raikonen signed up thru 2010? what a mistake (spoiler)

I vote for that!

 

I think if nothing else today proved how important setup and getting the tires to work with the set up is. STR with SV got it right all weekend..a drier set up with full wets and perfectly timed weather conditions(for them) and with skill and luck they got Bingo. Hami carved his way through the field until he overdrove the wets he was on then he was no where and too far back to make a dent on inters. Kimi finally got his car only after a few laps on inters then cranked fastest lap after fastest lap. Proof conclusive that the setup just didn't work with the wets. All this crap on here about Kimi needing to be sacked is just unbelievable. Only fchat is there a call to sack the current WDC and his teammate who is currently only measily 1 point adrift of the current leader.

 

Fire Kimi - not yet. On Ferrari World earlier both team managers decried the lack of pace in wet and cool temps for the car. Both drivers are doing or did the best they could. Ferrari pit strategy and set up engineering is not up to speed for the wet. Kimi is being outpaced in just about all conditions by Felipe.

Felipe is making the car work better for him as it has developed. Clearly that development has not benefitted Kimi's style as much. I have been a huge Kimi fan up until late. I expected him to stamp his authority on the team this year but he has not. Pragmatically speaking its way past time for him to be supported for the WDC now. Felipe has clearly earned that.

Im a Ferrari fan first and I admire Kimi but he is not in contention without some amazing miracles. Felipe has earned my respect and admiration for not giving up, being a racer for the WDC in the face of the criticism that has been leveled at him up until this year. He has earned his way by winning and performing at a level above Kimi and the stats prove it. Check manipef1.com for a detailed listing of stats and driver positions/qualy/laps led etc.

 

1 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso 86:47.494 10
2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren +12.50 8
3 Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber +20.40 6
4 Fernando Alonso Renault +23.90 5
5 Nick Heidfeld BMW-Sauber +27.70 4
6 Felipe Massa Ferrari +28.80 3
7 Lewis Hamilton McLaren +29.90 2
8 Mark Webber Red Bull +32.00 1
9 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari +39.40 0

Mark Webber from Red Bull by almost 7 seconds = NO POINTS ...give me a break.

 

How many weeks ago was it that Massa was the one that should be fired while Kimi was the Iceman??? That story changed quickly. My full respect goes to Massa for doing well when the pressure and media were REALLY on him.

 

Kimi's take on the race and pretty much what I spouted out above. Just found this on Autosport. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70632

 

IMHO the team's biggest problem is not Kimi. It's the current team management.

 

OK...folks...Here´s mine

FERRARI is having big time problems with reliability, cold tires/cold track, on a year full of wet races...I mean, we´ve had seasons with NO RAIN...this year we´ve had like 5 races on wets???

...so the car is SLOW on full wets, on midwets...it has no mechanical grip...understeers...Ferrari to blame.

I think Kimmi has lost the interest...since last race....he wont race unless the car is perfect, Massa races it even if is just average...

And he WONT help Massa...so he screws big time so he´s never in a possition to help the guy....last race he said "it was all or nothing in this race fir me really"-what the heck!!!!!!!...even I could judge he was going too fast on that straight in Spa just before he lost it and locked it like a morron into the wall---


...Massa is NOT GOOD on a wet surface, he won last one based on luck, carefull driving...when he´s got no car he colects the points, and waits for the next to improve...the guy CAN LEARN!!!...today he managed to discount a point...so...good race!

...we have 4 more to overcome a 1 point difference.

...the car is not there...damn Silver Ferraris are A LOT better on the wet than our Red Ferraris...on the dry...Kimmi would have CRUNCHED everyone...he gambled, stayed with is dry set up...but only the last 7 laps were 80% dry...and he scored 5 fastest laps in a row...great...cool...BUT

WHY IS HE AFFRAID OF WET RACES?...wasnt he the fastest in the wet?...the next rainmaster?...WHAT IS HE WAITING?...is the Ferrari so SLOW AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE? -how come Massa is the worst on a wet, but manages to go faster on a wet set up is beyond me-

...Im more worried about the Car, and the low temps...and Kimmis attitude!!!!.... than Massa not having what it takes because HE´S GOT IT....Massa has all he needs to win it.

