Video: Raikkonen at the Burn Yard Live
| Source: formula1.com | f1socialdiary.com |
Kimi Raikkonen proved that driving is not his only talent on Thursday, when he tried his hand at spray painting as part of a Lotus team sponsor event in Barcelona. True, Raikkonen’s work may not yet make the Tate Modern, but for an amateur his skills were surprisingly impressive.
As part of the inaugural ‘burn yard live’, the Finn helped to ‘re-livery’ a Lotus race car under the guidance of world-renowned street artist, M-City. It was the first of a series of such workshops designed to bring together leading innovators from the worlds of youth art, music and sport.
Kimi Raikkonen: “It looks cool. And it fits perfectly with the team’s philosophy of being that extra bit creative. Would I like to race a car designed like this? To be honest, the livery or the colour is the least of my concerns. It has to be fast – that is all that matters.”
The location for Raikkonen’s master class was the regenerated Astilleros shipyards on the shores of Barcelona’s Mediterranean coast. But his artistic education will not stop there – future burn yard live events are planned for locations including Hungary, Korea and Brazil, with the former champion getting a lesson in a new field at each.
Video:
On Twitter:
@burn
Nothing but cool from the #Iceman #Kimi at #burnYard BCN #CatchTheBull #FuelYourFire @Lotus_F1Team http://instagram.com/p/ZGYbkcTT6w/
@AdamHayNicholls
Is Kimi Raikkonen Banksy’s real identity?
Lotus F1 Team Official Partner Burn to introduce exciting new event to the Formula 1 calendar by the name of ‘burn yard live’. On 9th May 2013, the event – the first in a series – will be taking place at the Astilleros shipyards on the shores of Barcelona’s Mediterranean coast. The event will see burn bring together a collective of leading innovators from the worlds of art, music and sport to create a groundbreaking fusion of youth culture. One of the key highlights of the event will see M-City – a street artist renowned globally for his giant monochrome murals – take an unusual canvas in the form of a Lotus F1 Team show car and apply a series of bespoke artwork live in front of an audience.
Q: How long is it going to take to create this artwork?
M-City: It will take me two and a half days to complete the car. At the end of the process, I’ve got a very special guest from Lotus F1 Team – driver Kimi Räikkönen – coming along to help me put the final piece of the design to the car. It will be really cool to collaborate with him.
Kimi at the KINI Full Gas event in Austria
| Source: motorsport-magazin.com | krferraricommunity | gallery |
David Coulthard @therealdcf1
Kini’s full gas event in Austria with Karl. Kini and Kimi pic.twitter.com/MvPnqClONj
He is not only the prelude winner of a Formula 1 season, but also a proud KTM Motocross World Championship Team Owner (ICE1Racing) – Kimi Raikkonen comes to KINI full gas at 01 May 2013 to Schlitters the Zillertal, Austria. The Finn will possibly from the huge array of unique entertainment acts and originals from various motorsport disciplines can thereby also be carried away into a smile, all for the charity Wings For Life.
Video: Kimi at the event
Between 10 and 18 clock offers Heinz Kinigadners extraordinary exhibition Motorsport Motorsport up close in the usual manner. The warm-up party on the eve of a 20 clock begins.
Also this year fulfills Motorcycle legend Heinz Kinigadner with the range of issued racers all desires. The pits in Schlitters offers enough space for noble Formula 1 racing cars, rally trucks and lightning-fast MotoGP bikes. Besides KTM prototypes and e-motorcycles, Moto 3 – and motocross bikes, originals from the Dakar Rally and Nascar series will be admired up close with the motor sports show. New in the show program is the demonstration of the former Supermoto World Champion Bernd Hiemer and its industry peers, as well as the “KTM Zero Emission Race” with the electric freeride bike and numerous Showruns.
