Tag: Kimi Raikkonen

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Ferrari Formula 1

Raikkonen will replace Massa at Ferrari in 2014

Felipe Massa

With those words from Felipe Massa, a Ferrari driver since 2006, the path for Kimi Raikkonen to join Ferrari has been cleared.

The BBC is reporting Kimi has signed a one year deal for him to join Fernando Alonso next year, with a one year option for 2015. It’s expected Ferrari will announce the signing of the 33-year-old Finn very soon, perhaps in the next 24 hours. Anticipation of Kimi’s return to Ferrari grew after last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Raikkonen left McLaren to drive with Ferrari from 2007–09 and won his world championship with the team in 2007.

It would appear Ferrari has shifted its philosophy of having a clear number one driver and one wouldn’t be at all surprised if Fernando Alonso is unimpressed with the arrival of his new teammate. Certainly the relationship between Raikkonen and Alonso in 2014 will be one of the stories to follow next season.

Massa, who’s best result with Ferrari was a desperately close second-placed finish in the 2008 world championship, wants to carry on. He added, “For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the Championship which remains my greatest objective!”

[Source: BBC | Pic: Ferrari]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus

Raikkonen getting closer to Ferrari return

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he expects to confirm his future employment plans in the next few days. And word from the paddock at Monza is he will be moving to Ferrari in 2014.

His current boss, Eric Boullier, says it’s all up to Kimi. “The decision rests more with him because he has an offer from us,” he said. “We know he has a couple of things we have to supply and deal with to close the discussion.

“But now Kimi is in a position where he is being chased by most of the paddock and he will decide. He knows what he gets with us, but he doesn’t know what he will get if he changes teams.”

Over at the Red team they’re playing their cards close to their chest. “This is something we want to take at the appropriate time, to make sure that we take the best decision for our team,” Domenicali said when responding to questions about Ferrari’s 2014 driver line up.

“I think the fact that we have not decided yet means we have to put all the elements on the table. We will announce and say something on that as soon as we have finalised it. It is not an easy decision for us.”

What Fernando Alonso will make of having Kimi as a teammate is anyone’s guess. We can’t see the 33-year-old Finn being as compliant as Felipe Massa, or even Nico Hulkenberg, who has also been linked with the Scuderia. Looks like we won’t have long to find out.

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

 

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

“Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014”

2013 German Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo’s position at Red Bull Racing for 2014 is all but confirmed with Kimi Raikkonen’s manager declaring the 2007 world champion will not be switching to Red Bull next year.

Speaking to Finnish publication Turun Sanomat, Kimi’s manager, Steve Robertson, said: “It’s true, Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks, but a deal will not be happening.”

Although, it still appears as though Raikkonen has a choice regarding his future in F1. “We are pretty confident that Kimi will be in F1 next year,” Robertson added. “There are options—and that is plural—out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I am hopeful we will sort something out in the not too distant future.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus

Stuff Red Bull, how about a return to Ferrari?

2013 Spanish Grand Prix

The latest gossip on the Formula 1 rumour mill is a real doozy: Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari in 2014?

Of course, Kimi won his 2007 world championship with the Scuderia so he knows what he can achieve with the Maranello posse. But it’s also the place he lost his passion for F1. We think a return is unlikely, but when you consider that former Lotus Technical Director, James Allison, has switched camps to Ferrari you do start to think, hmm, “Maybe.”

Then there’s the fact that Fernando Alonso’s manager was seen talking to Red Bull’s Christian Horner in Hungary, followed by Alonso’s wish for someone else’s car. Now you really start to think, “Well stranger things have happened.”

The latest Raikkonen rumour comes from Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat. We’re not sure how solid their information is, but we do expect this will be a cracking off season, now that the recent stability of the top teams has been upset by Mark Webber’s looming departure from Red Bull.

[Source: F1 Pulse]

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Formula 1 Lotus

Lotus waiting to take the next step

2013 Hungarian Grand Prix

The Lotus F1 Team is hoping to finalise a deal to handover a 35% slice of their team to the confusingly named Infinity Racing. In return they’ll get a great big new cheque book with lots of zeroes. Eric Boullier, Lotus Team Principal, expects the deal to be finalised this week and says it will play a part in his wish to keep Kimi Raikkonen on his books.

