Kimi Raikkonen rubs his friends down with lotion as they set sail aboard a luxury yacht

On Sunday Formula One star Kimi Raikkonen was left disheartened after he failed to finish first at the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

But not letting the fact he missed out on the title get to him, Raikkonen was spotted as he set sail on a luxury yacht in Ibiza.

The 32-year-old race driver was pictured relaxing aboard the grand vessel as he soaked up the sun alongside some of his friends.

Kimi who wore a sunhat with a pair of glasses, and checked beach shorts, looked to be in good spirits as he took in the views of the gorgeous sea and joked about with his chums.

And it appears that the sportsman's wife, model and former Miss Scandinavia, Jenni Dahlman sat this short break out as she wasn't pictured on the boat.

After finishing in second place behind Fernando Alonso on Sunday, Kimi admitted he was disappointed but didn't feel he would win the race.

He said: 'In the end second place is okay, but not what we wanted.'

During the action packed competition Lewis Hamilton crashed out on the penultimate lap while running in third after a run-in with Pastor Maldonado, and Michael Schumacher placed third.

Source: Dailymail more pics!

Räikkönen's qualification was already in that direction

Kimi Räikkönen had two new sets of Pirelli's soft tyres in the qualification. The advantage didn't however offer a full advantage to him.


– The first set was bad. Although it was a new tyre it pushed forward. At least the second set worked properly. The qualification was in that direction, but by improving with a tenth we would had been in the front row. Sebastian Vettel was ahead of the others but the rest of the gang was even, Räikkönen summed up.


– This was one of our best qualifications so far. We were 5th in Malaysia, but there we got higher due to a penalty. Now it feels good to be 5th in the grid.


The 5th grid is on the clean side of the track, which is a clear advantage in the starting grid.


Overtaking isn't easy in Valencia. The start is very important.


– When it's hot, someone ahead of us can get in trouble with the tyres and then we have a chance to overtake. Our car has been good in the tyre-department and hopefully it continues in the race also.


– We have to take the same soft tyres from the qualification to the start. On Friday they worked reasonably during long stints, Räikkönen reminded.


We can expect two-stop strategies, since the tyre consumption is tough in hot weather.


Räikkönen has been struggling with the Lotus-car's steering during the spring. Now the situation is better.


– Small things have made it a little better and more precise. Due to that it was easier in qualification. It has always been good enough in races.


Permane trusting


Alan Permane was smiling to the tasty scenery of getting both drivers on the podium.


– We have gone up much higher from behind 4th and 5th grid. We have a strong belief in the race. Overtaking is tricky even in the DRS-area and we are certainly not expecting any easy race for us.


– The hot weather will put a strain on the tyres, but we trust that we can cope under these circumstances. In strategy we have open one, two or three -stop strategies. Lets see what happens, Permane said.


Grosjean will strike from the 2nd row


Romain Grosjean beat his team mate for the 6th time in qualification. The difference was however only 0,008 seconds.


– I have been 8 times in qualification and this is my 2nd best result after Australia. We really have a great opportunity to succeed in this race. The strategy will be in the key role.


Grosjean knows that one can't crash in the start.


– I've started to know all the drivers around me and how they behave. It's going to be tough in the three first corners and if getting through the first corner without crashing, there's a good chance to do a top result, Grosjean planned.


Turun Sanomat


HEIKKI KULTA


Courtesy: Nevercrywolf

Lewis Hamilton: Vettel, Alonso biggest threat

Dan Thomas catches up with Lewis Hamilton a day after his victory in Montreal



Source: ESPNUK

Mika Salo: Kimi will win

It's always fun to go to Montreal because the whole town lives for the GP-weekend. This year there were also protests, but even that didn't bring down the atmosphere because the police kept the protestors out of the sight quite well. You could see riot-polices and helicopters here and there and we got in the middle of the protest a couple of times. However I have quite many old friends there, old Canadiens-players, with whom I spent a lot of time.


Montreal GP was quite boring until the tyre-factor surfaced once again. Anything can happen in races because nobody has any clue about when a tyre works and when it doesn't. Red Bull and Ferrari took a deliberate risk with the tyres, but when the tyre fails, it fails. The same will continue in the future races also, because nobody can say with assurance that the next race would go well, because to be honest nobody really hasn't got any clue.

Räikkönen had a bit difficult weekend in Montreal. Of course it didn't help when the car was a bit broken in quali. I know from my own experience that it's completely impossible to drive with a car if the differential lock in the rear breaks down, because a huge part of the drivability and balance of the car depends upon how the differential is working. Hence it was a good performance from Kimi when he could drive a time like that although the car wasn't working.

Grosjean was now a bit on top of the Lotus-drivers, but this was just one good race from him. Due to his performance quite many forgot what happened in Monaco, where he couldn't get more than 100 meters before crashing. Grosjean still screws up quite a lot.