The KINI Fullgas day is traditionally a meeting place for motor sports fans as well as for the stars of this year and as follows for the first time Formula 1 star Kimi Raikkonen Heinz Kinigadners invitation. The absolute motocross fan and championship team owner is in the Zillertal including the Austrian ski downhill “bulls” from Oeblarn, Klaus Kroell, can meet and talk not only with Felix Baumgartner and Gregor Bloéb and Tobias Moretti on the orange bikes from Mattighofen .
A dedicated stop the Zillertal railway takes visitors directly to the arena for many thousands of horsepower, engine and freestyle shows, when “Motorsport up close” as the theme and will be opened jointly with the sports-loving celebrities the season. In less than 10 minutes to get from Jenbach half hour easily and directly to the event site, from the bus stop in Mayrhofen one needs about 40 minutes.
The evening before, there is the full gas warm-up party (admission € 5) is directly at the event site and as part of the gas KINI full day in the calendar of every motorsport fans. The total proceeds from the sale and big raffle will benefit the research Wings for Life Foundation (www.wingsforlife.com).
Special for all wheelchair users: for she and a companion applicable to the entry of an € 8 and on the other they get on the podium in a state holiday event area to get a better view of the action.
(Google translation)
Kimi to attend Gumball 3000
| Source: autoevolution.com | gumball3000.com | maxrally.com |
Kimi Raikkonen will squeeze in a rally in between the Spanish and Monaco grands prix next month – but sadly he won’t be competing. Or will he?
The 2007 Formula One World Champion – who competed full-time in the WRC from 2010-2011 – will be attending the start of the 15th anniversary Gumball Rally, which starts from Copenhagen on May 18th. After that, we’ll have to wait and see.
The Gumball Rally isn’t quite rallying as we know it: instead it’s all about a load of supercars driving around Europe – a bit like the Carrera Panamericana, but with better parties. As one team’s motto puts it: “we don’t drive fast, we fly low.” But as it’s all on public roads, officially there is no competitive element.
And while Kimi isn’t taking part, he has some very good friends who are: car number 34’s team description is simply: “four crazy Finns.” The Finns in question are the ‘Dudeson brothers’: four Finnish stuntmen with their own TV show, which is broadly the equivalent of Jackass.
The first stage is from Copenhagen to Stockholm, followed by a stage from Stockholm to Helsinki – and rumours keep persisting that car 34 might have an unscheduled guest driver on the opening leg…
Other confirmed drivers for the Gumball include the legend that is David Hasselhoff and a car crewed by members of the band Cypress Hill, as well as professional skier Jon Olsson.
The Gumball 3000 finishes in Monaco, after going via St Petersburg, Tallinn, Riga, Warsaw and Vienna.
In the Gumball Rally entry grid list, we see Team 34 with the description “4 crazy Fins.” The car shown is a BMW but according to this link, Kimi will be driving a special 1967 Shelby G.T.500. The Dudesons are Team 06.
On Twitter:
Pete Johnston @cptjohnston
Can’t wait to like up on the start grid in Copenhagen next to @Kimi_Raikkonen #gumball3000 @bavmajithia @MRGUMBALL3000 @gumball3000
Follow The_Dudesons and Jukka Hilden for updates during the rally.
The Dudesons have participated in the 2011 rally where they bumped into Kimi Raikkonen in Monaco. Kimi gave some advice to the Dudesons in this video.
Kimi does motocross during F1 break
| Source: yallaf1.com |
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen filled in the time between the recent Malaysian Grand Prix and round three in China this weekend with a spot of motocross.
Founded alongside his rallying team during his two-year Formula 1 sabbatical, Raikkonen’s IceOne squad also includes a motocross arm.
So the Finn pulled on his MX gear and goggles last week – during the three-week break between Malaysia and China – and headed to Belgium, according to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.
There, the 2007 world champion participated in the gravel practice session, with images depicting him in full airborne tilt.
Motocross riding would ordinarily be deemed too dangerous for Formula 1 teams to allow, but Lotus team boss Eric Boullier admitted last week that, “One of our drivers is famous for doing pretty much what he wants”.