Raikkonen is in contention for the Red Bull seat to be vacated by Mark Webber at the end of the year. Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, has said the choice is likely to be a battle between Kimi and Daniel Ricciardo.

“It is not the main thing, but it is one of the things yes,” Boullier said when asked if Raikkonen wanted more financial backing for the team if he was to stay.

“I think by the end of this week everything should be clear,” added Boullier. “The deal gives us more than optimism for the future. It gives us the means to bring all the resources to go to the next step in terms of stability, size and, let’s say power.”

And who can say no to more power!

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Lotus Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2013 Hungarian GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton rated his win in the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix very highly. When interviewed on the podium by Martin Brundle he declared: “I think this is probably one of the most important grand prix wins of my career. To move to a new team and to win for Mercedes-Benz is just a real privilege.”

Clearly, Lewis was pretty happy with his day’s work, and so he should be. He drove a strong race and deserved the win.

Mark Webber was also pleased with his result, even though, he’d much prefer fighting for higher honours that P4.

“I think we had the right strategy,” Webber said. “We knew there was a lot of pressure on getting a good first lap and I got some clear air, which worked well. The start was okay and the first sector was very good, I was able to put a bit of pressure on Kimi and then we just settled in.

“I don’t think we could have got much more than that result today. The strategy was pretty solid and you have to pace the option tyres until the end.”

Daniel Ricciardo wasn’t quite so pleased with his day and think the mid-30 degree temperatures may not suit the Toro Rosso STR8.

“Right from the start, it was clear we weren’t really quick,” admitted Ricciardo. “I tried to hold position as long as I could but we were way too slow. I tried my best in terms of trying to maintain a good pace and look after the tyres, but today it was not enough to go looking for points. We got a bit more out of the car in qualifying yesterday, but it’s hard to repeat that for seventy laps.

“We struggled at Nürburgring as well, so the heat has got something to do with it. We could not match our competitors today, just lacking speed when we have a heavy fuel load, which is the opposite of what we tended to see with last year’s car.”

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

[Pic: Mercedes AMG]

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Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Red Bull Racing

Lewis Hamilton wins 2013 Hungarian GP

Lewis Hamilton wins 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton said he couldn’t win the Hungarian Grand Prix, despite starting from pole position. But he made a quick start off the line to hold P1 and managed to hang on for a well deserved win—his first for Mercedes AMG.

We were also told that the Hungaroring is notoriously difficult to pass on but we saw some great overtaking moves during this race right through the field.

The closing laps saw a great scrap between Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) for the minor podium positions. Kimi was able to hold Sebastian at bay to finish the race in P2.

Making his second great start in a row Mark Webber (Red Bull) started from P10 and improved to P7 by the end of the first lap. He bagn the race on new medium compound tyres, while all those in front were on used softs. Fresh tyres allowed Mark to stay out much longer on his opening stint and he led the race for several laps before making his first of three tyre stops.

With 10 laps to go, while in second place, Webber pitted for the final time taking on a brand new set of soft tyres. He rejoined the track in P4 some 12 seconds behind the Raikkonen–Vettel scrap but was unable to close enough ground to fight for a podium finish. Still, after his qualifying woes he should be happy with fourth.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) had a non-descript race and was never really in the hunt, in that context he may be happy with P5 today. However, we’re certain he won’t be happy with Ferrari’s current form.

In P6 was Romain Grosjean (Lotus) who, we think, was a little unlucky to be penalised for a great overtaking move on Jenson Button (McLaren). To complete the move Grosjean had all four wheels off the race track, ever so slightly, and was given a drive through penalty for his sins. He had shown good pace all race and had the package to fight for more.

Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) was barely sighted on the television feed all race and dropped from his starting position of eighth down to thirteenth. Crucially, he finished one place behind teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.

Formula 1 now heads into its mid-season break and will return for the Belgian Grand Prix in the last weekend of August.

Continue reading “Lewis Hamilton wins 2013 Hungarian GP”
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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

“Ricciardo did an excellent job at Silverstone”

Daniel Ricciardo testing for Red Bull Racing, July 2013

Daniel Ricciardo’s hopes of landing the plumb Red Bull Racing seat in 2014 are improving by the day it would seem. And it appears we won’t have long to find out if he’s got the gig.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Dietrich Mateschitz told Autosport, that an announcement isn’t far away. “There is no decision yet, and it is still under discussion within the team. It will be announced after Budapest,” the Red Bull owner said.

