planetf1.com

I'm not even sorry to say that I couldn't really care less if he left. He's where he is due to his ability. Good drivers generate money for the team with their performance, such as Alonso and Raikkonen have.
His last four races in a McLaren were 7th, 11th, 12th & 11th, while his team-mate got a win, two 3rds, and a retirement from 2nd. Jenson has proven that driving alongside Hamilton needn't be a career killer.
The Finns will have Bottas to cheer on as a replacement next year.

Totally agreed. Kovalainen has absolutely no one to blame for his fail. Starts off with Renault and then immediately gets his shot in a McLaren for 2 years. I only know Hamilton who arguably had it easier. But even he had the pressure of driving for a top team against a champion teammate. Kovalainen could afford to take some time to get up to speed in a midfield car. He blew it !

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Kimi having an engine problem... I say change it today instead of trying to fix it.... avoid penalty, or worse, it lets go in race

they might not have much of a choice. Last race of the season - who knows what state the other engines are in?

From the live timing at planet sport

11:03 The bodywork has again been stripped off Raikkonen's car as Karthikeyan sets a time, leaving the Finn as the only driver who has not set a time.
10:58 Raikkonen is back in the pits as "we still have the engine problem
10:56 Raikkonen heads out. This is only his fourth lap of the morning after an engine issue.

Anybody who's watching have a clue what is up?

No one knows the problem yet. Not even the team apparently.

Keep us updated!

11:19 Raikkonen is finally lapping and is 21st on his first timed lap but is held up by Hamilton on his second so fails to improve.

yeah lewis was a little bit naughty and blocked him a couple of times

At least it wasn't canada

So no news on Kimi's engine yet?

Red Bull is that you?

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Minds are like parachutes, they work best when they are open

has anyone else noticed that Kimi has nearly overtaken Alonso as the driver with the greatest relative points gap to his team mate in the top teams? Massa has 41% of Alonso's points, while Grosjean has only 46% of Kimi's total. Both pretty teling gaps

and Lotus has not made Grosjean take a 5 gridder yet

I noticed, but the media doesn't like to mention good things about Kimi because they all turned on him and now look foolish.

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Kimi has always looked better in black.

New Translations

Lopez has taken care of Räikkönen’s dues

Translated by Nicole
F1 | Turun Sanomat 23.11.2012 23:51
The speculations about Lotus-team’s problems to pay Kimi Räikkönen his due salary has stirred up a big sensation on the F1-paddock. Gerard Lopez assured to Turun Sanomat that Kimi has got his money.... to continue, please click on the link http://www.racingnerds.com/?p=1096


A payment arrangement over Kimi’s unpaid salaries

Translated by Nicole
23.11.2012

We didn’t expect Kimi to score so many points. That’s why Kimi became quite expensive to us.... to continue, please click on the link http://www.racingnerds.com/?p=1102

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FORZA FERNANDO * FORZA FERRARI * FORZA FELIPE

Lol, well, we Kimi fans all know that Alonso's hype is all Ferrari's doing. I have no doubt he's one of the best in the business though..


I mean he's being almost thrashed by Massa in the last 3-4 races and if it wasn't for Alonso's WDC critical situation he would've challenged him for position and according to Massa he could've beat Alonso..

We're talking about the ill Massa being faster and better than Alonso in what is proclaimed to be Alonso's best year in terms of driving.

Will we ever hear that Massa has beat Alonso like what we will keep hearing till the end of days with Kimi? No way in hell. Ferrari will never allow it

Jinx, you're a legend, keep posting those articles for us please. I wish NCW was still with us

you're very welcome F1nsider!

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FORZA FERNANDO * FORZA FERRARI * FORZA FELIPE

i bet everyone didn't expect Kimi to be that good at the start of the season.

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When in doubt, press F1

well even Lopez didn't, so...

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FORZA FERNANDO * FORZA FERRARI * FORZA FELIPE

I have to say that this year has connverted me to a Raikkonen fan. He just brings a personality that no one else brings as well as being mega quick. Hopefully with the better WCC positioning and added sponsors, Lotus can improve the car cause honestly the title next year will most likely be between Vettel, Alonso, Kimi and Button.

Engine blow up!! The mclaren days are back!

Can he change and get back out or will it take too long?

I don't think so

Problem is the location of the car. Most stopped cars won't be able to be moved until the session is over.

Was he having a sleep there lol

so no grid penalty for Kimi then?

i would quess that they would use 1 of the 8 engine so they dont get one.
we dont know yet prob find out in qualy

edit = but they may be better off to take new engine and see what he can do?

regardless, Kimi missed most P1 and all of P3.... almost no running for him so far... Therefore he has not been able to set up his car at all. Saturday is the day he usually dials things in for himself for the most part

His engine finally blew up after 20 weekends.
I was impressed how reliable the Renault engine has been, considering Kimi's past with destroying engines
But at least he won't get a penalty.

Why no penalty? I thought that they can't change engines on Saturday to prevent teams from using different engines for testing and different engines for quali

i also thought of that. use a new engine take a penalty hit, run the whole race on max revs, most potent mixture and see what happens.

10 places is huge, given that Kimi will maximum put it on 7th place. It's not worth the risk of taking that penalty.

I'd say, if the penalty is avoidable as suggested, that they put in the lowest mileage engine and crank it up.

It would still be relatively old engine. I just thought he got nothing to lose and with new engine it's unlikely to go pop again.

I read they're using one of their 8 already used engines

@ESPNF1

The engine put in Kimi's car between sessions is the one he used in Abu Dhabi and US.

confirmed, using one of the other 8 so no penalty

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2011 Winner of PF1's pick 10 competition.

Ok guys. this is the last race of the season.. Let's focus all our positive energy now


GO KIMI..

Go Kimi