Video: Iceman goes Ice Racing in Moscow
Sky Sports F1 aired this feature before the Malaysian Grand Prix today. Natalie Pinkham goes ice racing with Kimi in Moscow:
Kimi finished 2nd in Race of Stars
Source: lotusf1team.com | autosport.com | ts.fi
Kimi Räikkönen was the headline act at the ‘Race of Stars’ this weekend; a unique activity staged in Moscow, Russia where drivers take to a temporary track covered entirely with ice within Moscow’s Hippodrome.
Alongside fellow 2013 Formula 1 competitor Charles Pic, Kimi competed in races using specially adapted Renault Duster and Logan cars; the all-terrain, lightweight 4×4 vehicles from the French marque.
The Race of the Stars is one of the longest-running motorsports events staged in Russia, with 23 editions to date. The concept of the race is simple; all competing drivers [selected from various motorsport disciplines in Russia and beyond] take part in qualifying before being divided into four test groups. After four 15 minute semi-finals, the grand finale takes place with a three-loop sprint around the arena. The winner of this event was then pitted against Kimi and Charles to decide the ultimate victor.
Some of the biggest names in the discipline have competed in the event, including four-times Formula 1 World champion Alain Prost, Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and Kimi’s team-mate Romain Grosjean.
Kimi already has significant experience of driving on ice and not just from his days back in Finland, having competed in the FIA World Rally Championship for two seasons with entries into the Arctic and Sweden rallies in 2010 and 2011.
KR: “It was good to be back on an ice track after a while away. It made a change from Barcelona and my regular Formula 1 car! You need a very different driving style on ice; you have to be very smooth on the throttle and brakes and feed the steering in, but a small drift can also be pretty fun… I enjoyed it, particularly seeing so many fans out here.”
Autosport report:
Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Pic flew straight from Barcelona Formula 1 testing on Saturday to Moscow to be special guests in the Race of Stars ice event.
Za Rulem magazine’s ice racing event in a hippodrome, first held in 1978, attracts national drivers from many different disciplines.
Every year representatives from Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship are also invited, with previous guests including Sebastien Loeb, Alain Prost, David Coulthard and Vitaly Petrov.
Pic and Raikkonen started their day with a duel in Renault Dusters, where the Lotus driver’s rally experience showed as he led at first before slowing as Pic came through to win.
In the main progamme, former Lada World Touring Car driver Kirill Ladygin was declared the winner after Russian rallycross champion Dmitry Bragin’s exclusion due to missing headlights. It was a record fourth win for Ladygin.
The F1 guests then tried to beat Ladygin on his home ground. This proved impossible for Caterham man Pic, but Raikkonen pushed the Russian quite hard end even briefly overtook him at one point.
“We have a long history, Finland and Russia,” said Raikkonen. “It is nice to have fans from here and hopefully they will come when a race will be here [at Sochi].”
TurunSanomat article (Translation courtesy of Nicole)
Kimi Räikkönen and Charles Pic took part in Russian All Stars race as invited guests to race with Russian racing drivers on an ice-track in Moscow.
Although the visit on Saturday was a PR-event for Räikkönen and Pic, the Russian champions were racing seriously. Russian’s oldest car-magazine “Za Ruljom” (Behind the steering wheel) arranges this traditional race.
They also have a tradition of inviting international stars to Moscow. Because Renault sponsors the event they sent Räikkönen and Pic there.
Räikkönen and Pic drove VIP-guests and media reporters around the track in a small Renault Logan.
In between races the F1 drivers raced each other and Räikkönen was much more faster than Pic, as was expected too.
At the end of the event they arranged two super finals where each driver faced the winner of All Stars race, the champion of touring-racing Kirill Ladygin, in a duel.
Ladygin, who is a real professional, beat Pic easily but the situation with Räikkönen was completely different. Kimi battled until the end and was twice just about to overtake Ladygin. However the Russian pilot managed to maintain his position to the finish line and Kimi followed in second place.
After the race Ladygin confessed to the Russian media that the guests weren’t offered enough of time to practice and didn’t because of that know these cars as well as the Russian drivers.
