Different League in Suzuka
Our result in Japan was okay – if you like 4th positions. I don’t thinkour car would have gone any faster but it’s just that I dig winning so
much that I just don’t have the energy to be really enthusiastic about
other positions.
After Singapore we at least got to play in a different league.
Suzuka is a place where it’s always cool to race. When the car hasn’t
been developed in ages you don’t just all of a sudden drive for victory
but it’s good that you’re at least able to fight for good points.
After quali we thought about what rubbers to wear in the start. We
took the hard tyres because we weren’t sure about the soft ones.
That’s why the start was kind of sticky and I got so much behind the
lead in the first stint.
After the stop the soft rubber worked well. Then it was good to
drive. We just put our head down and caught Heidfeld. When the BMW’s
rear started to show we knew that we will get the 4th place.
Our pitcrew worked fantastically. It was a 10 points stop and
that’s why we were 4th. And that was all we could achieve. The rest of
the race we just drove to keep us warm.
We caught Hamilton with the safety car but didn’t have any chances against his
speed on the straight. I went to take a peek one time but that was it.
When you can’t even drive behind you can’t for sure get by him.
As a track Suzuka is one of those good old places where the demands
are always in the right places. You can’t screw up there. Otherwise you
are immediately painfully out. That’s how it should be too, you pay for
your mistakes. On new tracks it’s just a small slap on the wrist when
you can always come back.
In Suzuka you stay in the wall.
I will never get used to the enormous fan-thing in Japan and China.
They stand there in the bushes staring with their eyes out of their for
hours and suddenly when you walk by they jump at you with a big bunch.
It’s totally fanatic. Luckily I came in 4th so that the fans could get
some good feelings for that.
Now we go to Brazil via home.
Coulthard: "It’d be a loss if Kimi left F1"
From TelegraphIndia.com
…As for Kimi Raikkonen, who was left with
no contract at the end of 2009 after Ferrari roped in Fernando Alonso
in his place, Coulthard said McLaren would be the right place for the
Finn.
āIt would be a loss if Kimi moves out of
F1 to rallying. He is a character, even though he is quiet,ā Coulthard
said on the 2007 World Champion.
āKimi is an introvert. He is a great,
great driver but he is not going to go and motivate a set of 600
employeesā¦ McLaren would be the best place for him because he is quick
but not commercially. Lewis (Hamilton) is there for that, and I want to
see Lewis against Kimi.ā
FUCK ISRAEL 
something a bit ot for that topic but I heard voices about redbull…..it could have mercedes engine so Kimi colud be connected to mclaren, brawn or redbull. (webber is briatore’s driver so he can be moved from redbull instead of signed contract….)so???we’ll se….
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lol at Kimi being accosted by fans jumping out of bushes, that’s an image that will stay with me for a while.
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On to Brazil. Can’t wait for that – will always love Interlagos as the site of Kimi’s WDC. Hopefully a good result there and a nice birthday for Kimi. Am a little sad that this will be his last race at Interlagos as a Ferrari driver.
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Totally understand the ‘fan-thing’ in Asia. I’m from China. Every year in Shanghai GP, the flag in blue and white is the most. I did not do that kind of ‘jump’, but I know last year, there is a loud ‘happy birthday song’ on the circuit during Friday’s practice.
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I hope Kimi can get on the podium in Brazil. It would be a great birthday present after everything that has happened to him.I wonder if Ferrari will do anything for Kimi’s birthday? I, personally, will find it so fake if SD does some really commercial thing but I think that Kimi still does have some true friends in his crew and team and I’m hoping they are the ones will do something special for him.
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for massa domenicali with smedley do everytime something for his birthday….for Kimi I hope. if will be not, so we can consider them all bad people and ignorant.
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Has anyone seen this video? The two guys who have always been on Kimi’s side, Dyer and Stella. I wish I could understand the other parts of the video…maybe someone can translate it?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXaTlL0Ut_oAnd this one …(forget about Massa’s part, it’s obvious that Chris and Kimi really get along.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gho3u5rtSmE&feature=related
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It would be good to see him win in Brazil, because it would be a good present for his birthday , plus I read that the checkered flag will be in another man’s hands and this man supposed to be Massa and it would be great to see the bittersweetness on his and the whole team’s face
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sure it would be awesome !and sure he will fight !just keep flying Kimi!
