The change of helmet cost the additional lap Räikkönen needed

Changing the helmet just before the crucial Q3-stint in Saturday's qualification cost Kimi Räikkönen the time he would have needed to get one more additional lap.

According to information Turun Sanomat has, Räikkönen wanted a helmet with a different visor and these crucial seconds were spent during this change.

When Räikkönen's Lotus slided a bit wide in the 12th corner, he slowed down in order to make sure that he could drive a clean lap. He would have made it even with slowing down, if the time used for changing the helmet would have been at his disposal.

Turun Sanomat, Melbourne

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen:"In F1 everything can change damn quickly"

They have speculated with Kimi Räikkönen's comeback to F1 ever since he left the serie in 2009. Yet part of the audience was astonished when the comeback with Lotus was finally confirmed.

They pondered why a WDC makes a contract with a team that according to preliminary estimations has no chance of fighting for victories.

However the decision to come back was very Räikkö-ish. He is used to making his own decisions without caring what others think. And now Räikkönen felt like going back to F1.

– Now was a good chance to drive in F1 again, he said on Thursday.

– The coolest thing about the comeback is when getting to race against the others.

Räikkönen assures that his motivation is top class.

– I have never had any problems with motivation. Still many seem to color that matter.

It has been speculated that the Lotus-seat would only be a temporary seat for Räikkönen on his way up to the top teams. Räikkönen doesn't admit or deny this. According to him the Lotus-deal is "in principle 2-years".

– I don't have any long-term plans. Lets see how it goes with Lotus. But in F1 everything can change damn quickly, he said.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Alonso's Blog: Never give up: things can change very quickly in Formula 1

A break was much needed after such a packed start to the season. I had not been home for a month, given that I stayed out in that part of the world between Australia and Malaysia, so it’s nice to have a bit of free time with the family and close friends. Truth is there’s always something to do because you need to keep in shape, given that after this slightly longer than usual break we will face a really busy May, with three Grands Prix – Turkey, Spain and Monaco – in the space of four weeks.

It was definitely not the start of the season we were hoping for, for us and all our fans. Fifty points between the two of us is not much and we know our performance is not good enough at the moment, but we are aware that this can change very quickly. Formula 1 has always been like this: in one race you struggle to get into the top five and in the next, you’re fighting for the win. This year has been no exception to that rule: after the final test in Barcelona, everyone reckoned the McLarens were nowhere and then they always got on the podium, ending up with a win in China. At the same time, others were saying Vettel was unbeatable and then in Shanghai, we all saw how things turned out in the end. Three races are not yet enough to give a definitive judgement.

But this does not mean to say I am underestimating the seriousness of our situation, far from it. We have to work very hard to improve on every front. Success only comes when every element is operating at its best: the car, strategy, pit stops, drivers and everyone else included. I’ve stayed in touch with the engineers these past few days and I know there is no let up in the development of the car at Maranello. We have to catch up and we cannot allow ourselves to lose too much time, especially as the others won’t be twiddling their thumbs over the coming weeks. I trust in the team: I know what it’s made of and I can feel the will to fight back from everyone at Maranello. In the past I have experienced, first as an opponent and then as an insider how capable the Scuderia is of staging a comeback. I well remember when I was at Renault in 2006, that in the first part of the season I had built up a big lead but then Ferrari made such a good job of developing its cars that Schumacher staged a great fight back, overtaking me with two races remaining. Then you only have to look at last year: first in Turkey and then in England, it was suggested we should already be looking to the following year, but we did not give up and we managed to be in the fight for the title right up to the final race. It sounds like a slogan, but it’s the absolute truth: never give up in Formula 1!

If the racing season has yet to make me very happy, at least on the football front there’s been one bit of good news. I was very happy that Real Madrid won against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey, as it’s a title that has eluded them for such a long time and it came at the end of a very closely fought game. Next up comes the Champions League semi-final, again against Barca. Whatever the outcome, it will be a truly fascinating tussle and obviously I’m hoping for a win for Mourinho’s team!