Videos of Race of Stars event:
Iceman heads to Russia for ‘Race of Stars’ this weekend
Source: renaultsport.com
As previously posted on KRS, fans may know about Kimi taking part in a so called ice-race this month…
This weekend Lotus F1 Team’s Kimi Raikkonen and Caterham F1 Team’s Charles Pic will go racing again, although not behind the wheel of their usual F1 machines. The two will be participating in the ‘Race of Stars’ event, a unique activity staged in Moscow, Russia, by Za Rulem, one of Russia’s most popular automotive magazines, and Renault Russia.
A track covered entirely with ice will be constructed within Moscow’s Hippodrome, which is usually reserved for horse racing and other equestrian activities. The two will compete in the final races against the winners of the Race of the Stars in specially adapted Renault Duster cars, the all-terrain, lightweight 4×4 cars from the French marque.
The Race of the Stars is one of the longest-running motorsports events staged in Russia, with 23 editions to date. The concept of the race is simple ; all competing drivers (selected from various motorsport disciplines in Russia and beyond) take part in qualifying, after which the racers are divided into four test groups. After four 15-minute semi finals, the grand finale is a three-loop sprint around the arena. The winner of this event is then pitted against Kimi and Charles to decide the ultimate winner.
Some of the biggest names in the discipline have competed in the event, including four-times world champion Alain Prost, F1 race winner David Coulthard and Kimi’s team-mate, Romain Grosjean – all of whom have been powered, or continued to be powered by Renault, in their careers.
Kimi already has significant experience of driving on ice ; and not just from his days back in Finland. The 2007 F1 drivers’ world champion competed in the FIA World Rally Championship for two seasons, with entries into the Arctic and Sweden rallies in 2010 and 2011. After showing impressive form, the Iceman finished the 2011 Swedish rally in eighth overall.
Pictures of the event:
Photos: Ice, Ice, Baby… Kimi shoots new commerical
Source: iltasanomat.fi | mtv3.fi
Kimi began shooting Renault Megane’s commercial on Friday in Costa Brava, Spain, as the main star. In the pictures below Kimi poses for the camera-team in a long-sleeved dark sweater and jeans on the beach.
To the joy of those who were on the beach (and for the females around the world), Kimi flashed his stomach while they were putting the microphone on him.
Kimi stayed true to his image, because you didn’t really see a smile on the Iceman’s face here either.
Kimi to take part in Moscow Ice Race
Source: autosport.com | mtv3.fi
Kimi Raikkonen will take part in an oval ice race in Moscow next month.
The Lotus Formula 1 driver will be the star guest at the ‘Race of Stars’ event organised by Russian magazine Za Rulem.
The event takes place at the Moscow Hippodrome on February 23, just after the second winter F1 test ends.
Anastasia Bendikova, CEO of event promoter SC ASPAS, said Raikkonen had a huge Russian fanbase, second only in motor racing to Fernando Alonso.
“No doubt it is a unique opportunity for all Kimi’s Russian fans to see him in the flesh in Moscow and on the race track in action earlier than 2014, when the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi will take place,” said Bendikova.
Caterham F1 driver Charles Pic will also take part, alongside Russia’s leading motorsport stars, including F1 man Vitaly Petrov, World Rally Championship frontrunner Evgeny Novikov and Red Bull protege Daniil Kvyat.
FIA Gala 2012: Kimi receives his trophy!
Source: formula1.com
Kimi Raikkonen was one of the lucky guests to be invited to Istanbul, Turkey, for the FIA Gala prize giving ceremony. Along with 3x World Champion Sebastian Vettel and runner up Fernando Alonso, Raikkonen received his trophy for 3rd place in the 2012 Formula One Championship. Check out last night’s photos in the gallery.
KR: “It was a good year for us but of course you always want to do better – you want to win, but I think people didn’t expect us to do even this well, so like I said, not exactly what we wanted in the end but it was a good year overall and something that we can hopefully build to do better next year.”
