17.11 2009 22:46:23
– Heikki Kulta Autosport: Raikkonen to take a sabbatical
Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will take a sabbatical fromFormula 1 next year, his manager has revealed, following the collapse
of talks with McLaren about a deal for 2010.
Raikkonen said last month that, in the wake of being released from
his Ferrari contract, his only option to remain in F1 was with McLaren
– because he wanted to be guaranteed a top-line grand prix car.
However, amid increasing speculation that Jenson Button is on his
way to the British team, Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson revealed
on Tuesday night that discussions with McLaren had come to an end.
"The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or not at all," Robertson was quoted as saying by respected Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat,
which has close links with the Raikkonen camp. "Kimi and McLaren were
unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level – at
least not next year.
"A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in
fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi. He
worked hard over the summer – doing things in a Ferrari that only the
best drivers are capable of."
AUTOSPORT understands that there were several stumbling blocks to a
deal being completed with McLaren prior to the team finding out that
Button was available and interested.
As well as a difference of opinion about wages, Raikkonen and
McLaren were believed to not be in agreement about the number of
sponsorship appearance days he should do, or about how free he was to
do rallies.
With Raikkonen only interested in returning to F1 in a race-winning
car, his best option for 2011 would appear to lie with Red Bull Racing
– which has a theoretical vacancy for 2011 with Mark Webber currently
only contracted until the end of next year.
Although it is not clear what Raikkonen will do next year, it is
possible that he will focus his efforts on the World Rally Championship
– while he sorts out an F1 return. Red Bull could be involved in his
rally plans too.
FUCK ISRAEL 
Oh my god, this is horrible news 😦 😦 iceman, i will mis you!!!
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This was TS’s original report revealing the news, before Autosport picked it up, translation thanks to Nicole————————————————————-RÄIKKÖNEN WILL KEEP A SABBATICAL YEARTurun Sanomat 17.11 2009 22:46:23Kimi Räikkönen’s F1-career is over – at least for now. Steve Robertson confirmed to Turun Sanomat from Macau that the negotiations with McLaren had ended.–The options on F1-level next season were McLaren or nothing. Kimi and McLaren didn’t reach a contract so therefore he will not drive in F1 next season.–Kimi is still filled with the urge to drive. A sabbatical year doesn’t mean anything in that sense. What is most important is that there is a place for Kimi where he can fight for the victories and the championship, Robertson assured.–F1 will miss Kimi. He fought with the Ferrari-car that wasn’t developed since summer in a way that only the best drivers are capable of, Robertson reminded.Next year Räikkönen will at least drive some rallies and possibly Le Mans 24 which he would be very interested in winning.Ferrari terminated Räikkönen’s contract Sep 30, 2009. Ferrari will compensate breaking the contract with a sum of money that will keep Räikkönen next season too as one of the highest paid F1-driver.Robertson says that they aren’t negotiating with other F1-teams. They will turn their eyes to other challenges. We might see Räikkönen in WRC too.———————————————————————–
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More from Heikki Kulta, translated by Nicole as usual:—————————————————–SEE YOU LATER OR GOODBYETurun Sanomat 18.11 2009 00:14:28F1-kolumni 17.11.Räikkönen has drove F1-races during 157 GP-weekends. Out of them he has lead 55 races, won 18, set the fastest lap 35 times and achieved 62 podiums.Räikkönen’s performances with the balking F60-car that hadn’t been developed awakened respect everywhere. At this stage it isn’t a worn out and tired driver who leaves F1 to spend a year off, it’s a top driver who still enjoys tremendeously GP-racing.It was another thing when Mika Häkkinen announced he would take a year off in 2001. Back then all the signs were in the air telling that we won’t see that man on F1-tracks anymore.Still Räikkönen’s possible comeback might fall on the fact that he learns like a flash the secrets of the rally he so much craves for and starts doing well there too on WRC-level. Kimi revealed to me ages ago that one of his dreams is that he would be the first one to win both WDC’s in F1 and rally.Jenson Button’s departure from Brawn’s and Mercedes’ safe birdnest to be pressured by Hamilton is very surprising. Button can only lose at McLaren because Hamilton is the master in the team. Just as Button would have been the master at Mercedes while Nico Rosberg would have first had to learn the team’s manners.We won’t surely see Finnish victories next season. Of course Rosberg might catch a bull’s eye at Mercedes but then they will play the German anthem. Heikki Kovalainen will probably find a place from Renault or Sauber – if they are in the WC-serie.TS/Heikki Kulta————————————————————
