Kimi Räikkönen will undergo back surgery this coming week, the consequent four weeks recovery time forcing him to miss the forthcoming United States and Brazilian Grands Prix.
Kimi suffered from issues with his back earlier this year at the Singapore Grand Prix and a reoccurrence of this problem has forced him to have surgery now to help prevent ongoing problems in the future, and to ensure he is at full fitness for the 2014 season.
Kimi and his management are saddened that Kimi will not be able to complete the 2013 season with Lotus F1 Team where he was fighting for third position in the Drivers' Championship. They would also like to thank all fans for the thousands of kind messages received since the news has emerged.
Thanks icemaid , The difference in the statement issued by the Robertsons and the one issued by Lotus is quite stark.
"Lotus F1 Team can confirm that Kimi Räikkönen will miss the final two races of the 2013 Formula 1 season to undergo, and recover from, back surgery,"
One is comprehensive and considered, the other seems to be just an attempt to say something official, I wouldn't doubt that Kimi notified Boullier earlier, that would be a matter of courtesy to someone who doesn't control the finances, I would wonder though whether Kimi woke him up and got him out of bed with the phone call lol.
Oh well, onwards and upwards, I'll content myself with watching all of the 2007 season again, but i will keep watching for the remaining 2 races, they just might be interesting.
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#1354 | RE: IcemanSun Nov 10, 2013 9:01 pm (Last edited: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:05 pm)
It is sad that Kimi will not race for the rest of the season. But I think this is a good decision, it will take him a few weeks to recover from this surgery. Drivers train the most during the off season it is the time where you really build up your fitness, the testing season starts much earlier next season, it would be difficult to get into top shape with a back surgery if Kimi raced until the end. This seems like sensible decision.
wish him well and can say only one thing - Lotus was digging that 'grave' themselves. didn't pay, insulted and didn't fix the seat properly. He found the best way to 'fulfil' contract and say 'up yours' at the same time
Nomad, you're the rider so mysterious Nomad, you're the spirit that men fear in us
one must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star - it's a satanic drug thing you wouldn't understand...
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#1356 | RE: IcemanMon Nov 11, 2013 2:37 am (Last edited: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:39 am)
Quote: Denorth wrote in post #1355wish him well and can say only one thing - Lotus was digging that 'grave' themselves. didn't pay, insulted and didn't fix the seat properly. He found the best way to 'fulfil' contract and say 'up yours' at the same time
Absolutely.
This reminded me of what Martin Whitemarsh said of Kimi in 2009 when it was announced that Kimi is leaving Ferrari. "Kimi is supersmart!"
Let's hope for a successful surgery & get well soon Kimi!
quoteSalo backs Raikkonen’s surgery over Lotus finale
Late last week, immediately after Abu Dhabi, there was no sign Kimi Raikkonen was planning to sit out the last two grands prix of his tenure with Lotus.
Indeed, late on Friday, the team released its official preview of the US Grand Prix, in which it appeared the Finn’s now tense relationship with Lotus had eased.
“He is completely on-side,” said team boss Eric Boullier, while Raikkonen was quoted as saying he was “particularly looking forward” to the race weekend.
Within two days, Lotus was issuing a new statement, confirming Raikkonen is out for imminent back surgery.
“Was Kimi sitting comfortably for his seat fitting at Ferrari on Thursday, I wonder?” Reuters correspondent Alan Baldwin commented cynically on Twitter.
“You’d think Lotus might have delayed issuing their race preview on Friday if there was an imminent risk of surgery,” he added.
Indeed, as Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson said the surgery had to happen this week because of “severe pain”, the timing of the Ferrari seat fitting is also awkward.
The well-connected La Gazzetta dello Sport said Raikkonen was in Maranello last Thursday, where he also met with new bosses Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali.
Former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo, however, backed Raikkonen’s decision to sit out Austin and Brazil in order to have back surgery.
“It has been a problem for Kimi for a long time,” the Finn told the broadcaster MTV3.
“He was going to have it done in the winter anyway, so when thinking about all that has happened with Lotus – the wages, the deteriorating atmosphere – then I think this is the right decision,” added Salo.
“It will give him more time to recover before the tests start in January.”
However, Raikkonen’s management says the driver will only have to recover for a four week period, which suggests the surgery could have been done after the season finale late this month.
His absence is a real blow to financially-struggling Lotus, who were hoping to improve on fourth in the lucrative constructors’ world championship.
“This surgery may cost Lotus millions,” said MTV3 commentator Oskari Saari. “There is a big (financial) difference between second and fourth.” (GMM)
Most people assume that Kimi is hastening the surgery due the problems with Lotus. But I do wonder about the impact Kimi had in Abu Dhabi, that got him disqualified, that impact was reportedly 21g, Alonso is having problems and he only had a 15g impact. To get such an impact on an already existing injury might just have been too much.
quote I am disappointed because I can't drive the last to races and fight for the place in top 3 for the second time in a row - and to help Lotus in the WCC-serie. I would have liked to end the season properly, but the pain is just so hard that I can't even think about getting into a car, Räikkönen told TS.
– The best solution was to have the surgery immediately so that the problem can be removed as fast as possible. With this schedule I can also guarantee that I'm in a full stitch next year.
quote Lopez admits frustration with Raikkonen surgery By Editor on Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Gerard Lopez, the head of Lotus’ team owner Genii, might be among the cynics after news broke that Kimi Raikkonen will sit out the rest of the season.
The Finnish driver and his management say Raikkonen must undergo back surgery to end a run of worsening pain and ensure he is ready to return fighting fit for the start of his Ferrari return in 2014.
The cynics, however, might wonder if the timing of the surgery is related to Raikkonen’s pay dispute with the financially-struggling Lotus outfit.
The timing is also interesting, given the fact Ferrari is locked in a battle with Lotus in the lucrative constructors’ world championship with just two races to go.
“Primarily this is about Raikkonen’s health, and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Lopez told the German newspaper Die Welt.
“But the operation comes at a very unfortunate and unsuitable time for Lotus. And I also know what sport we are in,” he added, in an obvious reference to the sceptics’ doubts.
Lopez’s frustration is perhaps understandable, given that despite Lotus having one of the very fastest cars on the grid, every headline is focused on the team’s money problems.
“Again and again I read these negative headlines,” he said, “while no one seems to care that we decided to save a company and about 500 employees.
“Of course we know that Formula One is not a charitable organisation, but there are huge differences in how the teams are financially supported by Formula One.
“It is not about the other (top) teams managing to get more investment, but the fact that they simply get more money,” argued Lopez.
“And not because they are better, but because they are apparently more important. We begin our 100 metre race at the 200 metre point,” he added, “and still we make it to the podium.”
Lotus has been exposed to a lot of negative press, especially in the latter half of the year, because of their financial issues. But it's not just about other teams "getting" more money. Lotus had arguably the most popular driver on the grid providing very strong and consistent results. Who may have been willing to commit to that team for a few more years after 2013. But they were unable to market effectively and bring sponsors (and thus more money) to the team. At some point, the owners and management need to take the blame for ineffective marketing.
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Sun Nov 10, 2013 4:48 pm
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, The difference in the statement issued by the Robertsons and the one issued by Lotus is quite stark.
) from this article. 
too