Will you miss Kimi Raikkonen? (Poll)
Raikkonen's absence means someone else will have to win the next Belgian GP
Kimi Raikkonen has scotched rumours that he could join Mercedes and now looks set to spend at least one year out of the F1 cockpit.
Reading comments here and on other sites I’ve been surprised by the outpourings of dismay over Raikkonen’s departure from F1 and sympathy towards him.
But when there’s at least 11 seats on the grid for 2010 he could have taken, this sympathy seems misplaced.
How much will you miss Kimi Raikkonen in 2010?
- I'm glad he's gone (4%)
- I won't miss him (9%)
- I'm not bothered (14%)
- I'll miss him (52%)
- I'll stop watching F1 (21%)
Total Voters: 6,001
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Raikkonen complains there is no top team able to take him on for next year. But plenty of former champions have served time in uncompetitive outfits before returning to the front of the grid. In F1 today where testing opportunities are scarce, it would have been the best way for him to stay ready for a ready to the sharp end of F1 in 2011.
For an example, look no further than the man who’s replacing him at Ferrari – Fernando Alonso. His battling drives for Renault these past two seasons are surely a large part of the reason why he’s been given Raikkonen’s job – a year earlier than Ferrari originally planned.
There’s also the small matter of whether Raikkonen still deserves a front-line ride. After winning the 2007 championship he was beaten by team mate Felipe Massa last year and over the first half of this season before Massa was injured.
He had a better end to the season but a lot easier to look good against Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fisichella.
These are not unusual circumstances for an F1 driver to lose his seat. It’s a bit much for Raikkonen to expect the likes of McLaren and Mercedes to be salivating at the prospect of putting him in their cars when he’s only delivering the goods once a year at Spa.
Army of fans
Where I do have some pity for Raikkonen is that his love of motor racing and his great talent have put him in a position where he finds himself having to cope with public appearances and PR events – something he clearly abhors.
I saw him at the opening of the new Ferrari Store in London earlier this year and, as I wrote at the time, I felt sorry for him as he plainly did not want to be there. Prised from his private life to do his PR duty, he grimaced at his surroundings when the cameras weren’t on him (which was rare).
But you have to keep things in context. Is a bit of glad-handing really that much of a hardship when you’ve got an eight-figure salary and the best job in the world?
Last year I saw him at the Silverstone test, ducking out of the side of the Ferrari tent to avoid the fans waiting outside. Other drivers lingered, signing caps and photographs.
It made me reflect on how despite Raikkonen’s aversion to appearing in public he’s inspired a passionate allegiance from an army of fans.
Their loss is rallying’s gain, but I’m sure he’ll be happier in a much lower-profile championship where his PR responsibilities will no doubt be insignificant – at most.
I am disappointed it’s come to this. I suspect this sabbatical may turn out to be like the one Mika Hakkinen took at the end of 2001 and still hasn’t returned from. Some people think Raikkonen will be back in 2011 to drive for Red Bull. But surely that’s the last place he’ll find a safe haven from the horrors of having to shake hands with people?
It’s always sad to see a world champion quit the sport. But it’s especially sad to see one leave in this fashion, when he could still have achieved much more. I might not understand his fans’ point of view, but I think they deserved more from their man.
What do you think about Raikkonen’s retirement? Is F1 poorer without him? Did he deserve a drive with a top team? Have your say in the comments.