Kimmi wont be champ...and needs a good spanking...

Along with the Team for handing them a set of cars that cant stand a changing condition race better than a Toro Rosso

 

At Ferrari it's one man = one vote. LDM is that man and it is his vote.

 

Beer and the stick.

 

dont write kimi off just yet. Most likely for this season yes...but the dude has incredible speed behind him. I honestly dont know whats wrong with him this season, but i recon if he'd managed to qualify better at some races he would be up there in the title fight easily (like hungary, he was stuck behind alonso most of the races, he almost spins at alonso's inlap, has some clear air, puts in a good lap now he's released....goes in next one and is ahead of alonso).

Hopefully he'll do well next year again.

 

Ferrari should have at least held off on his contract until the season was over.
This is the only way to ensure Kimi ( or ANY driver ) gives his full performance.
Now that his future is secure he has the option to put forth the effort if all the stars align or "wait till next year".
Enzo was master of the driver motivation game.

 

Different approaches. Do drivers respond better to support or to uncertainty? Depends on the driver, Lot's of world class drivers refused to work for Enzo.

 

I was very unimpressed with Kimi's performace today. It was lacklustre and very uninspired. The magic that helped him pull it all together last year is gone, I'm afraid. I really wish they had signed Alonso who would have helped immensely developing the car, but instead will likely go to BMW. Also, they run the risk of losing the opportunity to bring in younger talent like Vettel and develop their skills as they hold on to Kimi. I feel bad saying this because I have generally liked Kimi and even when he was running the cars into the ground or chased by the black helicopters during his time at McLaren, there was never that throw-in-the-towel mentality that he seems to be exhibiting right now.

 

+1

+1
Neither Massa nor Kimi can develop the car. Why else would the team hire Michael to test it?

+1

 

Alonso's been doing a bang up job developing the Renault.

 

The renewal was to get Luca a drink wingman.

He can do as many fastest lap as he want but until he doesn´t learn how to qualify, start races and be competitive all the race he will be just another Jacques Villeneuve.

 

+1

 

wtf? exactly when was the last time MS was reported to have tested ? The car sucks in the cool and wet plain and simple. We've now seen it more than once. The biggest issue with the SF is not the drivers but how to get the car to respond in these types of conditions if they should occur again the remaining races. But the fchat faithful want to hang the drivers by the balls over a car that sucks when it's wet

 

MS tested the car this year.

If you have any connections to Maranello, ask them whether Massa or Kimi can develop the car.

 

+1..the car SUCKS in the cold and wet and SF should be well aware and ashamed of it!!!...that Toro Rosso is made from the left overs of Red Bull and Ferrari?...yeah yeah it started to dry out and Kimmi bursted every laptime but with 7 laps to go and being 35 seconds behind it only proves WE ARE SCREWD IN EVERY COLD RACE...and this is FERRARI not Minardi...for what is worth now.

...Silver ferraris have they´re own issues but ours is waaaay worst...

And how Massa is more stable than Kimmi on a soaking wet race?...Wasnt he the worst ever?

...And why would Kimmi be affraid of using the "wet setup" waiting for dry conditions?...wasnt he the next Rainmaster?

...damn Kimmi is doing all that crap just to be so way back he cant help Massa...

 

One thing's for sure, you don't become a 7-time world champion by not caring.

Maybe Hamilton's smug, arrogant comments about Kimi not having the "balls" to be at the top will help motivate Kimi to show him something, assuming it doesn't RAIN again. Apparently Hamilton/McLaren is the boss of wet tracks this year, God knows Massa isn't going to take Hamilton in the wet in this year's Ferrari.

 

That goes both ways you know. You just can't make up some fact about Massa and Kimi being unable to develop cars, then pull the connections card when someone calls you out on your statements, hailing from your rear end.

 

Are F1 teams allowed to test their cars on their own private tracks without adding to the testing cap? I remember Michael did a few tests during the pre-season, but since then has he?