Kimi still has his natural talent to drive a car, but he hasn't probably yet got completely on terms with the team so they would understand what Kimi really wants. I see that Kimi will win a race this season. Some day it turns around so that Kimi gets the car properly under his control and can also take advantage of the qualification. The problem is that due to his driving style it took 4 laps in Montreal before he got a good time, because he didn't get enough heat in the tyres during the warming lap. The tyres' best grip should be in the first lap. Hamilton again got his tyres to work immediately in quali with his ripping driving style.

When it comes to what Jacques Villeneuve said about Lotus-drivers, he has hardly spoken one word with Kimi about what the problem really is. He is a complete outsider. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, however the truth is completely different than what Villeneuve said.

We will see a victory from Kimi once the weekend falls in place. So far Kimi hasn't got one single even weekend. When that weekend comes, then the tune in everybody's bells will change. You can see that Kimi's and the team's relationship is really good. Although they have nothing but problems they still have a good spirit there. Unlike how many medias claim that they would already have a rift, the situation is completely the opposite. Kimi earns full respect in the team and Kimi respects his team.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen's car was fixed quickly

The hydraulics flaw in the differential of Kimi Räikkönen's E20 car, which disturbed his qualification performance, was fixed promptly.


- It wasn't a great problem, and the car was repaired by five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Lotus team principal Eric Boullier told to Turun Sanomat.

Differential controls slipping of the tyres. Once it has broken down, the slip is not in balance, when the other half works differently than the other.

Räikkönen was praised by the team for his will to fight, but when Finnish driver fell marginally from Q3 stage, starting place is now the 12th, second lowest of the season.

- Differential was not working as it should. It made the qualification so difficult, when lap times are so close to each other. The car was ok, but due to the defect it was difficult to push hard enough. Certainly, time was lost, but it happens. However, I am confident that in the race all is okay, Räikkönen said.

- During the whole season we have in every track been stronger in the race than in qualification and practice. It will be a little warmer in the race than in qualification and it should fit to our car even better. Zero points has yet been lost, but not won either. We try to get a good start, avoid all the hassles at the first cornerss and then see what we can do.

Villeneuve's argument garbage

Jacques Villeneuve, who won the world championship in 1997 with Renault, blamed in Sky TV's interview Lotus' current drivers and profusely praised the car.

- If Lotus had in this car, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel, they would have won all races of the season, breezed Villeneuve.

Boullier snorted to the claim.

- Villeneuve talks to keep warm, what happens when no one else is interested in him anymore, Lotus team boss acknowledged.

Turun Sanomat, Montreal

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: reppo

Video: Press Conference after Canadian GP 2012 with Top 3 drivers

Canadian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton pays credit to his McLaren team who "never seem to give up" whilst thanking his fans for their positive messages of support.


Romain Grosjean reveals that his Lotus team had looked to complete a one-stop strategyanddescribes a "crazy" end to the race that saw him up to second.

Sergio Perez describes the great boost the third place gives his Sauber team after their bad luck of the final few races.


Source: NinetyBucks

Hamilton: I never had a doubt in my mind

Lewis Hamilton has hailed McLaren's efforts in Canada where he says the only minor pit stops errors were his own slow getaways

Hamilton became the seventh different driver to win a grand prix this season when he took the chequered flag at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday.

The McLaren driver finished ahead of Romain Grosjean and Sergio Perez having overhauled Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso to get into the lead.

And, as to be expected, it was all smiles from Hamilton in the post-race press conference where he praised McLaren's improved pit stops, revealing that the only time lost had been his own doing.

"I knew today would be a tough, tough race. I loved every single minute of it and I'm really very, very grateful," Hamilton said.

"I never had a doubt in my mind that there would not be a possibility to win.

"I was thinking they (Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso) were falling behind and I assumed they doing a one-stop so I decided to keep pushing.

"I had a couple of problems pulling away (from the pits) - it may have been my fault, I don't know.

"But otherwise the pit stops were great. Finally we got some good pit stops and of course we can keep on improving in every area."

Hamilton won the grand prix by 2.5s over Grosjean with Perez a further three off the pace. However, unlike the two behind him, Hamilton did not opt for a one-stop strategy, instead coming into the pits on two occasions.

His second stop, though, meant he was on fresher rubber when it came time to catch and overhaul Vettel and Alonso.

"I was not able to do one stop, I think I would have fallen back, so I think a two-stop was just right.

"Of course we were aware of that. We went into the race knowing we would be doing two stops and when the guys were behind me I had a feeling that Fernando would be doing one stop.

"I knew I had to make a gap while looking after the tyres, even though Fernando was picking his pace up. It was one of the best stints I had."

The 27-year-old's victory has put him at the top of the Drivers' Championship on 88 points, two ahead of Alonso with Vettel a further one point behind.

"It's still sinking in. It's been five years since I first won here but it feels just as good.

"I'm massively proud of the team for continuing to push.

"It feels great to finally be here on the top step. It feel like one of best races I've had for a very long time."