Read more: Kimi Raikkonen to take sabbatical in 2010 as McLaren talks end
Daffid said on 19th November 2009, 16:19
Sure he’s a very good driver but why would I miss him? I didn’t miss Michael who was better. He’s had his time, and he’s another driver flattered by often weak or troubled team mates, and the single-lap quali era which played to his one-lap strength. After edging the championship in ’07 (aided by an illegal car in Oz, team orders in Brazil, and Mclaren self destructing) he never looked like he was ’9x the salary’ better than Massa, and didn’t seem to enjoy not being a clear No.1 in the team at all. I can’t see how he could possibly readjust to McLaren, where he would be a certain No.2 this time, Lewis would have slaughtered him. If Montoya had been happier at McLaren, or had DC been able to single lap qualify Kimi’s reputation wouldn’t be so very great, it was built on being compared to mediocrity. Is it any wonder McLaren were willing to pay more for Button and Ferrari were looking to sign Alonso as early as the end of 07?
glue said on 19th November 2009, 16:25
wow Keith, you’re really p****d on Kimi for taking the 2007 title from Hammy..I wouldn’t call this article objective journalism, unless you’re a Brit that is..but still, why you hate him so much I can not tell..anyway Kimi will be missed, and those who can differentiate the passion for racing in a driver from drenching yourself in media adulation know what he was (and still IS) about, and you’ll see how 2010 will be filled with PR robots who drive an F1 car every now and then
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th November 2009, 17:22
I don’t hate Kimi Raikkonen. If you’d read the other article I linked to you’d realise that:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/05/07/being-kimi-raikkonen/
Juha said on 19th November 2009, 16:28
Kimi just want to drive….why people even ask him for more duties?? I´m sure if we ask: Kimi, would you consider much lower price from your servings, if you don´t have to do press conferenses and other stuff like that? Answer would definetily be YES!! He then gets payment only from driving, and then salary is not that much, but he would be happy with that…
shery said on 19th November 2009, 16:29
Räikkönen kann Haug anrufen
“Kimi hat meine Nummer. Er kann mich jederzeit anrufen.” Man kennt sich ja aus vergangenen McLaren-Tagen.
it says raikkonen has my number he csn call me anytime.haug want to be approached by raikkonen…here is the link
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/ross-brawn-sucht-button-ersatz-keine-schnelle-entscheidung-1479466.html
DMW said on 19th November 2009, 19:06
Leider, zu spaet.
three4three said on 19th November 2009, 16:29
I will miss not having a sportsman of Raikkonen’s calibre and talent on the grid. He leaves behind many drivers who are less talented than himself and I am confident that there is still more he will achieve in F1, so I’ll patiently await his return hopefully in 2011.
mp4-19b said on 19th November 2009, 16:40
For that to happen Hammy & Jense or at least their dad’s must fall out astronomically. Chances of that happening are very bleak.
The best scenario for Kimi(if he doesn’t get a drive) would be, to hope that Nico Rosberg miserably under performs, in the process proving most of the F1 audience that he’s just a good looking guy who resembles Leonardo di vinci, but a mediocre talent.
Kimi could replace him for 2011.
three4three said on 19th November 2009, 16:51
Or Redbull?
Personally, I think Lewis and Jensen will do alright together, or maybe that’s just me hoping they’ll conduct themselves in a gentlemanly manner. Also, I look forward to Rosberg in 2010, definitely one to watch.
Patrickl said on 20th November 2009, 7:55
Yeah, I was thinking Red Bull too. He’s rumoured to be going in a Red Bull sponsored Citroen in the WRC (if not in f1).
Kimi and his daredevil antics fit exactly with Red Bull’s image.
Steph90 said on 19th November 2009, 17:08
I thought more di Caprio myself
:Psato113 said on 19th November 2009, 16:30
i like him because he’s unique. doesn’t say much, no bs. no controversies. and he just gets on with the job. he needs a team he really likes to be with, not just the car.
antonyob said on 19th November 2009, 16:36
blah blah blah. i dont give a toss whether he signs every cap handed to him or never signs another one.
In a top line race driver you have to ask of him 2 things, and its not : is he quick? thats a given. the question you ask is can he overtake if he needs to and can he carry a team to greater heights? the answer to both of these is no kimi cant. he did well in the uber pay era to get such a salary but then eddie irvine was on 12 and so was little schumacher.
