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Nick_L

By Nick_L
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marsh

marsh

Posted
Posted
Woah. Crazy. An interesting post appeared on James Allen's blog yesterday outlining the background to how Raikkonen got in this 'predicament' - one which he claims will earn him more money staying in bed than if he did have a drive for 2010.

The driver market and wages situation really is a fascinating one. It'll be interesting the next time F1 needs to find an excuse for its behavior when the good old quote is trotted out: "this 'sport' is about the best drivers piloting the fastest cars around the most spectacular tracks". And in fact you will have one of the best drivers sitting on his sofa munching a cornetto or throwing a Punto at a pine tree in the tundra.

:omg:

At least he won't have to wait long to start racing again, when does the WRC kick off again? is it January?

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Bruciebabie

Bruciebabie

Posted
Posted
given Kimis last 2 racing years, is his going such a big loss ?

I don't think it is, he got fastest lap after fastest lap in 2007 but didn't convert many to wins. He looked bored and half asleep this year until Massa almost died. He may be fast, but only when he wants to be and can be arsed.

Because Ferrari built a car for Massa.

Massa likes understeer.

Kimi likes oversteer.

Once Massa was injured and they actually adapted the car to Kimi's driving style he got very good results out of it.

Kimi out of F1 is a huge loss for all of us. He is ridiculously fast, immensely brave and is a true character. You don't get Hamilton style corporate speak from Kimi!

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zxcvbnm

zxcvbnm

Posted
Posted

I think it would do Raikonnen some good to be in a lower ranked team - it'd get his arse in gear and he'd have to work for position, not rely on a more competitive car.

If I were Red Bull I'd drop Webber to test driver and get Raikonnen in for next year.

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Bruciebabie

Bruciebabie

Posted
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Next year I see McLaren and Red Bull Racing being dominant.

McLaren have the better driver pairing and the heritage.

RBR have Adrian Newey. Vettel is blindingly fast and a racer but makes lots of mistakes, even more than Hamilton. Webber is a journeyman who got lucky.

In the next tier down I see BrawnBenz and Ferrari.

Ferrari have lost key people and the spaghetti culture is taking over. But they do have two amazing drivers.

Brawn have Ross who is the canniest team principal, but they downsized a lot this year, losing good staff. And Rosberg, though sometimes fast, has never looked the part as a complete F1 driver.

After that come Williams and Renault. Both have good drivers but perhaps not the engineering clout to take on any of the above.

After these six anything could happen. Lots of new teams plus FI and STR

Off course all this could be completely wrong. In 09 Brawn came from nowhere and McLaren were rubbish.

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JPR

JPR

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Posted
If I were Red Bull I'd drop Webber to test driver and get Raikonnen in for next year.

Well the rumour that's already started is that Kimi has a contract for RBR in 2011. Not there this season as Webber refused have his contract bought out and one of the reasons the McLaren deal fell apart was the length of the contract. At least it will be an easy year for the F1 journalists, they can just reprint the same stories they've run for the last few years, just replacing Alonso with Räikkönen and Ferrari with Red Bull.

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dam_aks

dam_aks

Posted
Posted

Despite the apparent statement to the contrary from his manager I'm not yet convinced Kimi wont be in one of the Mercedes. It's a big team, it has potential to win the championship and there is an empty seat... Unlikely, but it's more likely than a top WRC team having a punt on him in the current climate.

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dam_aks

dam_aks

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If Mercedes weren't willing to meet Button's salary demands, I somehow doubt they'd be willing to meet Räikkönen's.

Maybe the issue was contract length? Maybe Mercedes don't think Button is worth the cash and Kimi is? There is a lot of business going on here behind the scenes, I don't think we've been given anything close to the full picture yet.

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Bruciebabie

Bruciebabie

Posted
Posted
Well the rumour that's already started is that Kimi has a contract for RBR in 2011. Not there this season as Webber refused have his contract bought out and one of the reasons the McLaren deal fell apart was the length of the contract. At least it will be an easy year for the F1 journalists, they can just reprint the same stories they've run for the last few years, just replacing Alonso with Räikkönen and Ferrari with Red Bull.

Brilliant if true.

Newey and Kimi together again. The fastest designer with the fastest driver.

Also Vettel would learn absolutely loads from Kimi, which could catapult his career. He certainly isn't learning anything from Webber.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted

If Kimi can be arsed of course. i like my drivers to at least try, even if it is a rubbish car. not to sit out the back having an ice cream and flicking though the yellow pages looking for local strip clubs that open early.

Oh he's fast alright, but only when it suits him.

Anyway, I said Button would be a t Mclaren next year, and i'm right. I think we can all agree that Button is better then Kovalinum will ever be, so it makes sence for Button and Mclaren. Mclaren need a driver to pick up the points and push Hamilton, button needs a team that can win at all costs, and has the ethos to do what it has to do to win.

I think Hamilton and Button will get on, Button isn't as back stabbing and whining as Alonso. He get's on with it, he knows this is Hamiltons team, but he is world champion now. this is a step up toteh plate moment for him and i thin k he'll deliver a consistancey that they've missed since Coulthard left. He'll give then the base line to build from.

