Boycott and Lauda – Kimi just doesn’t care

| Source: autosport.com |

Kimi Raikkonen says he has no intention of boycotting the German Grand Prix, despite the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association’s threat.

The Formula 1 drivers’ body, of which Raikkonen is not a member, met on Thursday and issued a statement saying drivers would withdraw from the race if there were similar tyre problems to those suffered in the British Grand Prix.

Raikkonen, who was one of the drivers who withdrew from the 2005 United States Grand Prix following the tyre drama, says he will race on Sunday regardless of what happens.

“I haven’t seen it, I heard,” said Raikkonen of the GPDA statement. “I am sure it is not going to happen anyhow.

“I was once involved in 2005 and funnily enough there were some guys that didn’t stop and they drove, so for sure I will race whatever happens this time.”

When asked if he had been invited to the GPDA meeting, the Lotus driver said: “Yes. But I am not part of it, sometimes I go – but I hear about it as quickly as you.”

Raikkonen said he had no fears about the tyres, even before Pirelli introduced the revised ones for this weekend.

The Finn agreed with Pirelli that other teams were using the tyres wrong.

“I would race. The problems are not just because of the tyres – there can be a lot of influence in why it has happened.

“We haven’t had a single problem all year, so I have no feeling. [Motor racing] is dangerous anyhow, anything can happen.

“The reason why they exploded was that the teams were using them wrong. I am fine with it.”

Other Quotes:

Kimi unfazed by Niki Lauda ‘wimp’ jibe

Kimi Raikkonen declined to hit back at Niki Lauda on Friday, despite the F1 legend calling him a “wimp”.

Told that triple world champion and Mercedes chairman Lauda has been talking about him, Raikkonen said at the Nurburgring: “Huh? To me? He (Lauda) hasn’t spoken to me.”

The 2007 world champion was then told by the interviewer for Tagesspiegel newspaper that Lauda had said ignoring Red Bull’s offer of a 2014 seat would make him a “wimp”.

“I don’t care what he says,” said the Finn. “He likes to talk a lot and that doesn’t concern me.

“He’s not being nasty, I know him well enough to know what he’s thinking,” added Raikkonen.

The 33-year-old insisted he only returned to F1 in 2012 to win again, so the interviewer is curious as to why he would apparently hesitate to join Red Bull — the dominant team of the past few seasons.

“There are many reasons,” answered Raikkonen. “Nothing is as clear as it seems.

“At the moment I have nothing for next year. If there is a decision, I will tell everyone,” he added.

Asked if a great car, lots of money, or lots of free time are most important to him, Raikkonen admitted: “Everything. The whole package.

“I’ve been in a lot of teams and so I know what I want.

“I’ll make the best choice for myself, and if it’s wrong and I regret it, at least I made the decision for myself.”

Asked if the likely friendly pairing with Sebastian Vettel next year could sway things in Red Bull’s favour, Raikkonen insisted: “That doesn’t matter.

“I know what you mean, but having jokes and laughs with friends is not why I’m here.”