Happyhappyhappyhappy.....! Not so happy I have to , again, be in party while Kimi drives. This is already fourth time I miss the race. Hm...but I might be able tobe in chat in a car while we drive home from north.
quoteSebastian Vettel Q&A: Keeping Kimi the right decision
08 Jul 2016
Friday at Silverstone brought news that Ferrari have retained Kimi Raikkonen for 2017 to once more partner Sebastian Vettel. Team principal Maurizio Arrivebene says the early announcement will relieve the pressure on Raikkonen, but what does Vettel think? The German spoke to the media about this and other topics following the opening practice sessions for the 2016 Formula One British Grand Prix…
Q: Sebastian, whatever happened on the track today was overshadowed by the news that Kimi Raikkonen will be your team mate for another season. Is that something that gets your nod?
Sebastian Vettel: I think it was the right thing to do. We are both pushing very hard in the primary target to catch the leaders - Mercedes - so there is plenty work ahead of us.
Q: We have recently seen some high-profile team mate clashes. What about Kimi and you?
SV: I would say that Kimi and I have the fewest ego problems in the whole paddock - and that should be good for the team in the long run. Working in the same direction will pay off. On the track we both race hard - also against each other, but there is no personal agenda attached to it.
Q: Is Kimi the easiest team mate that you ever had?
SV: It is the least complicated. But in the end I’ve got along with all my team mates. Yes, there have been little issues here and there. But with Kimi there are no politics - and that is good and keeps everything quiet.
By: Jonathan Noble, Formula 1 Editor Yesterday at 5:54pm
Kimi Raikkonen's new Ferrari deal was sorted out in a matter of hours following a phone call from company president Sergio Marchionne on Thursday night, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has revealed.
Following months of speculation about Raikkonen's future, Ferrari caused a surprise on Friday morning when it announced that the Finn would be remaining as Sebastian Vettel's teammate in 2017.
Speaking about the reasons for the move, Arrivabene said that a key motivator was in removing any pressure from its driver situation at a time when the outfit needs to focus on car improvements.
"We confirmed Kimi because first of all he deserves it," explained Arrivabene. "Having said so, we are looking for the interests of the team and the interest of the team was not looking for another driver but concentrating on car development.
"We have two good drivers so that was not an issue for us, so we remove all the pressure from the shoulders of Kimi in taking this decision.
"That actually was confirmed yesterday in a phone call from the president, and a couple of hours [later] we are with Kimi. We turn the page and we look forward to work very hard where the problem is." Commitment
Arrivabene said that Raikkonen's improved results this year were enough for Ferrari to believe that the Finn had the commitment required of him.
"He was asked to show his commitment, his results, so he deserved the confirmation for next year," he claimed.
"We needed a kind of good atmosphere in the team and the drivers could help to keep this atmosphere and due to the fact that the team is still quite new and we need to keep the same commitment for everybody without inserting into the team elements that they can disturb or something new that could break this balance.
"Having said so, I also said that we confirm Kimi not very soon, because we are in July but normally the tradition of Ferrari, this is probably what you refer to, it was to do a press release in Monza.
"We are a new team, we have changed the tradition and we are confirming now because I think we would like to be, as I said, focused and concentrated on car development and not about confirmation or non-confirmation of the drivers. So it's a message of stability."
He added: "Relating to the pressure, you know better than me that in the last three or four races every time that Kimi was sitting in a press conference somebody would ask what about his contract, what about your contract?
"I asked many many times for a bit of respect for a driver that was a world champion with Ferrari.
"I know that his nickname is Iceman but he's a human being. Sometimes in Formula 1 we need to be conscious that we are talking, not with cars because actually the computer talks with the car but the cars are driven by human beings so even Iceman is a human being with his emotions and I think he could feel the pressure. That's it."
