Kimi confirmed

[stefa]

Because it's Ferrari. Ferrari is the big draw, they make the headlines and controversy sells.

Such a lowlifes those so called journalists

[Lesky]

What a load of rubbish. That only happened in the mind of a kimibot.

Then at least one kimibot is working at Maranello

In case you meant me, I am a Schumibot, not a kimi fan.

[Lucky Dodo]

Lucky Dodo - I still haven't seen the explanation why you thought Stella should be given to Kimi, just interested in your thoughts about the subject. It is not confirmed that Slade is coming with Kimi...

Then you should read my previous post on this subject where I said I was wrong and that rumors are bringing in Mark Slade for Kimi as Race Engineer.
But asking you to read my answers to your questions is too much?

[Lesky]

What did Kimi say?
In Ferrari's official press release confirming his departure, Raikkonen struck a somewhat sombre tone and made clear he had enjoyed his three seasons at Maranello:

"I am very sad to be leaving a team with which I have spent three fantastic years, during which time I won plenty of races. Together, we have won 50% of the world titles in that period and I managed to take the Drivers' title in 2007, thus achieving the target I had set myself at the start of my career. I have always felt at home with everyone here and I will have many happy memories of my time with the team."

Speaking at his first appearance in front of the press pack ahead of the following race in Japan, however, Raikkonen alluded to commercial considerations, rather than his performances on the track, for Ferrari's decision to replace him:

"There are many reasons. In F1 there is always a lot of money and there can always be different options. That's what happened in the end. It's nothing to do with racing or what I do in the team."

[Ed Harley]

This is funny.

Just shortly after Mr Domenicali has given his interview of "Some cliches refuse to die!"

http://formula1.ferrari.com/news/domenicali


out comes one Cesare Fiorio with his views of "I don't know how much technical contribution he can bring."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109828

Which of these gentlemen should one believe?

[Greig]

I agree pretty much fully with Fiorio. Kimi can't even use the simulator so what sort of tech contribution is he going to bring?

[Confused Lotus]

I am looking forward to the day when Ferrari hire a driver I actually like again

For every fan Ferrari loses now, they'll probably get two more after Kimi joined if The team treats him well. Ps. Not saying you personally are not a fan anymore. You just made me think about it.

[Ed Harley]

I agree pretty much fully with Fiorio. Kimi can't even use the simulator so what sort of tech contribution is he going to bring?

I think that can most likely best be answered by people such like Mr Newey, Mr Domenicali, Mr Allison etc. who have actually worked with Mr Raikkonen.

And Mr Domenicali specifally told in his interview: "...As for the technical side of things, not only do we know full well how much Kimi can contribute at an important time like this, when the technical framework is changing so significantly..."

[Greig]

I think that can most likely best be answered by people such like Mr Newey, Mr Domenicali, Mr Allison etc. who have actually worked with Mr Raikkonen.

And Mr Domenicali specifally told in his interview: "...As for the technical side of things, not only do we know full well how much Kimi can contribute at an important time like this, when the technical framework is changing so significantly..."

His contributions can't be that good if the car changed to suit Massa

[Lucky Dodo]

His contributions can't be that good if the car changed to suit Massa

This comment makes no sense at all. How about you explain it more?

[Greig]

This comment makes no sense at all. How about you explain it more?

Kimi excuse no10 - The car was changed to suit Massa.

[Ed Harley]

That too is something that Mr Domenicali has addressed in the past ie. the changes that the team made on the front suspension did not suit Mr Raikkonen and it took too long for the team to change it back. Why did they change it in the first place, who knows.

[Greig]

That too is something that Mr Domenicali has addressed in the past ie. the changes that the team made on the front suspension did not suit Mr Raikkonen and it too too long for the team to change it back. Why did they change it in the first place, who knows.

When did it change, and when did it change back? And why did Kimi with his technical input not stick with the suspension he liked? Or maybe he was not all that bothered?

[Lesky]

Greig, could you not have mustered a "welcome" to Kimi in your first post creating this thread?