Video: Highlights including Kimi quotes, Vettel meeting and talking with Kimi during the presentation
Kimi to start holidays off with snow mobile race
Source: yallaf1.com
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen will kick off his winter break with some snowmobile racing.
Just after signing to return to F1 in 2012 with Lotus, the 2007 world champion hurt his wrist during a snowmobile racing crash in Austria.
Now, APA news agency reports that the 33-year-old Finn intends to race a 70 horse power snowmobile again, in Saalbach on 8 December.
Find out more about the Saalbach snow mobile free-entry race here.
Note – The FIA prize-giving ceremony takes place the day before on the 7th December at the Ciragan Palace.
The most prestigious venue and location on the Bosphorus to organise social and business events. The beauty of the venue offers exceptional access to Ottoman history and to the way the Sultans lived in the past. This is when the FIA motorsport champions will be presented with trophies to mark their achievements in 2012. (more…)
Kimi treats Lotus team to radio message t-shirts
Source: bbc.co.uk
Kimi Raikkonen has given his entire Lotus team T-shirts emblazoned with his now-famous radio message during his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory. The 33-year-old Finn took his first win since his return to the sport this year and his team’s first since the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix.
On Friday 500 T-shirts carrying the slogan: “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing” arrived at the factory. The T-shirts are black, with the words in gold, reflecting the team’s colours. The phrase is a reference to Raikkonen’s remarks on team radio during the race.
Raikkonen inherited the lead when Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren retired with fuel-pump failure.
Following Hamilton’s retirement, Raikkonen’s engineer Simon Rennie told him his advantage over second-placed Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari and that he would keep him updated on the Ferrari’s pace, to which Raikkonen responded: “Just leave me alone, I know what I am doing.”
Later, he was reminded to warm up his tyres while driving behind the safety car, and Raikkonen said: “Yes, yes, yes, yes. I’m doing it all the time. You don’t have to remind me every second.”
After the race, Raikkonen said: “I understand the team is just there to try to help and they are doing the same job as I am doing.
“But I am not a big fan of being told many things because I know pretty well what I have to do [and] what is going around, so if I have some questions I will ask and they will help.
“It’s not the first time and it’s not the last. It’s just a normal thing. People will probably try to make a big story out of it, but it happens every weekend.”
Raikkonen, a notoriously singular character, said after the race that the victory meant more to the team than it did to him.
“It’s great. It’s more important for the team and the people who work here. They do all the hard work,” he said.
“I just try to deliver on a Sunday and a Saturday. It is one win for me but for them I think it is a much bigger thing.”
You can buy other Kimi radio message shirts and things here.
What will Kimi do next: Makia Racing deal
Source: 81.90.66.164 | Gallery
Makia is a Finnish clothing brand and have been sponsoring Kimi Raikkonen for nearly a year since returning to Formula 1. This video is was released on whatwillkimidonext.com after the countdown ended.
Kimi is an official ambassador modelling for Makia Racing – a new clothing line, an Iceman inception. Congratulations!
ABOUT
Makia Racing
Finland has a long history in automobile racing. From rallying on frozen lakes to doing circles around the local grill stand, driving is in our DNA. We simply couldn’t run from our destiny any longer and so Makia Racing was born. Without limiting to any specific motorsport, it is our vision of racing inspired clothes that can be worn at all times, on or off the road. To give the project a little kickstart we went after the most talented and interesting driver on the planet, and now that the contract is signed, we are proud to present you MAKIA RACING.
Gangnam Style to Iceman Style
Here’s a Kimi Raikkonen version of the global dance hit Gangnam Style by Korean popstar Psy, who will be performing this weekend at the Korean Grand Prix.
What will Kimi do next?
There has been a lot of speculation about what Kimi Raikkonen will do next season (2013). This will all come to an end on the 17th of October, Kimi’s birthday, when a new contract will be published at www.whatwillkimidonext.com. Check out the teaser video below!
Kimi: 2013 Lotus contract not guaranteed
Source: inautonews.com
Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he has a contract with Lotus for 2013, but insisted that doesn’t mean he will definitely be with the Enstone based team.