One evening for the new contract And Nico Rosberg is negotiating since weeks with Mercedes
Oh how nice. I really like this Kimi-Vettel-Allison-Arrivabene-Marchionne new Scudería Ferrari, they have improved a lot since 2014 and I'm sure they will get even better.
I'm really grateful for the treatment they are giving Kimi, he sure deserves it and Ferrari owed it to him.
I really hope Ferrari can get back to the top sooner rather than later, so Kimi can enjoy some of the success after all his hard work and dedication to his team for years.
‘Kimi could be racing in 2018’ Date published: July 19 2016
According to Kimi Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson, the Ferrari diver could be racing in F1 until 2018.
The Finn recently extended his contract with Scuderia into 2017, something Robertson believes will motivate him even more in the future.
Whether or not he decides to stay at the Italian outfit beyond 2017 is up to Raikkonen and no-else, says his manager.
"First of all it comes down to Kimi," he told Motorsport.com.
"Would he want to go on another year? My honest opinion is that at this moment in time, as motivated as he is right now, I would say yes. Then it comes down to what the team decides.
"Someone like Kimi is in it for one reason: he loves motor racing, he loves F1. He doesn't need to do it for any reason other than he loves it.
"He's fully motivated. He's made that very clear to the public, and for me, you can see it. I've known the guy for so many years, and for me he seems as motivated as when he was a young kid coming along.
"I'm pleased for Kimi that it's a done deal now, he knows where he's going to be next year. It's pressure off for him, and he can have a much nicer summer break now, knowing that he's got what he wanted."
Robertson also went on to add that the 2007 World Champion is satisfied with his current car and hit back critics saying that Ferrari should have made a change instead of sticking with their current line-up.
"He's happier with the car," added Robertson.
"Kimi is very particular with the front end, and this car is more to his liking than the previous cars.
"If you look at where he is this year compared to last year, points-wise, it's very clear. At the end of the day the team have all the information at hand, more than anybody else. What does he bring to the team? Is there anybody better out there that's available?
"Obviously they felt that wasn't the case. Only they know what he brings to the team, and at the end of the day, they made the choice.
"The one thing about Kimi is that he's a non-confrontational guy. Sometimes if there's no harmony in the team it can be disruptive in the long term."
quoteProst: “La F1 ha bisogno di piloti come Raikkonen”
Il campione francese plaude alla scelta Ferrari che ha da poco rinnovato con il finlandese
Alla vigilia del GP di Silverstone la Ferrari ha annunciato il prolungamento del contratto di Raikkonen per il 2017, una notizia che a molti detrattori del finnico ha fatto venire il mal di pancia ma di certo non ad Alain Prost che invece parlando a Canal + ha definito la decisione del Cavallino come la migliore possibile. “Kimi è un’icona. Un personaggio unico e la F1 ha bisogno di lui” – ha detto il Professore. “Riguardo la scelta della Scuderia era ovvio che avrebbe preso quella strada considerate le nuove regole che entreranno in vigore, inoltre mettere vicino a Vettel un giovane in una fase che permane di ristrutturazione interna sarebbe stato destabilizzante” – ha analizzato il 61enne. “Bisogna pure considerare che ora a causa della crescita della Red Bull Maranello non è più la seconda forza del mondiale e ad esempio in Inghilterra l’abbiamo vista in bagarre con la Force India. Una stagione di calma sarà di conseguenza necessaria per tornare al livello che meritano”. Chiara Rainis
quoteProst: “La F1 ha bisogno di piloti come Raikkonen”
Yeah, nice to read. But the week before he want Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari for 2017. He is a bit "like a flag in the wind" (no clue if you have this saying in English). Means he is changing his opinion very often (as long his name is in the press). Thats my opinion to Mr Prost!
“I am fast, motivated and the team still wants me. Ferrari will win and the fans will return loving us.”
Corriere dello Sport, 23.7.2016 Corriere dello Sport 23.7.2016_1.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Corriere dello Sport 23.7.2016_2.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
You just extended your contract for 2017 with Ferrari, your manager said you would be ready to stay even longer.