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@kracer:i watch the video and realize something the people who have good relationship with Kimi always say never change Kimibtw This is an article in Portuguese AutoSport, the leading motorsport magazine in Portugal.http://autosport.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=as.stories/77500Basically it says that they have reached an agreement but there are two details preventing the final agreement.1. Kimi wants to reduce to a minimum the ammount of PR days…he doesn’t want to spend too much time doing comercials and sponsor related activities…something on which Mclaren are one of the busiest teams.2. Mclaren wants to limit Kimi’s rallying to 3 events/year whilst kimi wants to spend the winter brake rallying without restrictions and also be able to participate in some other rallys during the bigger breaks in the season.
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Zero, what a true observation about Kimi!
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Hahahha, Kimi wants to spend the whole winter rallying! LOL! Kimi…you’re too much š gotta love him. Come on Macca…allow him, this is the final push in his F1 career now so might aswell give him the car and let him do the talking on track. I think that’s the least you owe him after those 5 years without a championship.
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zero, where you from??? do you speak portuguese???this magazine director only write bad things about kimi. it’s a parcial writer, because he is alonso fan.i believe kimi have reached an agreement but still waiting by the last 09 GP, because he and kovas are friends, and show some respect about him…kimi says e want a winner team to stay in f1, mclaren are the team!!!
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So the Roberstons spoke on MTV3. Red Bull is not an option for a racing seat but as a beverage partner. So the list comes down to 3 teams.1. Mclaren2. Brawn GP. ( The team I now think Robertsons referred to in his comment. The one everybody thinks has secured their driver line up. Interesting! )3. Toyota.Anyway, I came across this article which sounds very good for Kimi and his fans. http://www.tomorrownewsf1.com/f1-raikkonen-ira-chez-mclaren-en-2010-8150This says that Kimi-Mclaren deal is done and they would declare it on Tuesday after season finale. Very Very Interesting! š
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@Amol – hope the article’s right! And so the Hamiltons aren’t so keen on Kimi joining? Lol! š Anyway, if it’s true I do hope Heikki has found himself a seat elsewhere. He’s a nice guy, but for whatever reason (maybe it’s got to do with the car not suiting him), he’s been completely overshadowed by Lewis. Kimi on the other hand, will be a different kettle of fish. Watch out Hammie, the Iceman cometh! š
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Why So quiet in here? :ONobody posting anything :(. The days are getting tougher to live without Kimi`s next year team decision.
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@Amol – All we can do is wait and hope. It’s very frustrating but we can’t really do anything.You know what I’ve been doing? I found a channel on Justin TV called F1 Legends and all they do is show old F1 races so I’ve been keeping busy with that. I’ve been able to watch already some of Kimi’s old races with McLaren and Ferrari, even when he was in Sauber, as well as the Schumi-Mika races.
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@Amol – I’ve also been going to the Ferrari forum. It makes me feel good that there are still so many new posts from tifosi that are so against Alonso, Santander and what Ferrari have done. I love reading the ones which really defend Kimi. They’re much more forceful than the posts of Kimi’s fans, if you can believe it.
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Sorry guys, the Japan highlight video would have been posted ages ago but I was busy this week, so it will be online tomorrow š
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Kracer, is that an online channel? I’d love to catch the old races esp Kimi during the Sauber days. I’ve been watching Kimi videos on youtube – just saw one in which he takes a finnish journo out for a spin in fiorano – great because he nearly broke the car while going flat out. And there’s a nice bit where he laughingly pushes + tells Gino Rosato (?) to *bleep* off several times when he interrupts. The happy days š
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@amol – it’s hard for all of us. I’ve been checking the news everyday too. Have been lurking at the planetf1 forum quite a bit lately – there are lots of Kimi fans there (he wins just about every poll!), and news gets posted in the Kimi thread quite quickly too. I’m trying to stay positive + stop worrying about next year – no point tearing your hair out if you can’t change anything! – and watch the old races. Saima’s Brazil 2007 highlights are an instant pick-me-up if you’re in need of cheering. I love the Return of the King soundtrack when he comes to the podium š
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@ribbonseal_sg – Yes it’s an online channel. Just go to Justin Tv and look for F1 legends under sports. The only problem is that they don’t have a schedule so it’s a hit and miss thing. Last night they were showing the 2006 Magny Cours where Kimi finished 5th. It was weird because I happened to open it just when the commentator was speculating about whether Kimi was moving to Ferrari and was wondering if Michael was going to retire. At that time he said it was "very blurry" since they had not yet announced yet Kimi’s move.By the way, he drove great as usual and was catching Alonso on 3rd but he had a problem with his pitstop so ended up 5th. Shucks!
