Tag: Kimi Raikkonen

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Formula 1

F1 winter testing: Barcelona I day 1

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus E23, Barcelona

Pastor Maldonado has topped the time sheets (1:25.011) on the opening day of testing in Barcelona overnight.

The Lotus driver made good use of his new Mercedes power unit and some fresh soft tyres to set his best lap late in what was quite an exciting day, as far as pre-season testing goes.

Kimi Raikkonen (1:25.167) again kept Ferrari near the pointy end, while Daniel Ricciardo was the third fastest (1:25.547). The top three had a full second clear back to the remaining pack.

“The car felt good today, we got a bit of running done on a few different [tyre] compounds, which was interesting and we got a lot of data, which is always good,” said Daniel. “I think we’re chipping away. We’re definitely making progress but it takes time. However, I think come Melbourne we’ll be there.”

The excitement came from a minor coming together with Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and Susie Wolff (Williams). In the morning session Nasr had shown good pace, heading the field, but that all came undone after he ran into the back of Wolff’s car. The damage was minor and both drivers were able to get back on track later in the day.

Lewis Hamilton set the slowest time of the day and ended his running early due to illness. The world champion completed only 11 laps and his departure meant that reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein was quickly recalled from his loan spell with Force India. Wehrlein was able to complete 48 laps in the W06, after putting in 32 laps for Force India earlier in the day.

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Formula 1

F1 winter testing: Jerez day 4

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF15-T, Jerez

Kimi Raikkonen ensured Ferrari ended its pre-season testing at Jerez in the headlines by setting the fastest time of the day (1:20.841).

“Over the winter, we have made a good step forward and this car is definitely an improvement over the 2014 one,” Raikkonen said at day’s end. “It’s the whole package that has progressed, but there is still a lot of work to do.”

Second quickest was Felipe Nasr (1:22.019) in the Ferrari-powered Sauber C34. Defending champions Mercedes found themselves with the third best time of the day, thanks to world champion Lewis Hamilton (1:22.172), who completed 117 laps, more than any other driver.

Max Verstappen piloted his Toro Rosso to the fourth best lap (1:22.553), more than half a second ahead of Felipe Massa (1:23.116) in fifth.

Pocketing a helpful 53 laps for Lotus with its switch to Mercedes power was Romain Grosjean (1:23.802 ) who recorded the sixth fastest lap. Daniil Kvyat (1:23.975) managed to keep the front wing of the RB11 in one piece but was well off the leading pace, going seventh fastest.

In a consistent last place on the lap charts was the McLaren-Honda. Jenson Button (1:27.660) was at the wheel and did at least take the MP4-30 below the 1:30 barrier for the first time this week.

Pre-season testing will resume in two weeks time at Barcelona (19–22 February) and will conclude with a second session in Barcelona (26 February–1 March).

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Fenix Formula 1

2015 Ferrari SF15-T revealed

2015 Ferrari SF15-T

Ferrari has unveiled its new 2015 Formula 1 car, the SF15-T. It’s a big year for the Scuderia as it hopes to make up for the disappointment of 2014, which saw its lead driver depart and two Team Principals get the arse.

Leading the charge in 2015 is new Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene who will have two pretty healthy egos to play with. Those, of course, belong to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and one-time champ Kimi Raikkonen.

The Vettel to Ferrari narrative will be one of the big stories of the forthcoming season. We hope to learn if he’s as good as his breathatking record suggests, or was he simply the right guy at the right time to benefit from the genius of Adrian Newey?

Arrivabene has targeted two race wins for the team this season and when targets like that are made public it’s fun for all of us seeing if they can be achieved.

Bring on 2015!

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Ferrari Formula 1

Going ice cold on the Iceman

2014 British Grand Prix

The return of Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari has not gone well. In nine races the 2007 champ has qualified ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso only twice and and is yet to finish ahead of him on race day.

Kimi’s best result this year is P7, achieved in Australia and Spain. Alonso has finished sixth or better in all nine races to date. And while many are feeling for Kimi after his big crash in the British Grand Prix his lack lustre results haven’t escaped the eye of Darren Heath. It’s fair to say the F1 photographer has fallen out of love:

Sadly those days of daring-do on a Sunday afternoon followed by wild nights of well-deserved frivolity are long gone. The down-in-the-mouth look and the surly attitude are no longer cool, rather just tedious and old.

The Iceman legend may well be emblazoned on Räikkönen’s helmet and even tattooed large on his left forearm, but I’m afraid the winter is over for our chilly hero. A thaw has set in.

You can read Heath’s thoughts in full over at his blog.

Oh yeah, while Kimi is taking some time off to recover from his 47G impact, Jules Bianchi stepped into his car and set the fastest time in testing at Silverstone overnight.