Source: Ferrari.com

Massa on what’s new for 2011: “Changes in the right direction”

January is the month of physical preparation for the drivers. This year at Wrooom they’re talking about that even more than usual given that the cars will again have KERS, with all that this system brings in terms of additional weight for the car. “Compared to 2009 the situation is different because the minimum weight of the car has gone up,” explained Felipe Massa. “Two years ago every ounce could have an influence while today there’s a bit more margin. Anyway, I believe I’m one of the lightest drivers, if not the lightest: let’s say I will always pay attention to avoid gaining weight – but without going over the top.”

2011 will offer innovations other than the return of KERS, from Pirelli tyres to the new adjustable rear wing. “I think that these changes are going in the right direction,” said Felipe. “We will certainly have more buttons on the steering wheel and we will have to pay a lot of attention – for example with the buttons to activate KERS, which you don’t use all in one go but at different parts of the circuit according to the track and the moment. As for the rear wing, we won’t be able to make a judgement until the first races.”

“The team believes in me”

Felipe Massa is now the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro veteran. Since the farewell to Luca Badoer, the Brazilian driver is the man with the longest service for the red team. Under contract with Maranello since 2001, Felipe is now in his sixth season as an official Ferrari driver. “My target for this season is simple: to win races and to fight for the title,” said Felipe. “I know that things didn’t go well last year but that is the past. I believe I can return to fight for the crown and I have nothing else in my mind. I am happy to start the year here at Wrooom: it’s a very enjoyable week. As I’ve now been coming here for so long, I’ve also learnt to appreciate snow, something that we Brazilians don’t see very often. I’ve always enjoyed skiing because I did in on water when I was young. Here I’ve also learned how to do it on snow.”

On the causes of his difficulties last season, the Brazilian driver explained: “I was never comfortable with the tyres, in particular the front ones. I didn’t manage to adapt my driving style to those tyres, which were very different to the ones from 2009. That took its toll, especially in qualifying and when the available compounds were the hardest ones. There were never problems with motivation, not even after a difficult weekend like Hockenheim. Fernando was better than me but I know my potential and I know that the team believes in me. In the past I’ve always had very strong team-mates, like Michael and Kimi, but I’d never found myself in a situation of not being comfortable with the car, as I had in 2010. The critics? They haven’t hurt me, what troubled me was not having the results I wanted.”

Source: Ferrari.com

Lewis Hamilton will not change ways - Japanese GP

Source: WeeklyF1

Hamilton has 'changed attitude' after recent crashes

After crashing out of the consecutive Italian and Singapore grands prix, Lewis Hamilton has vowed a different approach to the remaining races in 2010

Before his terminal crash into Felipe Massa at Monza, and then Mark Webber last Sunday, the McLaren driver was considered a favourite for the world championship.

But he is now 20 points adrift with four - or three, depending on embattled Korea's fate - races to go.

"I've changed my attitude," he said in an interview with Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

"I'm not looking at the world championship any more. I will try to win the next races but above all I want to enjoy my racing," added the Briton.

Hamilton's new attitude may also be explained by the nature of the forthcoming races, with Red Bull and Ferrari expected to set the pace at Suzuka next weekend.

"The types of corners (at Suzuka) will be most favourable to Red Bull," Ferrari test driver Marc Gene wrote in his El Mundo column.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see them better than the rest and very difficult to beat. But we will have improvements so you can't rule us out for the win," added the Spaniard.

While Ferrari has undoubtedly closed the gap to Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel said recently that the Japanese venue was so suitable for the RB6 that it seems John Hugenholtz "made Suzuka for us".

"And all the other tracks should suit our car as well. Korea is the only unknown one, but that's the same for everyone," the German told Bild newspaper.

McLaren's Jenson Button, now the lowest-ranked of the five contenders and 25 points behind leader Webber, said before returning to the UK for simulation tests: "Hopefully Korea goes ahead."

Another concern for Ferrari is engine usage, given that if Fernando Alonso needs to fit another unit before the Abu Dhabi finale, he will take a ten-place grid penalty.

"There is no reason to think too much about it," a Ferrari engineer is quoted by El Pais newspaper.

"In Singapore Fernando used an engine that had already done two races," he explained, adding that the difference between a new and old engine is "not much more" than 2 horse power.

Source: Motorsport.com

Did Japan change Kimi's mind?