Source: Planet-F1

Canadian GP: Lucky Seven For Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton put in a masterclass display of speed to catch and overhaul two World Champs on his way to his third Canadian GP victory

In a race that was determined more by pit stops than on-track action, Sebastian Vettel lead from the start before dropping to third behind both Hamilton and Alonso after the first round of stops.

The second round, though, saw only Hamilton stop - and slowly. The McLaren driver, who had been leading Alonso by 2.6s when he came in, once again had issues as his right rear wheel man was slow to get the new rubber on.

Three laps later it became apparent that Ferrari would not be stopping Alonso, leaving the Spaniard to complete more than half the race on his soft tyres. That left him a sitting duck as Hamilton, on much fresher rubber, overtook first Vettel and then Alonso to lead the Canadian GP.

That prompted Red Bull to pit Vettel with seven laps to go, dropping him off the podium and putting Romain Grosjean up into third place. The Frenchman, who was one of the later stoppers in the first round, also had better tyres than Alonso and hunted the Spaniard down to finish second while Sergio Perez also overtook the Ferrari three laps from the end. Red Bull's decision to pit Vettel paid off as he too took a position off Alonso on the final lap.

Hamilton went on to win the grand prix by 2.5s over Grosjean with Perez completing the podium just ahead of Vettel. Alonso finished fourth, over 13s back.

Result

01. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h32:29.586
02. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 2.513
03. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 5.260
04. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 7.295
05. Alonso Ferrari + 13.411
06. Rosberg Mercedes + 13.842
07. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 15.085
08. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 15.567
09. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 24.432
10. Massa Ferrari + 25.272
11. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 37.693
12. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 46.236
13. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 47.052
14. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:04.475
15. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap
16. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 1 lap
17. Senna Williams-Renault + 1 lap
18. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
19. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
20. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps

Did not Finish

Glock Marussia-Cosworth 57
Schumacher Mercedes 34
De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 25
Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 23

Source: Planet-F1

Practice One: Hamilton edges Vettel in Montreal

Lewis Hamilton had the measure of his rivals in Friday's first practice in Montreal as the McLaren driver set the pace despite using the slower tyres...

With dark threatening clouds overhead, the Lotus drivers got proceedings underway as Kimi Raikkonen posted a 1:20.347, which is almost immediately topped by his team-mate Romain Grosjean. The duo traded blows for several laps before Nico Rosberg put an end to their intra-team tussle.

Lewis Hamilton was the next to lead the way as the McLaren driver posted a 1:16.080 while Kamui Kobayashi and Felipe Massa slotted in behind him.

Hamilton's time seemed to be unbeatable as his rivals tried but just couldn't match it. Sebastian Vettel came the closest, 0.063 down before Practice One was red flagged.

With 38 minutes left on the clock, Heikki Kovalainen sideswiped the wall at Turn 9. The impact, which was on the right side of his Caterham, left a significant amount of debris on the track. The Finn, though, was unhurt.

The session restarted roughly ten minutes later with Rosberg the first into the 1:15s. But his reign was short-lived as Hamilton posted a 1:15.564.

A near miss for Bruno Senna who was almost collected by a Red Bull as the Williams driver just didn't have the pace through the corner as Vettel came storming by. The Brazilian was seen waving his fist with the stewards announcing they will investigate the incident after practice.

The final five minutes saw several drivers swap to the red-ringed super soft Pirelli tyres. However, even though the Red Bull duo made the move neither Sebastian Vettel nor Mark Webber were able to challenge Hamilton with Vettel slotting into second place, 0.118s down.

The session ended with Hamilton first ahead of Vettel, Rosberg and Alonso.

Times

01 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:15.564 30 laps
02 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:15.682 0.118 29 laps
03 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:15.782 0.218 30 laps
04 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:15.842 0.278 34 laps
05 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:15.897 0.333 28 laps
06 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:15.986 0.422 29 laps
07 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:16.000 0.436 31 laps
08 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:16.249 0.685 32 laps
09 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:16.264 0.700 28 laps
10 Jenson Button McLaren 1:16.347 0.783 12 laps
11 Paul di Resta Force India 1:16.460 0.896 32 laps
12 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:16.619 1.055 17 laps
13 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:16.859 1.295 26 laps
14 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:16.890 1.326 36 laps
15 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus 1:17.014 1.450 42 laps
16 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:17.352 1.788 28 laps
17 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:17.580 2.016 31 laps
18 Vitaly Petrov Caterham 1:17.935 2.371 23 laps
19 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham 1:18.177 2.613 16 laps
20 Pedro de la Rosa HRT 1:18.182 2.618 26 laps
21 Bruno Senna Williams 1:18.762 3.198 36 laps
22 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:19.354 3.790 23 laps
23 Timo Glock Marussia 1:20.004 4.440 21 laps
24 Charles Pic Marussia 1:20.067 4.503 23 laps

Source: Planet-F1