I signed because I feel fast and motivated. I explained to Ferrari to be willing to continue, and from them it has been the same.
Then it seems that your career could continue in the medium term.
I sure don’t worry for 2018, also that’s why I even don't for 2017: I have so much work already now! Right now my mind is taken by this race weekend.
Your confirmation doesn’t convince everyone.
I realize that we let people down more than once. But when we come back to winning the fans will be back on our side, in Formula 1 it works that way.
You are taciturn but in Italy there is a hard core of your fans: What makes you lovable?
Uh, I don’t know, because my priority is to please myself and not really to do anything to please others. Of course the fans have not forgotten the World title of 2007: who wins the title with Ferrari becomes an idol. Let's say that some love me as I am, others do not appreciate me because they would want me different. But I'm me, not anyone else.
With 36 years you are the oldest among the active drivers: There is an age to leave Formula 1?
There is but it’s in the head of each of us, there doesn’t exist a scheme. You have to leave when you feel that you aren’t anymore at the best and for me this moment has not arrived: you could race at forty as Verstappen has started at seventeen.
Sebastian has welcomed your confirmation. But is it really good for a team to have two drivers who are friends? Or do you not get more when the two detest each other, such as Hamilton and Rosberg?
Well, friends: me and Seb don’t meet off track, in private, and things work. When two drivers share the information, they have the same goal, discuss face to face, when the game is fair as in our case, all is easier for everyone. Maybe in other contexts it is better when you hate, I don’t know. In Formula 1 it is useless.
It seems that you have suffered a lot in 2014, when Alonso criticized you at every race.
No, I didn’t suffer. But a team doesn’t work when inside it contains two teams.
Okay, it works better that way but Mercedes wins and wins. Is there at least a technical area in which Ferrari is superior?
No, I don’t think there is. Ferrari has made great steps forward, what has fooled us is that others (Mercedes, ed) have progressed even more.
You are one of the last historical memories of the team: what are the differences between the current one and the one with whom you won the World Championship in 2007?
I come to think more about the similarities: there is a great atmosphere among all those who work there, the new arrivals and those who were already there.
Well, there are differences between the two presidents: Montezemolo and Marchionne are as distant as the North Pole and the South Pole.
(Laughs, spreads his arms) No, about this I will not say anything.
Does it seem normal to race without any problems in Baku and there are a thousand discussions with Ecclestone to renew the contract with Monza?
No, we're going to run where is a lot of money and few spectators but this is not the right path, if the historical circuits pay for it. What are we going to do, take away the home race of Ferrari? In Monza there is history, it is a place that belongs to Formula 1 like Monte Carlo. Forgetting history is never a good thing
Next week is the Rally Finland: Nostalgia?
Well it's my home race that in Formula 1 I don’t have (although here in Hungary came down many of his fans from Finland, ed) and it’s beautiful, it seems like Formula 1 in the woods. The rally I miss a bit but I have a car, a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000, with which every now and then I satisfy the whim of countersteer. But I often think: for sure when I stop with Formula 1 I will return to rally, a difficult sport but a lot of fun.
The tattoos on your arms make you feel better looking or stronger?
They don't make me feel anything, I like them and behind each of them there's something. I didn't get them to feel like a gangster like in case of Maurizio (indicates Arrivabene and the two joke about it)
What games do you like to play with Robin?
When we are together he holds each game for five seconds and wants to go immediately to another, it drives me crazy. Now I think he begins to understand that his father is a driver: every time he sees me appearing on TV, he opens his eyes wide and points his finger at me. He will be free to race, I'm hoping that he never will.
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Fri Jul 08, 2016 10:16 am
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And Nico Rosberg is negotiating since weeks with Mercedes 
Is this the same Santander who pay a lot of money in 2009 for Kimi to go and Fernando to come? 
