Team manager reveals: This is how Kimi Räikkönen's contract is made

Eric Boullier told on Sunday in MTV3:s live interview openly about how Kimi Räikkönen's next year's contracts is made.

Boullier has earlier said that Räikkönen's continuance is 100% sure, but Räikkönen himself says that he doesn't have a contract for next year.

- Nothing has yet been signed concerning next year, but his contract which was signed last year is a two-year contract with some options. They are related to performance clauses. We just have to go through the administrative process in order to get the contract again signed for next year, Bouillier described the situation to MTV3.

Boullier emphasizes that announcing the contract isn't even depending on any matters that concern the negotiations.

- It's only about timing.

Source MTV3
Courtesy Nicole

Räikkönen didn't have room to avoid Alonso + Video Interview after Race

Räikkönen's Lotus and Alonso's Ferrari clashed when they were braking into the first corner. Lotus-car's front wing touched Ferrari's rear tyre and hence Alonso's race stopped shortly when he spun off the track.

– After the start I was all the time on the left side when we started to brake. Fernando came all the time more and more to the left. I tried to go more to the left but there was no room where to go. What happened happened because I couldn't go anywhere, Räikkönen cleared up.

Räikkönen's front wing suffered a mild damage and the car's speed wasn't enough to fight for a better position than 5th. The chance went when Lewis Hamilton succeeded to return just beside Räikkönen after a very fast pitstop. Since Lotus was on the left side, McLaren got a cleaner driving line and passed.

Source Turun Sanomat 

Kimi Räikkönen Q&A: We’ll have to be smart to win

Lotus’s Kimi Räikkönen remains very much the joker in the pack of the 2012 championship, sitting fourth in the standings - ahead of the likes of Hamilton and Button - despite not having won a race. The Finn’s secret is consistent podiums - a trend he plans to continue at Monza on Sunday, even if he is starting from the fourth row - and he hence believes the title is still possible, as he explained exclusively to Formula1.com…

Q: Kimi, you’ve never won at Monza. Isn’t it about time? What are the chances tomorrow?
Kimi Räikkönen: Well, I have been fast here many times, but then funnily something always happened. (laughs) So let’s hope that we give ourselves a chance tomorrow.

Q: What would you sacrifice to win the race - black in front of a sea of red?
KR: We don’t sacrifice anything. We are just doing our best. Of course we want to win and we will do anything possible to get there. We have to be smart.

Q: What does being smart mean?
KR: To get the best out of what we have?

Q: Is that all?
KR: Yep!

Q: You start from the fourth row tomorrow. What does that mean here in Monza?
KR: Well, it’s no secret if I say that it is not the best possible place to start, but that is where we ended up after two days so it is all about making a good start and getting through the first chicane without any issue. (laughs) Then I am sure that we can fight for a podium. 

Q: There is a lot of talk about the Spa start. This sort of start accident has happened many times before, so why so much fuss now?
KR: I have no idea. I was not involved in the issue so ask the people who were. I have nothing to say about it.

Q: But the consequence is that now everybody is talking about closed cockpits? Do you have an opinion on that?
KR: I think this sport is dangerous and if you are not happy to take the risk then you should do something else. I am sure there are plenty of drivers who are willing to take the risk driving a Formula One car as it is now. 

Q: Are you eyeing the championship? What has to happen to make it happen? Your team principal Eric Boullier said that you are still in the game for the title…
KR: We need a bit stronger package if we want to win, but yes, we are still in it. One race can change the whole situation in your favour. We are not yet as fast as we would like, so be sure that I will do my best tomorrow.

Q: What do you mean by a stronger package? What does it include? The car, the aero, and the driver?
KR: Everything has to get better. We need more speed, more downforce… then we will see. 

Q: You and the team seem to hit it off. Will you carry on into 2013?
KR: I am happy this year here - and for next year let’s see. In Formula One you never know. Things can change overnight. (laughs) 

Q: Other teams desperate for results have no doubt been knocking on your door. What - and who - could lure you away? A bigger team with limitless resources? A bigger salary? 
KR: I have no interest in talking about those things because one word about it would get hyped into many half true stories, so I’ll keep it to myself.

Q: What about a return to Ferrari? Are you ready to swap black for red? 
KR: Same answer as before.

Q: Watching you stroll through the paddock, you seem to be so laidback. Are you now beyond the huge ambitions that seem to be the name of the game for so many other drivers?
KR: I am just who I am. I don’t have to pretend to be somebody else. I do my own thing and I am happy with what I am doing. 

Q: What’s still the best thing about being a Formula One driver? 
KR: For sure not talking to the media. I am not a big fan of b*llsh*t questions. 

Q: So what kind of questions are you happy to answer?
KR: Such a question doesn’t exist! (laughs)

Q: So let’s get back to the usual driver question after qualifying - where do you see yourself finishing the race?
KR: Hopefully we have a stronger package than the guys in front of me. It is a long race. Doing a good first lap will be crucial.

Q: Who is the logical winner for you?
KR: Ask me after the race - I have never pretended to be a soothsayer. (laughs)

Source: Formula1.com

Video: Clear commercial Kimi Räikkönen

Source: InvisibleIceWandS

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

Photos: Kimi Räikkönen's Independence Day: Finland enduro race

Kimi Raikkonen explained enduro debut in style

Source: iltalehti
Courtesy: Verena and Julia