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Oh cock! Well Saima, I ain’t laughing wuth your mistake…. It;s very sad but, that’s life and F1’s wicked games. Now we might all start having new racing habits… hopefully!! Let’s wait and see what happens in the next 2 rollercoaster years. Till then: 1) Button has probably suicidal tendencies 2) I will be supporting the other good "Finn" Rosberg.So till 2011 it’s tata!P.S. And I wanted to go to Spa next year and celebrate the Kimi Spa-meister victory! Maybe we wont see another one if Spa is leaving also…………………
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Mmmmm…I’m not ready to post my thoughts on the blog yet (too emotional) but I have been writing in our forum. So please do visit the forum and join us and share yours 🙂 (http://krs.20.forumer.com/index.php)
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Always stand behind you Kimi, no matter where you are
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"A Finnish tv station is reporting that Kimi is negotiating with Citroen to drive for them in WRC next season. Red Bull, which sponsors Citroen, is, according to the report, willing to pay Kimi twice the salary of Sebastian Loeb, the 6 time WRC champion (Loeb allegedly earns 5-6 million euros per season)."Any idea if there is any live telecast of WRC here in Asia?…I just want to see him drive next year! Next year without Kimi is such an unbearable thing to muster! Just imagine…Me and my husband barely missed watching each F1 race since Kimi joined McLaren in 2002. He made us look forward to each F1 weekend and even willingly miss family dinners so that we can watch him race live!…Even bought a dvd recorder so I could keep a collection of Kimi’s races since Brazil 2007 (too bad my recorder had problems so I was unable to record his races since June this year!). So regrettable that now I will miss that chance to record an even more exciting races from him in a McLaren next year!!!…Now, we just have to wait for Kimi’s official announcement of his decision for next year…
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Its very difficult to digest…..i think i need a sabbatical too…….i hope he comes back……..he should achieve his goal i.e. be the 1st f1 champion to win WRC too…….and them come back to f1 pleeaaassseeeehaha seems like all f1 drivers are gonna breathe for year or two…..Well for now i’m gonna support Kimi’s best friend……Sebastian Vettel and maybe Nico Rosberg…..and by the time kimi wins the WRC….Vettel is my fav in f1
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OHMYGOD! this is really heartbreaking, i still can’t believe it…:( 😦 😦 i can’t imagine f1 without kimi, so i think i won’t watch f1 anymore…what a shame, the sport has just lose it’s biggest star of the decade:( 😦 😦 😦 :(my hopes are crushed, kimi has been part of my life for the last few years, and now this is happening, so sad!eventhough i don’t want to believe it, i consider this his retirement from f1 for all..but, there’s still hope of a comeback here and there…whatever it is, i still respect kimi’s decision because after all, it’s him not us who makes the choice and do what he thinks the best for him. so i wish all the best for kimi for his future.i hope this site won’t be closed after this cause it is definitely the best kimi fan site i’ve come through…it’s amazing and i hope i can still see few little news of kimi here next year… i will sadly miss him:( 😦 :(Keep Flying Kimi..
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"Its never over until it’s over."This is what Kimi replied to Chris Dyer when the latter confirmed to him that he won the WDC (brazil 07).Im still hanging on to that tiny bit of hope that Kimi will stay in F1…C’mon Kimi…What’s keeping you so quiet?…
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This season is crazy how can the superb driver like Kimi have no seat in winning team?F1 starting became like A1 they choose driver because their nation now i just hope Kimi will truly come to WRC so we can still see Kimi
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That’s sad. My sympathies.
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enjoy your holiday, Kimi.good luck in anything you’re going to do.I’ll be always with you and I’m sure it will be very interesting season.
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What ever happens happens. Kimi has won his title and wants to compete and win more but he got his title and wins, everything else after is gravy. Im very sad he isnt going to be in F1, he has been my man since Mika left. But I also love rally and if he is there thats fine by me. I just wish he didnt go out this way but thats how it is sometimes.
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OMG….=( can believe it…..=( i hope that kimi’s camp will find some answers to stay in F1… still a long break in F1 anything can happens.
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Will be sad to be without him next year in f1, but I really hope he enters the WRC!
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Oh my God, i can’t believe in this! My heart is broken,and i can’ stpo craying:((((((((( I doubt he’ll come back in 2011. ,but whatever he decides i’ll support him forever. Without Kimi F1 doesn’t existe for me anymore.