Fending off rumours the Finn is a candidate to move to Ferrari or McLaren next year, Lotus owner Gerard Lopez recently revealed Raikkonen’s current contract includes an option for the 2013 season.
Raikkonen confirmed that “option” to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.
But the 2007 world champion also insisted: “You never know what is going to happen. We have seen before in Formula One that even if you have a contract, it doesn’t mean you’re going to drive somewhere.”
Raikkonen is undoubtedly referring to 2009, when at the end of that season Ferrari paid the 32-year-old to sit out 2010 in order to make room for Fernando Alonso.
MTV3 said Raikkonen’s 2013 ‘option’ expires at the end of September.
The driver confirmed he is likely to stay.
“I have no reason to do something else,” he said.
Kimi happy at Lotus, for now
Source: reuters.com
Formula One title chaser Kimi Raikkonen says he is happy at Lotus – for now – even as speculation swirls around possible vacancies at the 2007 world champion’s previous teams Ferrari and McLaren.
The taciturn 32-year-old’s consistent displays in his comeback season after two years in rallying have lifted him to third in the standings with seven races remaining.
Raikkonen arrived in Singapore on Wednesday to pursue his long-shot title challenge on the city-state’s street circuit and try to close the 38 point gap on Ferrari’s championship leader Fernando Alonso.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, winner of two of the last three races, is just one point ahead of the Finn.
With talk of Hamilton mulling a move from McLaren to Mercedes dominating paddock gossip, and Alonso’s under-performing team mate Felipe Massa out of contract at the end of the year, Raikkonen’s future has come into focus.
“I have a good relationship with the team…people are pushing 100 percent and they are real racing people not so much politics, they want to do well in the races and that is a good starting point,” said the tired-looking Finn.
“I enjoy working with the people, very nice and I’m happy here but you never know what happens in the future but right now I’m happy with what’s going on,” he added.
Raikkonen enjoyed five solid years with McLaren from 2002 and twice finished runner up in the championship before he switched to Italian giants Ferrari where he collected his sole title and left at the end of 2009 to go rallying.
TRICKY CIRCUIT
Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez said this month that Raikkonen was happy to stay at the former Renault outfit, who were embroiled in one of the sport’s biggest scandals after it emerged they had asked their driver Nelson Piquet junior to crash on purpose in Singapore in 2008 for tactical reasons.
Raikkonen also crashed under the floodlights on the narrow, twisty street circuit that year but did set a race lap record that still holds.
The Finn, with six podium finishes this year, expected a tough race again on Sunday night.
“It is quite hot and humid here and of course a bit different with the evening race than normal, it is a challenging circuit but hopefully we can do well,” he said.
“It’s a street circuit so it always makes it a little bit more tricky when you try to get the best out, if you make a little mistake, there is a big chance to hit the wall, in a normal circuit you have some run off areas.”
Hamilton and Alonso have each won three races this year with Raikkonen yet to triumph since he began his comeback. However the Finn has finished his last 10 races in the points, his best scoring run since Ferrari in 2007/8.
“Winning is the easiest way to achieve the championship, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to win this year but we have been putting ourselves close to there, giving us a chance at least…we haven’t made any big mistakes,” the Finn said.
Video:
Kimi’s photograph in charity auction
Source: pitpass.com
Kimi Raikkonen is widely renowned as being one of the most talented and daring drivers in Formula One and clearly loves all forms of racing. We saw this when he left F1 to try his hand at rallying. The Iceman keeps his eye out for all manner of exciting forms of racing, the sort of thing which might make those made of lesser stuff feel a little queasy. The photo he has taken for the upcoming Zoom charity auction is good evidence of this.
Raikkonen’s photo for Zoom, an auction of signed photos taken by every F1 driver and team principal in aid of Great Ormond Street and which takes place in London on Friday with online bidding opening one day after the live event, might appear strangely dull and uninspiring at first glimpse.