While it can be folly to compare times from test sessions, Bianchi’s best lap of 1:35.262 was almost 1.3 seconds better than Kimi’s best across the British Grand Prix weekend and only 0.018s slower than Alonso’s quickest lap.

Jules to Ferrari in 2015 and Kimi to have his contract torn up? Stranger things than that have happened in F1 before.

[Pic: Ferrari]

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Ferrari Formula 1

2014 Ferrari F14 T revealed

2014 Ferrari F14-T

Ferrari has just released images and brief details for its 2014 F1 car, the F14 T. On the one hand we’re thankful that we don’t have another skinny anteater nose. But we can’t really say this is the prettiest Formula 1 car we’ve ever seen.

The most common comparison with the F14 T is the Beluga cargo plane. Which is a shame really. It’s been too long since we’ve been able to look at an F1 car and think of it as a thing of beauty.

The name F14 T was chosen from the results of an internet poll. You can read the name as FIAT if you like, but it does actually reference the current year and the fact the car is now turbocharged. A nice bit of serendipity then.

Official photos and press material are available below. We’re still trying to work out if this looks better than any of the other 2014-spec F1 cars we’ve seen so far. It’s a bit like trying to choose the best needle to stick in your eye.

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Formula 1

Formula 1’s lucky numbers

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

As the new F1 season draws near we can start getting all excited about the numbers the drivers will choose in this new era of permanent numbers.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen wants number 7 apparently. But so does Jules Bianchi. A bitch fight to settle it perhaps?

Other numbers nominated to date include:

  • Fernando Alonso (14)
  • Valtteri Bottas (77)
  • Jenson Button (22)
  • Romain Grosjean (8)
  • Kevin Magnussen (20)
  • Felipe Massa (19)
  • Sergio Perez (11)
  • Nico Rosberg (6)
  • Jean-Eric Vergne (25)

It’s not known yet if Daniel Ricciardo has selected a preference. Do you think he will stick with the number 19 he raced with in 2013 or choose something new?

We wonder, if our Mark was still in F1 if he would choose number 2, just for a laugh?

[Source: Planet F1 | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Lotus

Kimi backs out of Lotus career

Kimi Raikkonen

The melodrama of Kimi Raikkonen’s recent relationship with Lotus has reached a climax with word the 2007 world champion will miss the final two grands prix of the season to have back surgery.

Kimi and Lotus have endured a strained relationship ever since the 34-year-old announced he was moving to Ferrari in 2014. Motivations for Kimi’s switch became clearer when it emerged he hadn’t been paid all season due to Lotus’ financial woes.

Indeed, last week Raikkonen had threatened to withdraw from the final two races unless his pay disupte was finalised. This followed an angry radio exchange during the closing stages of the Indian Grand Prix where Lotus Trackside Operations Director, Alan Permane, ordered Kimi to “get out of the fucking way” of a faster Romain Grosjean.

Despite all this we were led to believe Kimi would be racing in Austin and a satisfactory resolution to his pay dispute had been reached.

Clearly that resolution didn’t last and we’re being told that Kimi’s troublesome back has forced his hand. Of course, the timing of his injury-related end to the season could just be an amazing coincidence.

“In an ideal world it would have been nice to finish the season with Lotus in the final two grands prix,” Steve Robertson, Raikkonen’s manager, told Autosport.

“However, due to the severe pain that Kimi is having, sadly it is not possible.”

Highlighting what a farce the Raikkonen–Lotus saga has been, the lead story on the Lotus website is currently all about Kimi looking forward to racing in Austin next weekend.

Lotus reserve driver Davide Valsecchi is probably hoping, maybe even expecting, to get the call up to replace Kimi. But who knows what will happen next.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Lotus F1 Team/LAT Photographic]

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Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2013 Korean Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Korean Grand Prix

While even his fellow drivers may be booing Sebastian Vettel’s latest win at the Korean Grand Prix, the race itself is under threat. Partly because of poor attendance and also due to the promise of a bumper 22-race calendar that nobody wants. One thing is sure, Mark Webber has plenty of fans in Korea, as you’ll see in the pics below.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

2013 Singapore GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Singapore Grand Prix

After winning the Singapore Grand Prix with ease Sebastian Vettel faced many questions about his lead in the championship and was once again asked if he dislikes being booed.

Fernando Alonso was praised for his never say die attitude and Kimi Raikkonen’s sore back became a pain in the neck, such was the amount of questioning he suffered.

As we know the two Australian drivers had races they’d rather forget. Daniel Ricciardo crashed out before half-way and Mark Webber’s engine failed on the final lap.

“I think I did pretty much everything I could today,” Mark said. “We had pace in the car when we needed, we managed the tyres and made a very good undercut on Nico, I was really happy with that lap. Then six laps from the end, the guys were getting worried about the car.

“So, yeah, it’s annoying but someone’s had a tougher day than me somewhere and that’s the way it goes. I was having to short shift, but then, unlike Monza, we started to lose a lot of power. We were just trying to get home at that point but then on the last lap we caught fire.”

