"Not my year"
After Singapore I didn’t know if I should cry or laugh. It just doesn’t
help whether it’s night or day, when it doesn’t click it doesn’t click.
This year was certainly not my year.
I hit the wall again in the end of the race. I wasn’t racing for
the win but would have got some good points for the team’s
championship. It happened like it did in Spa. I didn’t get anything
because I didn’t finish the race.
This hasn’t become into anything for a long time. Even though I try
this and that I can’t get a weekend where I would succeed even somehow.
And we had the pace in the car again but not when it counts the
most. The fastest laps give you nothing when they don’t come when they
should come.
Of course my own feelings aren’t high when the races have gone the
way they have. You don’t even have the strenght to go through them.
They suck and nothing changes them anymore.
Singapore is a great place and the night race suits it well. I
wondered about the fuzz concerning the time schedule when it didn’t
feel different in any way. When they put the lights on it was af if you
would drive in daytime light.
Our car was so in stitch during Friday’s first practice but then we
went and tried some different things and the result was that I was just
driving around. There was nothing we could do because it would have
taken too long to put everything back the same way it was and we didn’t
check the tyres.
On Saturday there was some trouble with the steering wheel and I
didn’t get the notch in anymore. That’s why we didn’t have time to try
out the hard tyre at all before the quali. It ain’t the best way to
prepare when you have to quess when going to quali which tyre is
better.
In the start I couldn’t get anywhere. The air pressure was too low
and it took a few laps before they were ok. After that the tyres worked
and for a moment I started to fly and had a feeling that this could really turn into a
good result. When Piquet hit the wall and the SC came to the track I
knew that it was sort of there. When you have to go behind the other
one to the pitstop and wait for your own turn, time is burning and you
lose many places.
Singapore is kind of a SC-sensitive track. A lot of these
situations happen there many times and it takes forever to get the
track cleaned up properly. I had time to get up to the 5th place. Glock
was in front of me and because I was faster I just kept waiting for the
right moment behind him where I could overtake him best. I just hit too
hard on a high kerb and the wheels didn’t turn anymore when the front
of the car was in the air.
It was once again "game over".
I feel really bad for the team because I didn’t bring them any
points. Once again you just have to try in the next race to get the job
done better. We have such a good car that it’s sure that we can race
for the win in all upcoming races.
You just have to hope that you would finally get a great weekend when everything would even somehow fall into place.
It’s sad to hear Kimi sad. He’s
sorry for everything, when he shouldn’t be. It’s not his fault, he
never intended to have a bad season. Everything in the equation this
year has not equalled correctly. He isn’t boasting about taking 10
fastest laps this season either, like we fans have been. He’s actually
playing it down because it’s true that they don’t help if you’re not
winning. Still, that shouldn’t be the point. Bagging fastest laps like
this shows you are fastest of them all – it’s irrelevant to the
championship but it’s a statement nonetheless. We fans have no doubts
about Kimi’s talent, his motivation or performance. It’s funny in this column that he says he ‘started to fly’ during the race before the safety car! Keep Flying Kimi.
But he’s
generous with his words, speaking about his team. A bit too generous I
think (it’s obvious that FerrariWorld.com have been very careful with Kimi’s columns lately, so don’t always take it word for word. His columns used to appear on his website first, then Ferrari would release their versions. Only the Finnish one from Kimi’s website is closest to Kimi’s mouth and for sure we’ll post it here when it’s available! [Updated above [03/10/08 – 3:14pm]
Sure, the team have worked hard this year, as any team does. But
to have improved the F2008? It’s race pace is superior to McLaren, as
it was last year so major difference there, but it’s clear the main
issue that has ruined Kimi’s chances this year has been qualifying.
It’s not entirely right to say it’s great work from Ferrari, especially
if their world champion still bemoans some problems with getting it to
work, over one lap for example. Massa deserves his rewards from getting
five pole positions this year, opposed to Kimi’s two. Massa is in a
better position because of this mere fact. We have every right to be
annoyed with the team because being the spectators we can openly
criticise. Kimi became their world champion last year in his first
season with them, surely that should have counted for something?