Anonymouse said on 19th November 2009, 17:19
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oF1Fp8tkRw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=471WGsG7Mrg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlKOSI8PeW8
Patrickl said on 20th November 2009, 8:21
Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBln-6m_QMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ-6feK_4uM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69qoZRRTO-k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC2gfFXE3s4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAp7KhHNhZw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFGAU0C4eKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxNNFdQgFng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqccZ7OJzns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMae5FlvUDE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B4VcsD3INk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFnN60kTUgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWx2ZP7SyXA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOd7he9KVfU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9vyf9YtBg8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WnEP3i6io
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JioiDY8ykKY
NomadIndian said on 20th November 2009, 8:24
its an unfair world!!!
shery said on 19th November 2009, 16:39
the article says :
Raikkonen may bring Haug
Who’s eligible, you can imagine. Nick Heidfeld, while being on the list, but the Mönchengladbacher is not the only one. Even if Kimi Räikkönen speaking from a rally season, the train when the Finn did not yet left completely. Offers you the world champion of 2007 is the ideal environment, then that Formula 1 remains a priority. One, two rallies he can still ride alongside. Even Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug does not want the quiet blond completely removed from the list. “Kimi has my number. He can call me anytime.” They know each other even from former McLaren-days.
Perhaps there are indeed still one or two surprises on the driver market. Renault intends to decide by the end of December, as it continues with the team. If the racing team will be locked or sold, and Robert Kubica would suddenly come back into the conversation.
Michael said on 19th November 2009, 16:44
I can understand why kimi was so keen to avoid some of his fans – many of them seem to be obsessed with him. More than any other driver, Raikkonen seems to have a very strange bunch of ‘followers’.
Any mention of Raikkonen in the press or the internet that isn’t 100& glowing praise will be savaged as being “racist” or “jealous” by this odd bunch of people who come from all around the world.
Ral said on 19th November 2009, 16:47
I will/would miss seeing him race in F1, certainly. But “sympathy” is not exactly the right word. He made his decision to race only if whatever compromise he would have to make for a contract was acceptable to him, and he stuck to it. In any other area of life, that would be labeled commendable. But because he’s an F1 driver he’s labeled “greedy”. So I can’t blame him for making the decision and sticking with it and I hope he’ll enjoy whatever it is he does do next year, even if it is racing in F1 with Mercedes.
Anonymouse said on 19th November 2009, 16:54
Did he finish the year on 10 championship points? That is a really ignorant thing to say.
NomadIndian said on 19th November 2009, 20:23
An off-hand statement, the kind Keith doesnt throw about normally.
theo said on 19th November 2009, 16:56
Keith
I love your blog and everything, but you not hiding your feelings to kimi very well!
First of all you seem to ignore facts on this season and last season! Kimi hasn’t been outperformed by Massa at all, look at france where massa inherited a win of kimi or spa where massa inherited another win both of kimi and hamilton. This year also, Massa had better strategy than kimi for a few races, but what about monaco and all the races since? Kimi was 0.077 of pole at monaco in an inferior car to button! Didnt hear much fuss about that?
Or at spa when again kimi had an inferior car to fisi and still kept him behind the whole race, hungary, monza,suzuka,valencia…come on
Have some respect for the man, it seems a lot of selective memory is going on on this blog! You cant argue with wins, fastest laps and statistics, take a peek you might learn a few things about drivers that aren’t british!
shery said on 19th November 2009, 17:00
it is requested to all Raikkonen fans that keep it cool..just like “ICEMAN” .Keith has its own opinion.it doesnt make any difference to us or kimi raikkonen..we know how good he is ..and its going to prove next year as i still believe raikkonen is set to move to mercedes gp.
Hotbottoms said on 19th November 2009, 17:12
There is no point discussing at all then, because everyone has their opinions and nothing is going to change them : )
As I wrote yesterday, I have also noticed Keith doesn’t like Kimi and that is OK, everyone has their opinions, but it’s disturbing since it clearly shows on his articles, which sometimes are clearly not neutral. It’s a pity since I think this site is in many ways best F1 site.