By Oskari Saari

Call me oldfashioned but I still have a few principles in my job. One of them is, unlike some of my colleagues have, not to claim having some 'inside information' when I haven't. I emphasize that the following text is more or less speculation.

After the disclaimer I must immediately ask why Kimi Räikkönen's name jumped up like a blobber again in the F1-speculations?

I disagree with Lauri Hollo who writes in his blog that every statement is twisted and turned into Kimi's possible comeback. Usually this is the case. Not this time. Now it's serious. Räikkönen's manager has admitted having discussions with Renault. Renault on the other hand has confirmed it.

Why now? Didn't Kimi just recently say as straight as one can say without saying: I've seen F1. I believe that Räikkönen didn't go to rally for only one year to begin with. All the side remarks about winning the championship in rally indicated that.

What if he has had enough of it in Japan? Räikkönen has drove off quite many times and the offs have not been under any top speed. Even though he has the talent for rally also, was it enough for Kimi? Did Räikkönen think that his pace will never be fast enough to stay up with Loeb, Latvala and Hirvonen?

Another theory: What if the co-driver has had enough?

Did the experienced co-driver Kaj Lindström get bored with getting a sore neck in almost every rally? Maybe with Kaitsu's age the job isn't that important anymore. What if he has got some remarks from his home frontier? Don't imagine even for a moment that human matters wouldn't influence in these things.

The third and most interesting theory: Did Red Bull get enough?

Helmut Marko's comments about Red Bull not getting market-wise what they wanted from Räikkönen's rally project would indicate that. What does it mean?

- If there is some sporting success then the market value is also in place. These things go hand in hand, Marko commented.

One might interpret the comment so that Red Bull doesn't want to put money in Kimi's team seat. In rally.

I predict that the next speculation will be Kimi's comeback to F1 especially to Red Bull. In F1 Kimi is a certain successor if the car is even nearly to his liking.

I see Räikkönen's comeback to F1 even more probable than a week ago. I hope Kimi returns. I still don't fully believe in it.

What about the other Finn's continuance who has also has been under Renault-speculation? I guess that Heikki Kovalainen's continuance in Lotus will be announced in Singapore. And it isn't necessarily any bad option in the long run.

At the moment there are two Finns applying for Renault's seat. That is a fact, no matter what Hollo says. On the other hand my wife is from Turku so maybe my perspective is twisted.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen: Rally vs. F1, which one is better for the Iceman?

Képes Sport is comparing Rally-Kimi to F1-Kimi

Here’s a competition, the winner, we know already. Despite this fact the competition is not over yet because we compare the past and the future. Though to choose between F1 and rally is not easy we still try to compare the 2 Kimis.

Excitement

Rally-Kimi: 1 point

There’s no secret in it, Kimi was bored in F1. After 9 years of racing he didn’t like it that much towards the end, like he used to dig it in the beginning. The rally though is completely different: the natural surrounding, the challenge on the more longer weekends, the diversity of the grounds and the absolutely new technical challenges are all there to cheer Kimi up, who, at the age of 30, would feel happy about working again. But, let’s not feel sorry for him for his past…

F1-Kimi: 0 point

Going flat out with a couple of hundred horse powered car doesn’t belong to the boring things. Overtaking at 280 km/h isn’t depressant, fight for hundreds of a second during qualifying on Saturday afternoons surely is not an unstressful relaxation. Despite of all these F1 is too sterile, too sacred compared to rally, everything is foreseeable and the laboratory circumstance is not so exciting for the pilots.

Money

Rally-Kimi: 1 point

Let’s admit, nobody would ever think even for a second that this valiant Finn multimillionaire has switched one sport for the other because of the money. First at McLaren later at Ferrari he had earned sidereal amount of money, he has been in the close elite group of the most richest sportsmen for years, he has been given 10 million euros for the early exit from the Italians so earning 3,5 million euros for rallying doesn’t lift his estimated 100 million euros possessions that much.

F1-Kimi: 1 point

You can earn royal amount of money in the pinnacle of motorsport, especially in the „dominant categories” that Kimi had been the part of from the very beginning of his career. Moreover, he had belonged to the part of the most privileged. In the group with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso who could get what they wanted. But as we know it, at this level the money is not the most dominant factor.