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Oh nou I woke up and got this :(((. At least these story’s about WRC and Lemans are comforting me. I just want to contiue see him in action. Keep Flying Kimi 😉
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We were so hopeful after his last column, we thought he was preparing for next season and everything… Can’t imagine F1 without Kimi, it won’t be boring but we’ve lost our reason to watch it. If he joins rally, perhaps we’ll get into rally as well, although it isn’t really our thing. But, anything for Kimi. :)Can’t believe Ferrari and Mclaren were so stupid- Ferrari to let him go and Mclaren for not catching him. Argh. Mclaren should have taken him, he’s one of the best drivers! Button (in our opinion) is quite an average driver who happened to have a good car last season, whereas Kimi is one of the great drivers. Hope both Mclaren and Ferrari regret their decision.How likely is it that Kimi will successfully come back from a sabbatical? Has it happened before? Does anyone know? We’re not quite good with pre-Kimi F1 history, hehe.Kimi forever!!! 🙂
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I can’t imagine a F1 without Kimi…really a very very bad news…I think is all a ferrari consequence.. I hate them!! damn it!!
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Sad, it wasn’t what us dedicated fans want to hear from Team Kimi, but nonetheless, I am happy for him because why wouldn’t one be happy to be paid $17m (or thereabouts depending on which website you read) to sit it out for the year?? He can do whatever he wants, best of all, funded by Ferrari !! I think he got the best deal of all, but of course, not for us fans. I quite like the prospect of Kimi returning in 2011 teaming up with Seb Vettel. It’d be a hoot ! Whatever racing you do, Kimi, I sure hope we get coverage of it here in Australia. F1 world has suddenly gone dimmer for me.
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Cheer Up Raikkos its not the end…..its the Beginning of new Kimi….the Iceman is trying a bit of a Dirt
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so sad ! so sad to see my favorit driver leave my favorit sport …I am sad and furious against the F1 world to have let go such a talent ! Nothing against Kimi, he surely choosed the best for him.But I will follow him everywhere he goes but unfortunately my favorite sport will never ever has the same taste to me …
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Well, Kimi is Kimi. I’m gutted about his departure but he’s always been his own man. Whatever it is, he’s leaving on his own terms – he could’ve compromised if he wanted to, but he remained true to himself and didn’t. I’m no longer feeling bitter about Ferrari – not much point in that. I guess it’s time to look ahead and follow him in WRC if it happens – Citroen have a great car, and it would be interesting to see him battle Sebastien Loeb, but it would also be nice to see him as one of Ford’s Flying Finns! I’ll still watch F1 and cheer for Seb (loved him from the moment he rammed into Mark during his rookie year and burst into tears in the pit garage!!) but not with the same craziness that I’ve supported Kimi. There will be other gifted and exciting drivers in F1, but there will only be one Kimi. The Special One. The only regret I have is that I became a fan of his during the Ferrari years, and having missed him in 2003 and 2005. It’s been a long ride with many ups and downs and I’m glad to have shared it with you guys, but chin up. Things have got so bad that they can only get better. And who knows, he may be back in 2011. 🙂
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I have prepared myself for whatever outcome but I still couldn’t hold my tears when knowing Kimi’s decision. Hard to accept Kimi is leaving F1 and he might leave forever. I expressed my sadness to my closest friends & family, all just couldn’t believe & understand how I feel. I will not follow F1 without Kimi and wouldn’t be bother who is winning in the future. However I will continue to visit Saima’s space, Kimi’s official forum & a few other websites for his latest updates. I respect Kimi’s decision & believe he has made the best choice for him & hope he enjoy 2010 & wish 1 day he would return F1 at the right timing to grab more WDC & WCC. I will definately follow whatever sports he is involving, just hope it will be showing on TV 🙂 1 thing sure is I will miss Kimi VERY MUCH!!Kimi, all the best to you & always enjoy what you are doing. Hope more good news from you eg. a baby ~ a little Kimi or Jenni 🙂
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@YUSSSame here mate…its just hard to digest…..i finally broke into tears when i so the final official announcement about jenson…..the dumbfuck….srsly he’s made the biggest mistake…..whenever i got through "Button joins Mclaren"….feel like breaking my Monitor…..not only because Kimi couldn’t join but also because of a stupid guy who took a wrong decision and got in way of kimi’s rite place…..i hate button that guy is just ridiculous……..his decision is actually gonna end his carrier soon…….idiot couldnt understand what Ross Brawn suggested to him…….All say Kimi wanted money but the truth is Button wanted money……anyone but a baby also wud understand being at his own team could be better
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A very sad day for F1.I just want to say "Thank you Kimi!" After watching F1 since 1994, this year I visited the Belgium Grand Prix to support "my guys" Kimi and Vettel. It was sooo nice to see Kimi win his first grand prix of the season. Thanks for this unforgettable weekend and thanks for 10 years in F1. I hope you will return 2011 together with Vettel and show them what real champs are made of.Ciao Kimi!