Afterall, it was Kimi, not Massa, who replaced Michael Schumacher.
Coming into this year, Domenicali and Co repeated the fact that
there’ll be a 50/50 between Kimi and Massa. No preferred driver, no
Number 1 or Number 2. McLaren on the other hand have finally done the
right thing, giving the whole backing of the championship to Hamilton,
whereas Kovalainen, who’s shown he can be just as quick, is always
nowhere near his teammate in the races, or even qualifying for that
matter. It’s working for them this time, opposed to their huge fail in
2007. I think it’s safe to say the tables have turned and it’s Ferrari
who’ll lose this championship likewise.
Anyway, we can do
nothing but look ahead now indeed and make some big changes for next
year. Whatever the next grand prix at Japan brings, we shall see in
bitter hope!
FUCK ISRAEL 
oh nooooooooo, that’s breaking my heart!
i don’t remember see him telling he’s sad so far! that’s the worst of all! i was afraid of that and he is.
i can accept the disappointment and all but that is too heartbreaking!
he can’t blame himself for all that , despite some mistakes. and yes, nothing to do really. it’s not is year, for sure.
But we are here for him, still confident about his skill; hope he will be aware of that and that we are so proud of him to be the fastest driver in the world. That doesnt count, ok , but it’s a really good thing to take and it proves a lot, you’re right Saima!
Just hope he can quickly leave behind his bad mood, and have fun with good results!
KEEP FLYING KIMI
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I agree with you Marilyne!!!What I don´t like is that
he´s started to apologise to the team, for not scoring points….and I
don´t think he should apologise, he would have had a completely
different year had the team not screwed up so many times and had they
given him a good, reliable car. Maybe he feels like apologising, but
when did he ever do so in the past? Maybe it´s just me, I´m pissed at
Ferrari!And you´re right too Saima, about the driver equality and having clear nr.1, nr.2 drivers…..last year McLaren went for this stupidity of equal status and look where it got them; Alonso was the clear nr.1, being the defending world champion and all, and yet they decided to treat him and Hamster(a rookie!!!) equally, and eventually this cost them the titles. At Ferrari they did the opposite and backed Kimi, and they won. This year things have turned around, and among all the things where the team have failed, this is another one…..if you have a driver who won WDC the previous year, who´s going to be nr.1 and nr.2? Is the second driver going to be treated like a nr.1? Don´t think so…..granted that at this point things have changed, because Kimi has fallen behind in the standings, but still, they shouldn´t have started the year with the equal status bs….we´ll see if they´ll learn their lesson for next year.Keep flying Kimi – Keep flying Evenstar!!!P.S: Ram on the forum pointed this out after the Singapore GP, that this was where Ferrari had failed big time….
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never bad comments about others!
that’s our loved Kimi!
at least, he appreciated the place by night!
and he will still fight as he can,
that’s better than nothing! no?
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I feel so bad for Kimi – he looked devastated on Sunday after doing so well to get back to 5th place – it really annoys me to read all the crap that is written on various blogs about him being undeserving of a WDC – he has just had a really bad season – after the Spainish GP they talked about aero upgrades to improve the car hmmm for who ??? Kimi stated he had the most perfect race in Spain
WHY ON EARTH HAS IT ALL GONE TO POOH SINCE!!!!!!!! I just wonder if Ferrari wanted 2 world champions? I may be way off base but in a way it was in the middle of the season like somebody was conspiring against Kimi – ie exhaust in france – really bad tyre choice @ silverstone, I was on Stowe that day they sent him out on the same tyres yet it was starting to rain with really black clouds in the sky I could see that it was going in the same pattern that it had all morning !!!!!!! Then bless him his tyres would not get up to temperature !!! Sorry I am ranting now!! I am just so annoyed!!!! Saima it was good to see your comment on the Ed Gorman blog. I just get really annoyed that people try to dismiss him so quickly.
