Thread: ***F1: Raikkonen looking for a winning car***

Raikkonen only interested in winning car

Kimi Raikkonen says he is only interested in a car that allows him to fight for the championship next year in order to continue in Formula 1.

The 2007 world champion will leave Ferrari at the end of the season to make room for Fernando Alonso, but the Finn has cast doubt over his future in F1, saying he is yet to decide if he will stay in the championship.

Raikkonen has made it clear, however, that he will only stay in grand prix racing if he finds a car that allows him to fight for victories right away.

"There are many different choices that you want," Raikkonen, who has won just once this year, told reporters in Japan.

"But first of all, you want a contract you are happy with, and a car that you have a chance to win the championship with. There is no point to go to a smaller team and just drive. I get nothing from that.

"Like I said, if I want to race, I want to have a car that is ready there next year to win the championship. I want to have at least given myself the chance - and then it is up to me and the team to see what happens. But at least you have to have a car in the first part that gives you a chance to win.

"I have no interest to drive around just in 10th place. I get nothing from that. I would rather stay home and do something else.

"If I cannot have the proper team, with a proper winning car, then I will think about it."

The Ferrari driver, who has been linked with a return to McLaren, said his situation is unlikely to be resolved quickly.

When asked if his future will be sorted in a few days, he said: "No."

He added: "Like I said, I have no contract for next year. I am looking at different options and we will see what happens in the future. I don't know when we are going to tell anything – or if we have anything to tell."

The Finn admitted even a switch to the World Rally Championship would make no sense to him if it wasn't with a competitive team.

"It is the same story. There is no point to go there if you don't get a good car and a good team. Whatever you do, you need to give yourself a chance to be up there, and have the equipment to fight for the best possible positions."

I think we can all respect his position. The guy has enough money to do whatever he wants for the rest of his life, so money isn't number one on the Ice Mans list. Showing Ferrari they made a mistake is #1.

So obviously it's going to be extremely difficult to speculate on cars for next season without this one even concluding yet, BUT what does everyone think is going to be Kimi's best shot? Mclaren? Brawn? To me, its either one of those, or Kimi is walking.

-Markus-

i honestly agree with his point...i mean he already has the money, he wants to win more than anything

he'd rather sit at home and do nothing than be middle pack = 4tw!!!

he is indeed cool as ice

At one point all the rumors were that the McLaren return was almost done.

Then durring the Suzuka weekend there were some rumors that Anthony Hamilton was less than happy about the prospect of Kimi returning to the team. Apparently he wants a lesser driver to partner with Lewis at the team. Then Martin Whitmarsh reflected this in his statements about the possibility of keeping Kovalainen in the team. I honestly think Raikkonen would be more than a match for Hambone at McLaren.

I like this quote: "I have no interest to drive around just in 10th place. I get nothing from that. I would rather stay home and do something else".

Thats the real deal right there. The other half of the grid is quite happy driving around in tenth and collecting a paycheck.

^Anthony Hamilton (other than molding Lewis to be a super driver) is a fvckin douchebag and a half, remember the CGT incident

^^^I actually think Anthony Hamilton is a good guy, he's just looking out for junior.

And yes, he could use some driving lessons, but not from Lewis.





Oh well, runs in the family.

^

ugh!
All the McHate in one thread!

Gotta love Kimi's attitude on the subject
He is there to do one thing, and that is win races
McLaren should be able to provide a winning car for him and Hami next season no?

Mclaren is the most rumored and likely destination.
But Brawn is also a definite possibility with rumors of contract negotiation trouble. And it seems like Mercedes is buying a huge part of Brawn.

i like Kimi at Ferrari, for some reason Ferrari's "attitude" spreads like a virus. . .
Ferrari needs to man up and assure kimi that the next F1 car is the real deal....

kimi wins when wants (period)