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Still can’t believe it.. Next season won’t be same. Somehow I hope that none of these four (JB,LH,FM i FA) will win the title next season,that would be the best answer to these games in/around grid..
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It´s very sad indeed, but we have to move on and support Kimi in whatever decision he takes. Just like Georg says, we have to thank him for so many unforgettable moments we enjoyed supporting him, and for the ones that will come. @Saima, thank you so much for being the center of all Kimi fans, I truly hope you keep on the good work and keep us all updated in this new challenge. Count on me with the calendar 2010, now I am truly curious about the picture selection, this should be interesting!! :-)One good thing is that at least I will save some and put my plans on hold to go to Canada GP for..2011!!! Keep Flying Kimi, we will follow you everywhere!!!…
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it is his decision and i think weve got to respect him for that!he will utterly,sadly and definitely gonna be miss by his MILLIONS of fans all the over the world.i am gutted and F1 wont be thesame everrrrr again…without him in it!defo!
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p.s. and to add…i cant believe my friends and i are booked for Monza next year…….who are we goin to support…totally pointless!altho’ i wud love to see vettel beat those mclaren drivers.i dislike them…arghhhhhhhh
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a quote from andrew benson’s article about kimi "For a driver of that calibre to slip out of F1 in such an unsatisfactory manner is sad indeed. Hubris can be a dangerous thing"…..why dont u just leave him alone…u f****** miserable gits!
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I’m so sad..but Kimi: whatever you do..I’m always with you!Ferrari f**k!
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ı am feelıng terıbble rıght now. best f1 drıver cant fınd a seat . my heart is broken . and ı all want to cry. ı will be supporting kimi whatever he does. that man is great. but it musnt end like this
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It’s still hard for me to accept the fact that Kimi won’t be in F1 next year…Yesterday i said Kimi’s sabbatical year is likely a retirement but after thinking about it and reading the articles discussing this sad news and David Robertson’s comments i think the chances of Kimi’s comeback in 2011 are very big, specially that Red Bull who’s already his sponsor will be involved with his rallying…i’m sure (at least i hope) they wouldn’t jump on the opportunity to have him race 4 them plus they can afford paying his salary.I know i might sound a bit too optimistic to some of you specially this may not happen and Kimi might eventually choose to go rallying full time but the thing is i’m trying to think of positive things and that Kimi will race in F1 again (honestly i think he’ll be back in 2011).Until then i hope he will enjoy his free time with family and friends…looking forward to see him rallying i’m sure he’ll do well…i really hope that he will win Le Mans 24 that would be fantastic 🙂
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f1 shit behaviour, ferrari all traitors. but I can see form these interviews that Kimi and Robertson do not mistery about what they really think.so KIMI KEEP FLYING and we all KEEP SUPPORTING him MORE AND MORE!!!!never let him think that he’s lonely now without f1.KIMI is KIMI!!!!!I’m sure that Saima will do an excellent work also with Kimi in wrc and if he’ll do something in Italy, I’ll be happy to share emotions with you all.guys and friends, this is not an end, but a new beginning!!!!!!!
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What a sad, sad day this is for F1! I cannot begin to describe the mixed feelings I have. I feel so angry and powerless against the power of money and politics in sport. Grr…. I wish I could do something! On the other hand I know that this may be marvellous opportunity for him to find new horisons. I started following Kimi’s career in 2007 when I found this awesome KRS website of Saima. I haven’t missed a single race since January 2007. I shared Kimi’s joys and I shared his sadness when things did not work out well. Through Saima I got to know him as a person and I also learnt to respect the person I could see on the track (not what was written by just anyone). During this time I realised that he was something rare. He is one of a kind. What I like about him is that he never discusses other people, he never whines, he just gets on with the job. He loves his family and friends and his feet are firmly planted on the ground. I never saw him harming other drivers just for the sake of winning. He is a gentleman. How could this have happened? Having said that, I also respect his decision. I also am proud of him. He walks a way with his head held high. He is the true winner in this situation. He is not so engrossed with F1 that he cannot find another niche, unlike some others that come to mind. He will take on something else and he will be happy, because Kimi’s happiness is not in fame and worshipping of the man. He is his own man, and for that I take my hat off. Kimi will shine again in other places. I will always be a Kimi fan and I know that there will never be another Kimi Raikkonen in F1. Kimi, I wish you real happiness, because we all know that that is something very rare, something not always to be found in the limelight. I think you have a better chance of finding real happiness outside of F1, even though I wish you would stay. But that would be selfish. Go on, Kimi, follow your dreams and stay true to yourself. Keep flying, Kimi! You will remain in our hearts! @ Saima: Can’t we all send him a card with good wishes for the future?
