kimi Raikkonen is unlikely to join the team because the driver is asking for too much money.
Having admitted to approaching the Finn with what they believed to be a "serious offer in the current market", Howett seems resigned to missing out on the former World Champion's service unless he drops his wage demands significantly.
"He gave us back a figure that is much too high," the Briton told Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.
"He says he has two options, so we are going to wait," he added.
It is believed that Raikkonen is also in talks with McLaren, the team he spent five years with before joining Ferrari, and that the 30-year-old is requesting 25 million Euros to secure his services.
Toyota Team President John Howett admits that Kimi Raikkonen is unlikely to join the team because the driver is asking for too much money.
Having admitted to approaching the Finn with what they believed to be a "serious offer in the current market", Howett seems resigned to missing out on the former World Champion's service unless he drops his wage demands significantly.
"He gave us back a figure that is much too high," the Briton told Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.
"He says he has two options, so we are going to wait," he added.
It is believed that Raikkonen is also in talks with McLaren, the team he spent five years with before joining Ferrari, and that the 30-year-old is requesting 25 million Euros to secure his services.
25 million is a SERIOUS amount of cash... compare that to Button at 4 million and he brought home the WDC.
The thing to remember with drivers pay though is that it is always a really complicated issue as if they bring in way more in sponsorship than you are paying out it changes the numbers alot, look at Alonso at Ferrari. I don't have any hard figures but I wouldn't be suprised if he is being paid at least that 25 million figure but at the same time bringing in that several times over from Santander so overall the team is better off than paying a less marketable guy (say Kubica) a fraction of the wage.
The thing to remember with drivers pay though is that it is always a really complicated issue as if they bring in way more in sponsorship than you are paying out it changes the numbers alot, look at Alonso at Ferrari. I don't have any hard figures but I wouldn't be suprised if he is being paid at least that 25 million figure but at the same time bringing in that several times over from Santander so overall the team is better off than paying a less marketable guy (say Kubica) a fraction of the wage.
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