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I just finished watching the 2001 German GP and I just happened to catch the commentators talking about how Kimi was doing so well at Sauber and that Jean Todt had already talked to him about going to Ferrari and that they were expecting him to move there. No mention of McLaren. How weird is that!?!
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Hi, I’ve just read that Hamilton doesn’t want Kimi with McLaren. He wants Heikki to remain there. I know why: He is afraid of Kimi winning him every time! Everybody knows Heikki isn’t as good as Kimi. I hope also that Heikki will find himself a new team. If Hamilton can choose his team mate, it isn’t right!
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Hi Saima and others!I just read from mtv3.fi pages, that Hamilton is threaten to leave McLaren, if RƤikkƶnen is coming there. Maybe Hamilton is thinking, that Kimi could destroy his career…
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Other news about Kimi. This news is from Iltalehti (http://www.iltalehti.fi/viihde/2009101210407039_vi.shtml). Kimi has been partying with his friends and ski jumping legend Matti NykƤnen. He has visited many nightclubs in Tampere city (quite near where I live actually). In one nightclub Kimi and his friends ordered 100 white russians (drink) and 50 bacardi drinks š I hope they have lot of fun… š
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@Kracer thanks for the heads up! Will go check it out. I was watching the Suzuka 09 BBC interview with Kimi on youtube and don’t quite know what to make of his reaction. He looks slightly embarrassed, maybe a bit rueful, but at the same time quite relaxed and definitely smiling more than at the usual press con. He doesn’t look like a guy with no drive next year – but that’s just my impression. There was a total LOL moment when he missed someone’s question and said, "Hah?" quie loudly. He’s quite adorable, but really needs to lose that oversized hat!! (And the hair… gimme back the spikey haired Iceman!)
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@Pekka2 – Thanks for your Finnish Kimi updates. Are the Tampere party reports true? Good to see our boy clubbing away…the hundreds or so shots very likely covered by his Ferrari payout??! Not only is he a great driver, Kimi’s also a good negotiator!I always suspected the stumbling block with McLaren would’ve been Hamilton. Did anyone read the press conference in Suzuka (if I’m not mistaken) whereby Hammie didn’t seem too keen on the idea of Nico being his teammate despite reportedly being good friends. Heikki makes Lewie look good, which is exactly why he said he’s very happy to have Heikki as his teammate! He’s such a baby.
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thankyou so much for first-hand news also in finnish!well, hammie worried?only ferrari so seems to think about Kimi as a second chance…I”ll be very happy if Kimi will return in mclaren fighting for title; it’s easy to see him laughing and smiling in videos as never happend from months and months and also his interviews appear more relaxed and sure. it is always a great thing to feel Kimi happy and relaxed like this! he deserve this kind of power!
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uh, another news…last week I heard something about Redbull’s option for Kimi.could be true if ham will remain in mclaren, or ham could move to brawn and Kimi could arrive in mclaren…what do you think about this? do you know more?
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Hi!I think Tampere party reports are true. However, Kimi had many many friends with him. He didn’t drink those 100 white russians by himself š Actually nobody has said that Kimi actually drink anything. It might be, that he was the driver for his friends š
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I don’t think anyone can drink that much without passing out so I think that the Tampere party reports are true but have been exaggerated by the press, as usual. He did probably have a lot of friends (and thanks to them for supporting Kimi at this time!) and how did the press know it was 100? Yeah, right!And, by the way, I come from a country where it’s normal to go drinking during the weekends. We don’t even have a required age to buy drinks in a bar and we also don’t have a drinking limit if you’re going to drive! (which is wrong, I think, but we don’t get too many drunk driving accidents here also)So there’s nothing out of the ordinary for me for Kimi to hang out with his friends and party!
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in Finland and England it’s normal to speak about Kimii’sfriends and parties, but I hope that these kind of news of these day don’t arrive n Italy….newspapers will be happy to write sometihing bad and exageretated about him. they could probably be able to use news in a bad way to speak bad about him. something that sounds like this "the 2007 world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, now without a secure team or contract for 2010 is still thinking about retire: long long night of alchol in tampere for him"
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Lol, it sounds like Kimi enjoyed himself! Decent drinkers can manage maybe 10 bacardis + a few shots before passing out? And Kimi’s a Finn!! š
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