Hype

Rally-Kimi: 1 point

Rally has giant fanbase. Let’s lay it down because people would think that it’s just a tolerated little brother compared to F1, at least in Hungary. But at a rally event there are a couple of 100.000 spectators and a former F1 world champion’s switch to rally surely can raise the interest. Just an example: the Finnish MTV3, that broadcasted Kimi’s first WRC event, could produce its history’s 3rd biggest attendence during the rally weekend, while the championship’s official homepage has reached a record-braking amount of 8 million viewers.

F1-Kimi: 2 points

Nice, nice but despite of all our good intentions we cannot say that the two sports are in the same level at least if we are talking about media interest. The „Flat-out circus” is worthy of its nickname because the participants surely can count on the constant and searching attention. So the point is here, though we would inaudibly like to mention that this is a positive thing in Kimi Räikkönen’s case.

Work

Rally-Kimi: 2 points

To specify, the plus work that comes with the driving. From that, the rally drivers have more than enough because while driving in the beautiful nature you can easily mess up a corner or after a bad flying you have to turn around the car on the road by hand or get it out of a hole. Besides the danger is constant, if you have a puncture there’s no external help, on the track the driver and the co-driver have to grab the lever or use the wheel nut key.

F1 Kimi: 2 points

At the beginning it must have been quite strange that if something went wrong on the track you just had to drive into the box and dosens of mechanics started to work on your car. In F1 pilots have nothing to do but driving the car (it’s not slim though), in rally the challenge is much more complex.

Chance

Rally-Kimi: 0% (2 points)

"As a sportsman this has to be my biggest challenge, I have to learn everything from the very beginning. I know that the 4 best pilots’ pace is unattainable, but no one would think that Sebastien Loeb could beat Sebastian Vettel right away in F1." Well, if the concerned himself is thinking about it this way then why should we argue with him? Knowing the fact that at his 2 WRC races so far (Sweden and Mexico) he couldn’t get any points.

F1-Kimi: 3 points

Had he stayed in F1 he could have had the chance to finish in the points at every race – and not just because of the reform of the point system. Kimi was doing his job at a half-mind throughout the season last year but without a doubt he belonged to the probable winners every time. During his 9 years' career in F1 18 wins, 579 points and one world championship in 2007 has not been achieved by accident so these facts could be a good starting point for the experts to count him among the probable winners in every year. If the „if” wouldn’t be there…

Supporters

Rally-Kimi: 3 points

One certain point at the previous chapter, one certain point here. It’s fair this way. And it’s rightful because competing with the rally fans is not easy. In snow (Finland or Sweden), in hot weather (Mexico), in the mountains (New Zealand) or in the dust (almost everywhere) – they are everywhere near the tracks. Even at the very hardly accesable points, with hours of tough walking, even in the mountains they are near the tracks, sometimes too near. Bravery, fanaticism, tenacity – they can get a point for this.

F1-Kimi: 3 points

The F1 supporters are spoilt „English Ladies” compared to the rally fans, if we may say so. Though they can be ready for a couple of hours walking through the fields in the hot weather (Hungaroring), soaking in the rain (Sepang) or brave the elements in Bahrein in the middle of a sandstorm but it is much more comfortable and safe to sit on grandstands and support the drivers from there throughout the race weekends.

Pleasure

Rally-Kimi: 4 points

We could tell at the beginning that drawing a conclusion won’t be easy. Mainly because this category is here to decide between rally and F1. Well, in our opinion and especially in this case the rallying could get more points: the new tracks, the new challenges, the new oponents are bigger challenges for Kimi than he had stayed in F1. And for a sportsman a bigger challenge is the pleasure itself.

F1-Kimi: 3 points

Well, the decision was not that obvious because competing with the world’s fastest pilots with the world’s fastest cars can’t be named as a boring activity. Going flat out at the first incisive corner after the starting line at 300 km/h, to endure the G forces during 1,5 hours of racing, to reckon where to brake or where to overtake, these are certainly can raise one’s adrenaline level. We still think that rallying gives Räikkönen much more pleasure than F1 so with a big finish the rallying is the winner.

Source: Képes Sport

Courtesy: Kinga Planet-F1