[Ed Harley]

When did it change, and when did it change back? And why did Kimi with his technical input not stick with the suspension he liked? Or maybe he was not all that bothered?

You are a smart lad and you are fully aware of all these aspects. And that last one is yet another cliche.

[Greig]

You are a smart lad and you are fully aware of all these aspects. And that last one is yet another cliche.

So when did it change, and when did it change back? And why did Kimi not stop this change instead of waiting for Ferrari to change it back (if it did change)

[Greig]

Greig, could you not have mustered a "welcome" to Kimi in your first post creating this thread?

As he has not returned yet, no.

I could bake him a cake when he does though, if it would make a difference to you?

[Lesky]

So when did it change, and when did it change back? And why did Kimi not stop this change instead of waiting for Ferrari to change it back (if it did change)

Hilarious post Greig, I really mean it. I am enjoying this exchange of words

Obviously you are a smart lad

[Easy Bogie]

Why did Ferrari rehire Kimi remains a mystery to me, but I guess in time we will find out. I do not doubt that Luca and co. have the team's best interest in mind of course (I do not buy the idea that Luca is doing this to show Alonso who's the boss or any weird reasons like that). I'm sure he believed Kimi is the best among the available options to help the team get back to its winning ways. What Luca see in Kimi, or believe Kimi can offer, that is something that intrigues me and I want to know, though I understand that Luca may never fully reveal it to the public.

I don't think there is that much mystery.

First of all, I think the case that many present when comparing what Felipe and Kimi could bring next year is not too solid. I mean people who remind us about 2008 and 2009 and how Felipe outraced Kimi. Two major things have happened after that: Felipe's accident and Kimi return. Felipe hasn't really shone
after the injury. It's sad but I think it's true. Kimi has surprised most of us after returning from rally. I don't think Lotus is so much better than Ferrari that the difference in cars would explain the difference in Felipe and Kimi's performances. If Lotus was so good and Ferrari so bad, it would mean that Fernando
is really from a different planet than Kimi and Fernando. He's good but not that good. So I would stop the time machine at 2010 season and use arguments based on what I have seen after that.

Second thing, why Kimi instead of some young talent? Well, with Kimi we know (based on last couple of years) that he can bring home some good points with a good car. With some young guy we could imagine and hope that it would be the case. It could pay off in 2-3 years but maybe someone in Maranello wants results next year, not in 2016.

P.S. I think the mods here could be a little bit harder. They ban members for disrespecting and trolling. But I think they could also ban for offtopic. I have seen this happen in some forums and it works. So one thread for Fernando-Lewis fights, Kimi-Felipe history, Singapore crash cases, dinosaurs and other things of prehistory. Let the This-bots and That-sistas fight it out there. The rest of just would have to avoid that thread and we'd be good. Think about it.

[Ed Harley]

So when did it change, and when did it change back? And why did Kimi not stop this change instead of waiting for Ferrari to change it back (if it did change)

July 11-19, 2008 – Kimi’s front suspension is updated sometime between these dates.. According to Interview with Ferrari team principle Domenicali on December 16 2008, this is the point where Kimi lost his front suspension. From all indications this was a surprise to Kimi, given how sensitive he is to changes made on the car.

Question to Domenicali by Autosprint:

Did Kimi share his problems with you?

- We always talk with each other and argue about general technical issues. From the technical point of view he was dissatisfied with front suspension, and it didn’t work the way he wanted. The front suspension to suit him was a recurrent topic of our discussions.

How fast did you discover that?

- In midseason. We changed the suspension in Germany and returned it for Kimi in Monza.

According to Mr Schumacher the suspension was actually changed back in Singapore ie. one race later ie. Mr Domenicali made a slight mistake here.

[Greig]

July 11-19, 2008 – Kimi’s front suspension is updated sometime between these dates.. According to Interview with Ferrari team principle Domenicali on December 16 2008, this is the point where Kimi lost his front suspension. From all indications this was a surprise to Kimi, given how sensitive he is to changes made on the car.