I challenge you Keith! You said Kimi was beaten by Felipe over first half of this season, I don’t think that is true at all. I hope you would make an article about this, analyzing Massa vs. Kimi throughout 2007-2009 taking into account every single detail as you normally do. How much influence did the fact that Massa was more often given lighter car thank Kimi? What about the rumors that Ferrari backed Massa more than Kimi etc. You could try to prove your point, but it would be anyway be interesting article since their three-year-long “team mate relationship” has just ended.
James G said on 19th November 2009, 22:54
Or instead of rumours, we could just use facts. Here is a summary of Raikkonen and Massa’s results at Ferrari up to the point Massa had his accident:
2007 Wins Pods PP F. Laps Pts WC
MASSA 3 10 6 6 94 0
RAIKKONEN 6 12 3 6 110 1
2008 Wins Pods PP F. Laps Pts WC
MASSA 6 10 6 3 97 0
RAIKKONEN 2 9 2 10 75 0
2009 Wins Pods PP F. Laps Pts WC
MASSA 0 1 0 1 22 0
RAIKKONEN 0 1 0 0 10 0
2007-9 Wins Pods PP F. Laps Pts WC
MASSA 9 21 12 10 213 0
RAIKKONEN 8 22 5 16 195 1
So Massa has more wins, more points and more poles, whereas Raikkonen has one more podium, more fastest laps and one more world championship.
So now you have the facts. Let the statistic twisting begin!
James G said on 19th November 2009, 22:56
Hey, I spent ages perfectly spacing this reply and now you can’t read it!
Wesley said on 19th November 2009, 23:09
Can read it just fine James…thanks for the effort.The results surprise me but,can’t argue stats.
Daffid said on 19th November 2009, 23:32
Well you can give Kimi’s win in Brazil 07 to Massa, that was handed over for the sake of the championship :D
Kovy said on 20th November 2009, 3:51
What about Massa’s 2nd place in China ’08? It’s a slippery slope… and what counts in the 1 championship. Kimi was also runner up twice.
Hotbottoms said on 20th November 2009, 14:12
Thank you, nice effort :)
I don’t think it can be said Massa beated Raikkonen when looking at these statistics. It’s a tie in wins and podiums. Massa has more pole positions, Raikkonen has more fastest laps. Massa has 18 more points than Raikkonen and Kimi can blame himself for this, his second half of 2008 was terrible. However, he beats Massa in the most important statistic: Championships. Looking only these statistics, I would call it a tie.
However the statistic I’d like to see most is how many times Massa was lighter than Kimi when they both made it to Q3. That might explain why he has so many podiums more than Kimi and maybe also why he has 18 more points, since “one lap lighter than your team mate” is often said to be the better one.
Hotbottoms said on 20th November 2009, 14:14
Sorry, “That might explain why he has so many podiums more than Kimi” should be “That might explain why he has so many pole positions more than Kimi”
Chaz said on 19th November 2009, 17:05
I have little sympathy for Kimi. Take the Ferrari money and run mate as that’s what you only really care about after all.
F1 needs people who are crazy hungry and prepared to fight tooth and nail every step of the way and not have it all handed on a silver platter to them as he seems to think is his right for some strange reason.
The publicity and PR are par for the course and he should just get on with it. I too would hate it but then again he is extremely handsomely rewarded for it.
And therefore if he does not return to a F1 grid as a racer, I for one will not be to sad or sorry. You make your bed and you sleep in it, end of…
theo said on 19th November 2009, 17:09
And you assume he’s not hungry because he doesn’t whine on and on in front of a camera telling everyone?
do you live in a world where everyone has the same personality?
End of the day he’s a world class driver, he will go down in history as one of the most SUCCESSFUL drivers of all time no matter what you say!
craig said on 19th November 2009, 17:06
I will only miss his lively post race interviews. Zzzzzzzzzzzz