“There are black, gold reflections and red in the picture; that reminded me of the team,” says the Finn. “I was about to go to the track on Friday in Melbourne earlier this year and officially become an F1 driver again after two years away.”
On closer inspection however, there is more than meets the eye to the photo.
Initially it appears to be merely the top floor of a multi-storey car park, but note that there are no barriers around the edge. Then there are the tyre tracks suggesting that some brave devil might have been pushing a little hard, maybe even racing. Note the arc of the tyre marks, the obvious drop over the edge. It looks like it might even have been raining. Scary.
The photo is one of 50 in the auction and fans who want to bid for them should keep an eye on the Zoom website as well as its Twitter and Facebook.
Check out the Zoom gallery here.
Kimi impersonation by James Hinchcliffe
Source: speed
We’ve heard Sebastian Vettel and few others trying to mimick the Iceman, but this is Speed TV’s take on it by James Hinchcliffe – what do you think?
Lotus expect Raikkonen to stay
Source: autosport.com
Lotus expects Kimi Raikkonen to commit himself to another year with the team, despite the Finn being linked with Ferrari.
It emerged over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that Raikkonen is on the list of contenders at Ferrari if the team elects to replace Felipe Massa in 2013, despite a strained relationship between the 2007 world champion and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
Neither Raikkonen nor Ferrari moved to totally dismiss the idea at the Hungaroring, but Lotus team principal Eric Boullier says he is not worried because he sees no better option for his driver than staying where he is.
“It is nice that Ferrari is in the newspapers, but I don’t know that Kimi has plans to go back to Ferrari,” explained Boullier, who saw Raikkonen challenge for victory at the Hungaroring.
When asked if he expected to keep both Raikkonen and team-mate Romain Grosjean next year, Boullier said: “Definitely. There is no reason for them to leave.”
Ferrari insists it is still happy to bide its time over choosing its second driver for 2012, even though that may mean losing an outside chance it could have of luring Raikkonen away.
Team principal Stefano Domenicali said: “Kimi was a world champion with us and I saw the speculation in the media but nothing more than that.
“I can confirm what I said to you last week; basically we are not in a rush to make a decision or announce anything because we want to take our time.
“We are aligned with Felipe and we want to protect him, and it is important for this championship. So there is nothing new to report.”
When asked to categorically rule out interest in either Raikkonen or Jenson Button, who was linked with the team in reports in the Italian media, Domenicali said: “There is no rush on our decision and no information I can give you now, but I think the drivers you mentioned have contracts with other teams and we are not in a rush.”
F1 editor Adam Hay Nicholls’ opinion on Ferrari ditching Kimi:
Raikkonen on Ferrari’s radar for 2013 | Kimi’s comments
Source: autosport.com
Kimi Raikkonen has emerged as a surprise contender to line up alongside Fernando Alonso at Ferrari next year, even though the Finn is closing in on a deal to remain at Lotus.
Ferrari is considering its driver options for 2013, with the team well aware it needs a team-mate to Alonso who can help contribute significantly to its constructors’ championship ambitions.
Felipe Massa has not yet delivered strong enough form this year to guarantee his seat, which has left Ferrari evaluating whether to hope his current upswing in form will continue into 2013 or whether it needs to look at other options.
A number of young drivers are on Ferrari’s radar – with Nico Hulkenberg, Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean all on the short-list of candidates for the drive.
However, Ferrari sources insist that the team has not seen enough from any of those drivers to be sure that they will be a definite step forward over Massa – which has resulted in Raikkonen emerging as a dark horse contender.
Although Raikkonen was dropped by Ferrari at the end of 2009, Ferrari sources suggest that senior figures inside the team believe he would be the perfect fit for next year – because of his speed, availability and likelihood that he would not cause any political problems.
However, the biggest stumbling block at any deal happening is believed to be the strained relationship between Raikkonen and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who parted their previous working partnership on far from good terms.
Insiders suggest that di Montezemolo is not convinced about the Raikkonen route – while the driver himself has said in private that he too would be reluctant to work with his former boss again.