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Life goes on, and Kimi is moving on from F1. We’re gonna see Kimi do amazing things in other places :)http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=6522&desc=Raikkonen%20takes%20F1%20sabbatical%20to%20join%20the%20WRC
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Kimi Raikkonen will not have a sabbatical in 2010. According to the journalist Lito Cavalcanti, the SporTV, the Finn signed a contract with Mercedes team for next season. The time of the agreement and the values set are still unknown. However, the 2007 world champion is extremely valued by the direction of the German automaker on their good results during his years at McLaren between 2002 and 2006. Raikkonen won nine of their 18 victories driving a car equipped with Mercedes. Moreover, they won two runner-ups _blank 2003 and 2005_, 11 pole positions and 44 fastest laps. It was in the McLaren-Mercedes to the Finn has established itself as one of the main drivers of current F-1. On Wednesday, Kimi’s manager Steve Robertson, said his driver would take a year "vacation" in 2010, noting that his only option for next season was just McLaren. "The only option for next season was the McLaren or anything. The two have not entered into an agreement, then he will not run in Formula 1, at least not next year," he said. However, Robertson’s announcement was made before the official confirmation of Jenson Button and McLaren. The opening of a place in the Mercedes would have been the first step towards the early negotiation between the Finnish and German teamhttp://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://tazio.uol.com.br/f-1/textos/15098/&sl=pt&tl=en
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Reports mentioning the deal between Mercedes and Kimi as done and announcement soon. :|Read this on one of the forum:Roberston had a meeting with Mercedes today and the deal will be announced soon.Mercedes was really hurt to have been tricked by McLaren and did not mind paying Kimi the 8 millions he wanted…
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amol..read the post below..with the source link
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Yep Dhruv read it. Just wanted to post as my comment.
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hahah ıs thıs a joke? ridicilious by the way. it is enough we dont want to hear another rumour just want an official announcement and whatever kimi does or wherever he goes we are going to support him:)
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Hope kimi drive 4 mercedes.. The only way 4 mercedes to defend their tite is by signing driver who can win.. Driver who’s available is kimi.. Kimi- nico will be a strong pair.. I cant imagine f1 without kimi..
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evanstar what does this mean for KRS. Lets say kimi doesn’t come back in 2011, will we all agree on another driver to follow and start a new chapter?
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There are new rumors in the Brazilian press as saying that Kimi signed with mercedes gp
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http://sport.repubblica.it/news/sport/f1-mercedes-tv-brasile-raikkonen-ha-firmato/3735131?refresh_ce here’s one link where he published many
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@Martin: KRS will remain as KRS…the Kimi Raikkonen Space. It won’t be about any other driver! It will continue to bring the latest on Kimi, news, photos and videos, wherever he may be.A lot of the media are circulating the Kimi to Mercedes/Brawn rumour now. As always, when something is definately confirmed it will be posted on the blog.
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ok.whenever he will take a sabbatical ,or choose to be WRC,the only thing i can do is to support him forever.
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We will miss Kimi
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Fingers Crossed
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I’d Love to see him drive and especially see him in the Merc Outfit
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Saima you have changed the picture for KRS… yeah you are fast! There are TOO many speculations/rumours, enough for me! I don’t want to believe & give another hope to lead me to 1 more heart break. I would assumed Kimi is taking sabbatical 2010 at the moment, and wait for Saima to share his latest news. Of course an annoucement of he joining Mercedez in 2010 will be a ‘surprise’ to me. I will love it. But I choose not to put any hope on it.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80215maybe…..
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hah….its like an oxygen for us
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waitting for kimi words…i have hope to see kimi in the silver narrow next year…they need a champ and kimi is the man.
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Please please Kimi … don’t take sabbatical next year, F1 will be nothing without u. Mercedes will be a good match!
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Guys Kimi has been voted by team bosses joint 6th best driver with Mark W. How crazy is that??
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This late news confirm Kimi in Mercedes. The news are in poryuguese (brasilian site of Globo TV). But we must await for an official confirmation.http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Formula_1/0,,15011,00.html
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Exclusive Interview with Kimihttp://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/11/10229.html
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sorry I did not put link I was too exited.Thank you heavenlylady.
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please god……..make this happens…
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