One thing is for sure we will not give up on him.
KEEP FLYING KIMI – KEEP FLYING EVENSTAR
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I think it’s quite hard for Kimi to pick himself up and write the column this time… It was really a bitter blow and it probably took him some time to come to terms with himself… It really hurt to hear him say he’s sad and sorry, I think he suffered more than us fans.
On the flight back home earlier I bought the F1 Racing and read the Spa Race Report by Peter Windsor (because Saima mentioned it last time)…. I love where he describe when Kimi overtook Massa on Eau Rouge:
"Kimi surged up behind Felipe through Eau Rouge, timing his exit perfectly – timing the kill. The Ferrari danced on the shiny road; Kimi’s hand and foot movements were feather-like in their strength….There was no way Felipe could resist it: on the run up the hill, on the long drag born of Eau Rouge exit speed, he ducked out of Felipe’s tow at the last possible millisecond and then chopped back viciously in front of him. In those two, alarming movements, Kimi expunged the frustrations of the summer. It wasn’t Felipe personally; it was all the rest. It was Kimi not getting the results he should have had. It was Montreal. It was the exhaust in France. It was beomg "past it". Now the slate was clear. Now it was time to go racing again…."
And Saima, I think Kimi has been reading your review…. that’s why he said he "started to fly" Yay!!!
KEEP FLYING KIMI!!!!! KEEP FLYING EVENSTAR!!!!
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Haha! Yeah that part of the Spa review by Windsor was good.I’d be very glad if Kimi ever came across this website. But it wouldn’t make any difference :)@Karen: I just couldn’t resist posting on Ed Gorman’s blog this time!By the way, anyone who bought a 2008 Kimi calendar from me, I hope you agree: it was really nice for me to change the page to October and see that smile, the celebrations etc.
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Oh Yining!!! Thanks for sharing that quote on the F1Racing Spa report, just beautiful!!! I wish I´d get that magazine in my country….I have to settle for one that comes from Argentina, which is good, but I bet F1Racing is better ;p
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Oh Yining!!! Thanks for sharing that quote on the F1Racing Spa report, just beautiful!!! I wish I´d get that magazine in my country….I have to settle for one that comes from Argentina, which is good, but I bet F1Racing is better ;p
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I feel sad to read these words. I don’t think Kimi should have to say sorry to the team. As I said previously, the time they giving up Kimi for the title fighting, it’s the time they are doomed to failure. Anything can happen during the race,if the team really wanted to get more points in Sinagpore after Massa’s pit problem, changing the pit stop strategy for Kimi to 1 stop will be easier than letting Kimi taking over on this track, but they didn’t, they just don’t want Kimi to catch up Massa, so I have to say they deserved it.
KEEP FLYING KIMI!!!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY SORRY TO ANYONE
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@Sol It was my pleasure, glad that you enjoy it :)) I noticed I had a typo in the 3rd last sentence…. should read "It was being "past it". "
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Reading that is so sad, but with all the bad press of late it is no wonder, it would be hard for anyone not to feel sad constantly having to justify themselves instead of just racing. I still think Ferrari have lost the plot this year and hope that they start getting themselves together quickly. Kimi apologising is hard to take as well. We certainly don’t need (or want) apologies from him, we just want to see him out there and happy racing again. I’m so glad I found all of you here, it is a great site to share. Thanks.
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It is really nice to see all these beautiful and assuring comments. I don’t believe a driver like Raikkonen would plunge into such a depressing mood. Ok, maybe for a moment, but he is not the kind of driver who is fully capitivated by those negative things. So feeling sad, or ranting is a good way for these bad things to have a letout. Hopefully he would simply get it through.
As for the drivers’ equality policy in Ferrari, personally I really felt last year this approach is sensible since Kimi is new in the team and Massa, who definitely wouldn’t be willing to be Nr.2,so if equal treatment is given, then who wins would rationably gain his advantage position within the team. Kimi won. But this year they copied last year’s strategy without realising the condition has changed. McLaren’s learned their lesson,which even more ironically reflects the imprudence of Ferrari.
