Formula 1: Raikkonen moving to Ferrari?
The European press
is bubbling over with talk that McLaren-Mercedes F1 superstar Kimi Raikkonen has signed a contract to race for Ferrari
in 2007. Rumors about Raikkonen's future have run rampant since McLaren announced the signing of world champion
Fernando Alonso for 2007, and intensified after Raikkonen was reported to have turned down an offer by McLaren to
extend his current contract (which expires at the end of the year).
According to F1
Central, the Finnish sports press is reporting that Raikkonen's Ferrari contract is a done-deal, while tea-leaf
reading elsewhere in Europe reports Alonso's former manager as saying "Kimi will not be Fernando's teammate next
year, that's absolutely for sure." An unnamed Ferrari engineer has also told a German paper that Raikkonen was
coming to Ferrari, saying "...we do not want to make the mistake that McLaren made [with Alonso] of announcing it
too early."
All that we know for sure is that Raikkonen does not yet have a 2007 contract with McLaren,
while neither Michael Schumacher nor Felipe Massa are confirmed at Ferrari in 2007.
Never a dull moment...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gunnar Heinrich 4:16PM (3/03/2006)
Ferrari sans Schumacher? How could that be. He's their ace.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
Reply
Charles 4:19PM (3/03/2006)
If Kimi is going to Ferrari then its 95% certain that Schumacher will not be there.
Reply
indyg35 4:37PM (3/03/2006)
Kimi is an astonishing driver. Too bad I haven't really cared about F1 since the US Grand Prix walkout.
Reply
Ramon Gonzalez 7:02PM (3/03/2006)
Change is always present. Kimi in Ferrari Super! Shumacher by 2007 should be doing something else.
Reply
ZoomZoomin' 8:20PM (3/03/2006)
Damn...I love Ferrari, but I can't stand Raikkonen. Hearing him talk makes me want to go jump off a bridge. Maybe they'll give the man a cup of coffee.
Reply
Rocket Punch 8:50PM (3/03/2006)
#2 make that 100%. If this is in fact true, this will be Schumi's last F1 season.
Reply
JIm 10:29PM (3/03/2006)
If Shumacher has another year like last year - if that's possible - yes he could be out, but if he has an "okay" or better year, Massa could see his contract over/bought out/whatever. Ferrari is not about to give up on Michael that quickly. He adds a stability, and brings development skills second to none.
On the other hand, Michael may not want to stay, particularly if he knows Kimi is quicker. After being on top for so long it would be difficult to admit you are not as quick as you once were, or the number two driver. Michael has said for some time someone would come along that was quicker, it's the way of things. Perhaps that time is now. Still, he's been such an icon at Ferrari it's difficult to imagine. He'll know it before the rest of us and you certaily can't take away his record.
Reply
Car-la 5:34AM (3/04/2006)
Wasn't the plan always to build up a successor to Schumacher, while he is still there? I don't necessarily think Schumacher needs to leave if Kimi joins Ferrari. My guess is that Massa would leave, although I'd be really sorry for him.
Reply
Jayesh 2:25AM (7/17/2006)
Let me make it very clear to all you gentlemen and ladies:
I know the above post was made a lot of time back but:
1) Schumacher will be at Ferrari
2) Massa should be projected and groomed as next Schumacher...he has all the ingredients.
3) If Raikonnen wants to join Ferrari...he should be prepared to be their second driver (which is difficult to imagine).
4) Schumacher+Ferrari is a brand name worth zillions of €€€€€€€ ££££££££ $$$$$$$$$$ . With Raikonenn Ferrari will have to start from scratch or 20%...So Ferrari won't let the brand name dilute so easily with Schumacher doing so well now in 2006...
Okay? So let's see Schumi and Ferrari win both the 2 titles in both 2006 and 2007.
Bye.
Reply
Trond 1:39PM (8/03/2006)
Off course Ferrari will win, who else?
Kimi to Ferrari is probably ok, I don't care who the drivers are as long as Ferrari wins. As they will in 2006.
Reply