Ferrari will have to make a final call on Raikkonen soon if it is to have any hope of doing a deal, because he is getting close to confirming another season with Lotus.
AUTOSPORT understands that Raikkonen has already held technical meetings about the 2013 car at the Lotus factory, and there is every indication from him and the team that they intend to carry on together for at least one more year.
Raikkonen’s team-mate Grosjean is out of contract at the end of this year too, but his current strong form for Lotus makes it a no brainer for it to keep the Frenchman for another season.
Kimi comments on Ferrari rumours
Raikkonen: “I always said that I have no bad feelings and I had a good time with the team. I won one championship there. You never know what happens in the future. I am happy where I am right now. Things going pretty nicely. You never know what happens in the future and I am happy where I am.”
Germany didn’t let Kimi get away… without a fall
We’ve already seen the pictures and had a good laugh in the community about Kimi’s latest blunder, not far off-track either. It seems Kimi’s bad luck in Germany still chased him, despite being promoted to third place. As ever with the internet, there was a surge of animated photoshopped jokes which you can see below. This just has to go into the KRS Archive so here’s a little article about the Flying Finn.
Source: yallaf1.com
Kimi Raikkonen finished Sunday’s German grand prix in fourth place, and was later promoted to third, but in the immediate aftermath of the Hockenheim result, the Finn would enjoy a dose of good luck – and then a reminder of harsh reality.
When his friend Sebastian Vettel was penalised post-race for the illegal pass on Jenson Button, Finn Raikkonen inherited third position.
But, according to Bild newspaper, he then crashed.
The newspaper has published a photograph of the 2007 world champion tripping whilst jumping a fence to the paddock carpark, and landing awkwardly on a car.
“Kimi was rushing,” said an observer. “As he took a shortcut to the carpark, his right foot got caught on the fence and he fell onto a car. He let out an expletive, and quickly got up and going again.”
Iceman visits team at home in Enstone
Source: lotusf1team.com
After a busy weekend at the British Grand Prix, the Iceman took time out to visit the team’s Enstone factory and catch up with the men and women behind his fight for victory…
As is to be expected of a former Formula 1 World Champion, Kimi Räikkönen is a man very much in demand. With engineers’ briefings, fitness training and a host of media requests to juggle – let alone the commitments of a race weekend – spare time is a rare pleasure.
With that in mind, it came as somewhat of a surprise for the Lotus F1 Team crew back at Enstone when the Finn came strolling into the factory at lunch time today ; less than twenty four hours since the chequered flag had dropped at Silverstone the day before.
Taking in a tour of the entire facility, Kimi made time to chat with anyone and everyone who crossed his path ; posing for pictures, signing autographs and even fitting in a quick game of darts !
Check out what the man himself had to say about his day back at base below, in addition to quotes from some highly enthusiastic team members and a slideshow tour of the Iceman’s route around Enstone:
Kimi:
“It was nice to be here and to see all the people who work on the car away from the circuit. It’s a really nice place to be ; the atmosphere is really relaxed but you can see people are giving 100% to their work. It’s not like some of the other teams ; if has more of a home sort of feeling and I’m happy with that.”
Gavin Bolton / Barry FFrance-Aiston, Suspension Clean Room:
“It was great to meet Kimi, he seemed really chilled out and it always lifts our spirits having one of the drivers take the time to come round and meet everyone. It’s a strange feeling ; watching someone in the car on one day then shaking their hand the next ! Best of luck to him for the rest of the season ; hopefully he can keep up the good work !”
Craig Ward / David Gillett, Machine Shop:
“It’s good to have the chance to meet Kimi properly, especially just after our home race at Silverstone where a lot of us were there cheering the team on. He looked really relaxed and took a genuine interest in what we had to say which meant a lot. Fingers crossed him or Romain can get that win soon…”
James Robinson, Sponsorship Acquisition:
“I’ve met Kimi during Grand Prix weekends before where he’s totally focused, but here he’s much more relaxed. It’s nice to see that side of him”