I agree with you here in another matter, they doesn’t give Kimi the ‘equal treatment’ they are boasting about. Since it is Kimi’s second year with them and the car is still understeer, and the tyre issue too. They think of the term ‘equality’ too shallowly if ther is no other considerations.
Anyhow, JUST KEEP FLYING,KIMI AND EVERYONE HERE! Probably that is the only thing we could do at this moment:)
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Can’t agree more that this hasn’t been Kimi’s year, yet I take comfort when Kimi is still talking about fighting for victory in the remaining races! I am purely a driver supporter 100%, period! So, my loyalties lie with Kimi and Kimi only…which leads me to this scenario…
As much as I’d dislike to see Hammie win the Championship, I somehow feel I’ll derive a "guilty" pleasure if Massa misses out on the much desired trophy. It’ll prove that Kimi’s team mate doesn’t have what it takes to achieve what Kimi did last year going into the final 2 races despite a 17 point gap . Which means next year, Kimi should be the unequivocal No. 1 driver in Ferrari having previously been WDC!
What’s more, should Kubica not pull a miracle Championship win over Massa or Hammie, I’d like to think that if Louie wins the 2008 title, the media pressure and intense expectation on him repeating this feat in 2009, will allow Kimi to concentrate on taking the title in Odd year 2009 !!
Apologies to those who aren’t completely biased towards Kimi, but surely most of us here are 100% behind Kimi, right ??
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You’ve hit the nail on the head Trixie! A couple of days ago I was adamant that I’d rather see Hamilton take the title, for the reasons you’ve just said. As a Kimi fan, of course we want to to have the upper hand on his rivals, but first beginning with his teammates, in this case Massa. I have nothing against Massa, and was realy grateful that he did his job in Bazil 2007 race day, but he had no choice really, he would have got a beating from Ferrari otherwise! lol plus, they would have arranged that strategy the day before, so he knew he wasn’t going to win before the race even started.Kimi’s case was different up until Singapore, Massa was just 1 point behind Hamilton, he could keep finishing ahead of him and Kimi wouldn’t need to to anything for Massa. But now, it’s obvious that Kimi may be compromised in strategies, in qualifying for example with fuel loads. It’ll be hard for him to win, therefore. So it’s still hugely down to Massa to ensure he’s on pole, he’s leading the races in ANY conditions, wet or dry. He had a bad race in the wet Fuji last year, so he’s really his to lose. Kimi made sure he benefitted from Hamilton’s fall in 2007 with a larger points deficit. So if Massa fails, then it’s clear he wasn’t up to it mentally, unlike Kimi.Damn right we’re behind Kimi 100%! Go and win some races Raikko!
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@Trixie: you got it so right!!! If Hamster wins, next year the pressure will be a thousand times worse than it was last year or this year, and he´ll crack for sure; if Felipe doesn´t win, he´ll be psychologically destroyed…..and who benefits from all this…..KIMI!!!! Because he´ll be the one mentally stronger(and yes, with and uneven numbered year!) I enjoyed this comment very much, it has given me some peace of mind…….and I feel your "guilty pleasure" too, in seeing Massa loose, I like him, but I don´t think he deserves WDC.Keep flying Kimi – Keep flying Evenstar!!! – LET´S ALL FLY TOGETHER WITH OUR KIMSTER!
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We’re the wind beneath Kimi’s wings lol!
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all that i read from all here is so tip top cool! i love!!!!
all here for Kimi and help him to fly more and more to the win ! that’s so great to heard and make me feel lightened!
No Hamster, no Massa ! maybe i prefer Kub! but no matter, i have accepted that was not Kimi’s year, nobody can do like he did last year, he’s the best, and he will prove again in next race, if not by winning we can count to see amazing things from him!
I would like to think he comes here, coz he says "himself" he flyed, and all that for sure will hunt his sadness if not yet past,
come on Kimi! and go to fly, for you, for fun and for us!
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