Question to Domenicali by Autosprint:

Did Kimi share his problems with you?

- We always talk with each other and argue about general technical issues. From the technical point of view he was dissatisfied with front suspension, and it didn’t work the way he wanted. The front suspension to suit him was a recurrent topic of our discussions.

How fast did you discover that?

- In midseason. We changed the suspension in Germany and returned it for Kimi in Monza.

According to Mr Schumacher the suspension was actually changed back in Singapore ie. one race later ie. Mr Domenicali made a slight mistake here.

Got a link for that?

Maybe the suspension was the reason he threw away the win at Spa, which pretty much ended his title fight

[Ed Harley]

Got a link for that? So it was 1 race it was changed.

You will need to Google for that. It's been mentioned to have affected for 3...4 races.

[Greig]

You will need to Google for that. It's been mentioned to have affected for 3...4 races.

I did, sadly the only result it turned up was some Kimi fan blog which is making excuses about Ferrari bias or something, so probably not the best of sources.

[Tifoso]

I did, sadly the only result it turned up was some Kimi fan blog which is making excuses about Ferrari bias or something, so probably not the best of sources.

Your new (I think it's new ) sig rocks!

/OT

[Ed Harley]

I did, sadly the only result it turned up was some Kimi fan blog which is making excuses about Ferrari bias or something, so probably not the best of sources.

That has to be a lie then.

If I Google "In midseason. We changed the suspension in Germany and returned it for Kimi in Monza." I get this page which quotes the Autosprint interview with Mr Domenicali.

http://f1bias.com/2012/04/05/truth-a...antander-2008/

Never mind the name of the article, the quote is the midway. I recall having read that article back in the day.

[BlueEyesKimi]

I did, sadly the only result it turned up was some Kimi fan blog which is making excuses about Ferrari bias or something, so probably not the best of sources.

Schumacher interview. Talks about Kimi starting from 3.50.

[Greig]

That has to be a lie then.

Maybe is, maybe not. But the question would still remain why Ferrari changed the car to suit Massa when Kimi is good at giving tech feedback, and why did he not get it changed back sooner.

[Ed Harley]

Maybe is, maybe not. But the question would still remain why Ferrari changed the car to suit Massa when Kimi is good at giving tech feedback, and why did he not get it changed back sooner.

Please, don't try tell me that this is news to you ie. you are just kidding, right?

[AndyMcCoy]

I agree pretty much fully with Fiorio. Kimi can't even use the simulator so what sort of tech contribution is he going to bring?

He surely can use the simulator but he has said that he learns almost nothing from using race simulators. Why should he waste time in doing that?

[Lesky]

Maybe is, maybe not. But the question would still remain why Ferrari changed the car to suit Massa when Kimi is good at giving tech feedback, and why did he not get it changed back sooner.

In 2008 from the Australian GP to the Spanish GP it was Kimi who was the stronger driver. He lead the championship convincingly after a dominant win in Spain while Massa had scored no points in the first two races due to driver errors. Kimi's difficulties began after Spain when they had began to change the car to suit Felipe's driving style more. It began to understeer more and Felipe could be more consistent. We all know how fond of Massa Domenicali is and back then Massa could deliver and fight at the front so one can't really blame the team for changing the car.It's my firm belief that if they had continued in the direction the car was originally going Kimi would have won the title that year as well. After Todt left, the team had began to favor Massa. We all know what happened after they were forced to put all their effort into Kimi in 2009. Suddenly the media was full of headlines like "the old Kimi is back!" People often forget that during his "lackluster" 2008 season Kimi was the hands down best driver until Spain and even after that he dominated France until his exhaust broke, he was catching Lewis rapidly in Britain until the team made a wrong tyre call, he was in with a shout for the win in Canada until Hamilton rammed him in the pitlane and he dominated Spa until the rain came at the end and he aquaplaned into the wall at Blanchimont (agonizingly on the same lap he was supposed to come in for intermediates). Unfortunately in F1 the what-could-have-beens don't count. But that's not how you judge a driver's true performance level.