Daniel wasn’t looking for excuses to his early race exit. “The crash was my error, trying to make up for lost ground,” he said. “At the start, my car just seemed to sit there without moving off the line. It was very frustrating to lose so many places right away. I think I went down five places from ninth on the grid to fourteenth.

“In the second stint, my engineer came on the radio and said ‘the pace is good, keep pushing.’ I was aware that for the pace we had, we were not doing too badly and maybe at the end I was just trying to get too much out of it and made that mistake. It’s a delicate corner with not much run-off and I went too deep into the apex. I then braked a bit harder, locked a wheel and went into the wall. It’s not a mistake I’m used to making. I will learn from this.“

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Singapore GP

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel toyed with his peers on the way to a 32 second victory in tonight’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver was challenged off the line by Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and lost the lead for a few seconds. After that, though, Vettel totally outclassed the rest of the field.

The demanding streets of Marina Bay often serve up a Safety Car or two and such intervention was desperately needed to brig Sebastian back to the pack. Inevitably the Safety Car was out but it was of no consequence to Vettel. From the restart he quickly re-established his lead and cruised to victory.

Perhaps the stories of the day were found in the minor podium positions. As is customary and indeed expected Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) shot off the line from P7 and found himself in P3 once the field settled down. Quickly in to take advantage of the Safety Car on Lap 25 Alonso was able to make his tyres last until the end of the race and with that he earned a secure second place.

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) followed Alonso’s strategy and overcame his troublesome back to fight his way to P3 from all the way down in P13. A great drive from the 33-year-old Finn.

The Aussies had a forgettable day. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) was the man responsible for the Safety Car after he locked up and sent himself into the wall.

The lengthy Safety Car period did throw pit stop strategies all over the place and while many drivers came in for new tyres, Webber, Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) all stayed out on track. When the trio inevitably came in for fresh tyres they had some work to do, but fresh rubber on which to do it.

Webber had his eyes set on P3 and managed to work his way from eighth into fourth and he looked to have the speed to challenge Raikkonen. Alas, as soon as Mark found his way to P4 he was getting messages from his team to short shift. It wasn’t long before he saw the two Mercedes AMGs sail past, and then Felipe Massa (Ferrari) as well. Webber crossed the line to start the final lap, his car sounding terribly off note and it was no surprise to see his engine let go before he could complete the lap.

Once again Webber had to suffer the frustration of a mechanical failure while his teammate racked up yet another grand prix win, the 32nd of Vettel’s career. The young German’s dominance since the mid-season break has made a fourth world title look increasingly likely.

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Ferrari Formula 1

Not everyone loves Kimi

Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen

Former Ferrari sporting director (1989–91) Cesare Fiorio has shared his views on the return of Kimi Raikkonen to the Scuderia. And it’s fair to say he’s not happy.

“I’m not a fan of the new hiring,” Fiorio told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I admire his talent, but I don’t agree with his lifestyle and his technical approach. I wouldn’t have gone for him.

“In my opinion it’s a conservative choice. I would have gone for an emerging driver rather than one at the tail end of his career.

“He doesn’t live like an athlete and to be champion in F1 talent is not enough. You need physical, technical and psychological effort and, from what I know and have seen, he’s the type of guy who takes his bag and leaves shortly after the sessions.

“I don’t know how much technical contribution he can bring.”

Regarding the relationship between Kimi and current number one driver Fernando Alonso, Fiorio doesn’t think there’ll be any dramas. “In my opinion Alonso is happy: his worth will grow by beating him [Raikkonen],” Fiorio added.

And while he was on a roll Fiorio took the opportunity to lay the slipper into Felipe Massa, as well.

“I think that it’s better to have two champions and having to deal with a rivalry problem three or even ten times a year, in the knowledge that both are able to win races and championships, than having a useless number two race driver,” he said.

When asked to expand on his views of Massa, Fioro replied: “I’m just saying that in the last four years Massa has waned a lot.

“His only strength was the single lap, but he has no race quality, has no rhythm, and he often fades in the races.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Ferrari]

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Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari confirms Raikkonen return on 2 year deal

Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Stefano Domenicali, Felipe Massa

Oh, isn’t that nice, a lovely family snap to usher in the return of Ferrari’s most recent world champion. The body language is superb, too.

As expected Ferrari has announced it has signed Kimi Raikkonen for next year. Slightly against expectations he is signed on a firm two-year contract. “Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver line-up for the next two racing seasons,” a short statement on the Ferrari website confirmed.

After the break you’ll see three brief statements from Kimi, his teammate in waiting Fernando Alonso and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali. Make sure you play the reading between the lines game with Fernando’s quotes.

All are very polite at the moment and we cannot wait for the fireworks to commence next year.  Our tantrumeter has been set to extreme!

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