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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted
Despite the apparent statement to the contrary from his manager I'm not yet convinced Kimi wont be in one of the Mercedes. It's a big team, it has potential to win the championship and there is an empty seat... Unlikely, but it's more likely than a top WRC team having a punt on him in the current climate.

Is the biggest problem not the fact that Kimi's Ferrari contract (and payment) is null and void if he continues in F1 for 2010? It's either he takes a sabbatical for a year (and gets paid 17-20 million Euros) or takes a pay cut to about 8 million to drive for someone else. He probably knows that the days of high salaries are really over (except for, maybe Alonso, but after the Ferrari contract ends, he'll be down at a lower salary) so if he does take the year out, he'll essentially get paid the same as Button over his 3 years at McLaren.

If I were Kimi, I'd be doing rallying, or Le Mans, in order to keep my skills ready for a 2011 drive in F1. Yeah, he'll maybe only get $6 million then, but he would be fucking crazy to do anything else.

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dam_aks

dam_aks

Posted
Posted
Is the biggest problem not the fact that Kimi's Ferrari contract (and payment) is null and void if he continues in F1 for 2010? It's either he takes a sabbatical for a year (and gets paid 17-20 million Euros) or takes a pay cut to about 8 million to drive for someone else. He probably knows that the days of high salaries are really over (except for, maybe Alonso, but after the Ferrari contract ends, he'll be down at a lower salary) so if he does take the year out, he'll essentially get paid the same as Button over his 3 years at McLaren.

If I were Kimi, I'd be doing rallying, or Le Mans, in order to keep my skills ready for a 2011 drive in F1. Yeah, he'll maybe only get $6 million then, but he would be fucking crazy to do anything else.

I think it drops to ten million if he signs with another team.

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mexos

mexos

Posted
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Yes he can have earn the same or more by not doing anything. But you'd think he'd want to prove to Ferrari they were wrong. You'd expect some fire in his belly... and to sign up for what will be undoubtedly be a decent and potentially championship winning car. But no.

Oh well. Enjoy the ice cream & getting fat. Some people will miss you, but I won't.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

Posted
Posted
Just on a side note: Ross Brawn bought Honda for €1 and sold 75% of it for 123 million euro :(

I guess he didn't really mind to sell BrawnGP

Just imagine how much Honda spent on F1 to achieve fuck all then sell up for fuck all, only to see Mercedes pick it up for a comparative song.

That's got to hurt, hasn't it.

Meanwhile, i see Toyota are quite prepared to sell off all and any IP it had. No rescue package there, it's all going to the highest bidder.

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gone fishin

gone fishin

Posted
Posted
Worst thing Button could gave done imo. He will be second fiddle and he knows it - world champion or not. Coupled with the fact he isn't all that great at setting up a car, and buckling under pressure. Not good.

It's a bit of a risk, but I personally think it's the right move for him-

1) He's getting paid more money

2) He's going to be in a more competitive car (or at least as competitive)

3) Hamilton knows the team inside out, so can help him in the setup side of things etc

4) He can prove that it wasn't just the Brawn that made him World Champion, if he outperforms Hamilton.

I see 4 as being a massive reason in him moving. Let's say he does win the title again next year, he can prove to the naysayers that he is a good enough driver, as he will have beaten Hamilton to do it.

Even if he doesn't win, or outperform Hamilton, he'll still earn more money and everyone will still have the same opinion of him- he wasn't good enough, outwith of the Brawn's performance, to win the title. And he'll be ready to retire by then, in Monaco, so he probably won't give a shit!

It may be the case that Ross Brawn has sold the team based on the plan of "the car is better than the drivers, therefore you don't need to pay huge salaries to win titles" and that may be true. We'll see next year if Button does do well at McLaren, or if the Mercedes produces another world champion from a lower cost driver. Whatever the case, Mercedes obviously weren't going to pay a half-decent salary (let's not forget, Button isn't exactly on an Alonso, or Hamilton, salary).

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Bruciebabie

Bruciebabie

Posted
Posted
I think Button is going to whoop Hamilton's ass. Hamilton will crash more often and will lose points to Button. Button is fast and consistent and goes about racing in a controlled manner.

Both are brilliant F1 drivers, they are amongst the very best.

If McLaren really can give them equal cars then I see the season coming down to three things.

1) Tyre management, especially with heavy cars at the beginning of races.

2) Mistakes, as you say. You firstly have to finish in order to score points.

3) The circuits. Some circuits suit certain drivers more than others. Kimi at Spa, Massa at Turkey. So Button will outperform Hamilton sometimes and vice versa.

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DarthSquirrel

DarthSquirrel

Posted
Posted
I think Button will be competitive and consistent but I doubt he can challenge for the Championship again. I'm guessing he'll be 5th overall at the end of next season.

Agreed.

1. Vettel

2. Hamilton

3. Massa/Alonso

4. Alonso/Massa

5. Button

6. Webber

I fear there's a risk that Button may make Kovalinen look not so crap, although it won't be so apparent without fuel strategies coming in to play.

Edit:

Mr Price said: "This need not be the end of Formula One racing at Donington.

:(

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