Kimi Raikkonen out of title hunt
12th October 2008, 19:21 by Keith Collantine 24 Comments »
Kimi Raikkonen’s battle with Robert Kubica was fought over more than just second place. Raikkonen was fighting to keep his championship hopes alive – and he lost.
Raikkonen is 21 points behind Lewis Hamilton with 20 left to be won this year. Thus his chances of retaining the crown he won in 2007 are over.
That means whichever of the remaining contenders wins the title this year – Hamilton, Felipe Massa or Robert Kubica – it will be a first time champion, and the 29th different title winner in the sport’s 59-year history.
bert said on 12th October 2008, 20:10
i think it is sad for him, becouse i still believe he is the best driver of them all. keep flying kimi
cyanide said on 12th October 2008, 20:10
Don’t discount Hamilton getting disqualified from the championship by the stewards
With the way things are going, it might just happen.
bert said on 12th October 2008, 20:43
now i hope kubica wil win, he’s a real talent. can’t help hating hamilton, he is so agressive but with no control, he ‘s in the best position but screws it up every time.
Atticus said on 12th October 2008, 20:58
@bert
maybe not the best but hes surely the fastest. he has 10 fastest laps out of 16. that means 10 times he was the fastest man on track somewhere (usually near the end of the race)… he has just not been consistent enough.
and i agree with you on hamilton.
Dan M said on 12th October 2008, 21:34
Kieth, When was the last time a defending WC was knocked out with two races to go?
Keith Collantine said on 12th October 2008, 21:37
Dan M – Schumacher in 2005?
chunter said on 12th October 2008, 21:59
Wasn’t that the blown engine at Suzuka (not a collision)?
frosty said on 12th October 2008, 22:04
its not over cos hamilton will obviously get a points penalty for driving too quickly
Patrickl said on 13th October 2008, 0:06
@frosty,
Or they might slap Kubica with a 25 second penalty for running Raikkonen off track (ie not just let him pass).
Nick said on 13th October 2008, 1:37
our only hope is Kubica now, Hamilton and Massa don’t deserve it.
the limit said on 13th October 2008, 2:14
In all fairness, Raikkonen has not performed this year. He had to wait six, long years to get his Finnish fingers on that trophy, alot of nails were chewed along the way. I always admired his driving, especially in his early years, with relatively no prior experience. The 2002 race at Magny Cours comes to mind, against Schumacher, and that patch of oil that cost Raikkonen the race.
The desire was there, the hunger. The worrying thing is that Raikkonen looks more like Hakkinen did back in 2001, just before he retired. He looks completely disinterested in what he is doing, totally uncomfortable. I hope I am proven wrong.
Terry Fabulous said on 13th October 2008, 7:03
For 30 Million a year he should be ashamed to be dusted each and every race by Massa.
He needs to have a good hard look at himself and either shape up or ship out.
BTW it is good to be back on the forum and in GP world again. I have just returned from my honeymoon and spent a great day with the bride on the lounge watching 1000km of Bathurst and a great Japanese GP.
Do you reckon Fred might want to stick around with Renault based on this late season form?!
Jean said on 13th October 2008, 7:34
Congratulations to Terry F. – hope it will be a long and happy relationship , also filled with many hours of watching intense motorsport battles ! Kimi is out of it , which will hopefully make him come back stronger next year. He was described as a “sleeping giant” by a commentator , which I thought was a great description. Whether it’s the car not suited to him , his motivation , lack of fitness or all put together , cannot avoid feeling he is operating way below his maximum this year , and would not have deserved a championship anyway.
Sumedh said on 13th October 2008, 10:14
Kimi anyways, never deserved this year’s title.
joe said on 13th October 2008, 10:31
it seems like kimi is having bi-annual peaks in terms of performance.hope it works again in 2009.