“But Ricciardo did an excellent job at Silverstone, and [Jean-Eric] Vergne was very good,” Mateschitz added.

Daniel set the fastest lap of the day during testing at Silverstone last week. That time was set in the morning session when he was driving for Toro Rosso. After switching to the Red Bull Racing garage over his short lunch break he backed up his morning performance with the third quickest time of the day.

Jean-Eric Vergne believes he’s still a chance to land the job at Red Bull, but it would appear as though it’s a straight fight between Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen.

With Louts on the brink of securing new investors it’s looking more likely that Kimi could elect to stay with his current team for 2014. And that would be a great boost to Daniel’s chances of replacing fellow Australian Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

It’s Daniel v Kimi in chase for 2014 Red Bull seat

2013 Canadian Grand Prix

It’s official, well, as official as it’s ever going to get: it’s Daniel Ricciardo v Kimi Raikkonen in the chase for Mark Webber’s seat at Red Bull Racing.

Confirmation came from Christian Horner ahead of today’s test session at Silverstone. “We’re very keen to have a look at Daniel as a prospect for next year,” Horner told Sky Sports. “Obviously there is a great deal of interest in the seat, but it’s an opportunity to have a look at Daniel and for him to do some of our tyre-testing work in our RBR car. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

When Horner was asked directly if it was a straight out fight between Daniel and Kimi, he replied: “Essentially, probably.”

Kimi Raikkonen is still the bookies’ favourite to land the gig, but Daniel’s prospects have clearly improved in recent weeks.

“You have to look at what these drivers have at their disposal and for sure both Jean-Eric and Daniel are very quick drivers, and we have an opportunity to take a closer look at Daniel which is why we have chosen to exercise that and get him in the car,” Horner added.

We know that Red Bull has an internal target of 200 points from whoever partners Sebastian Vettel next year and Kimi is clearly capable of reaching that target.

“Kimi’s track record speaks for itself and he’s a championship contender as we speak. We’re in a fortunate position in that not only are we attracting fantastic drivers like Kimi but we’ve also got the opportunity to look at the drivers we have been nurturing in the likes of Daniel,” said Horner.

“We get paid based on where we are in the Constructors’ Championship so therefore we want the fastest and best drivers we can get in the car. We’ll take our time to make sure that whoever fills Mark’s shoes—and they are big shoes to fill—is the right choice for the team.”

[Source: Sky Sports | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull wants 200 points from number 2 driver

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo will need to convince Red Bull Racing hierarchy he is capable of delivering the team 200 championship points if he is to secure a drive with them in 2014, Autosport reports.

“Red Bull is not a team that can afford to be swayed by personal preference, a hunch, or a beaming Australian smile,” the Autosport article says. “It is cold-hard statistics that will count for its verdict.”

A total of 200 points would be no small task for the 24-year-old Australian. There is likely to be 20 races on the 2014 F1 race calendar, so on average Red Bull expects whoever replaces Mark Webber to finish fifth or better in every race. As it stands right now Daniel best ever race finish is seventh. With a better car and a better resourced team this should be achievable, although the pressure to perform will be immense.

Red Bull Racing has won three constructors’ championships in a row. In that time Mark Webber delivered 242, 258 and 179 points respectively in the years 2010–2012.

You would think the other reported Red Bull target, Kimi Raikkonen, would be more than able to meet the points criteria for Red Bull. Whether he would be willing to give up the freedom offered by Lotus to meet the promotional demands that go with being a Red Bull driver is another matter altogether.

It won’t be conclusive, of course, but if Daniel can put in a good performance with Red Bull at Silverstone today, on and off the track, that can only help his chances of promotion in 2014.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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

2013 German Grand Prix in pictures

2013 German Grand Prix

Here we are with a bumper edition of F1 pics this week. There’s over 100 photos from the 2013 German Grand Prix for you below, there’s some really great images too. We hope you like them.

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Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

2013 German GP: Post-race press conference

2013 German Grand Prix

One of the benefits of Kimi Raikkonen finishing so close to Sebastian Vettel in the German Grand Prix is that it gave the media at the post-race press conference a chance to quiz both drivers about the possibility of racing in the same team next year. As you’d expect both played a fairly straight bat, but it was still interesting to read what both had to say on the topic of replacing Mark Webber in 2014.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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