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The rumours about Kimi Räikkönen and Williams continue and the presence of his management team David and Steve Robertson in the Williams team hospitality unit in Abu Dhabi only added to the story-mongering. The fact is that the pair are based in Dubai, where they run a trading company, dealing in steel, wood and consumer goods, so it is a logical place for them to appear each year. However, there is no question that they are talking to Williams about Räikkönen but is is not as simple as most team-driver negotiations as I hear that Räikkönen is looking to acquire some equity in the team. Sir Frank Williams is famous for not parting with shares. The team lost Adrian Newey back in the mid 1990s because it would not make him a shareholder and the recent flotation was simply a device to raise money to allow both Williams and his longtime partner Patrick Head to extract some of the value from the team, without losing control of the business. Williams continues to hold the majority share of slightly more than 50 percent, while Austrian wheeler-dealer Toto Wolff has around 16 percent, Head has reduced his stake to just 5.8 percent and Cyrte Investments, a Dutch investment company, largely controlled by Dutch media magnate John de Mol bought up 5 percent. The rest is traded on the XETRA exchange in Frankfurt.
There are 10 million Williams shares and trading thus far has produced no sale larger than 18,715 shares, which is a tiny percentage, so there is no sign of anyone building up a stake. On paper the team is worth €170 million, but it should be remembered that when the shares were floated the value was €246 million, so anyone other than the original shareholders will make a substantial loss if they sell now.
Räikkönen and the Robertsons have already been team owners in Formula 3. They established Räikkönen Robertson Racing at the end of 2004, when Kimi was still racing for McLaren. The team, based in Woking, was managed by Boyo Hieatt and enjoyed some success in the British F3 Championship, winning the title in 2006 with Mike Conway. The team was never really in contention after that and at the end of 2010 the company was sold to Hieatt.
It is probably a good time to try to buy shares in the team, as it is at a low point in its history and the chances are that with new engines and a different design team, the team will make some progress next year. If not the share price will suffer and so shares might become easier to acquire. The team admits it is interested in signing Raikkonen and says that a negotiation is going on at the moment.
Source: joesawardwordpress.comCourtesy: Claudie
Kimi Räikkönen's managers David and Steve Robertson made a quick visit to Yas Marina Grand Prix -paddock on Sunday. What do you know, the Robertsons followed the beginning of the F1-race in Williams premises.
Frank Williams assured on Friday night to MTV3 that he is very interested in getting Räikkönen to his team.
Robertsons were completely silent about the matter.
– The times are completely different from those times for example in 2001 when Kimi started in Sauber, because these days even being a top talent isn't enough to assure a team seat, Robertson told Turun Sanomat.
Co-founder of Williams-team, Patrick Head, admitted before the race when asked once again, that they have thought about getting Räikkönen earlier too.
– We were interested in Kimi when he drove for Sauber. We proposed to make a deal to our partner at the time, BMW, but they thought it would be too expensive, Head cleared.
So far only Pastor Maldonado's continuance in Williams next year is sure.
Turun Sanomat, Abu Dhabi
HEIKKI KULTA
Courtesy: Nicole
Steve Robertson says that Kimi is not negotiating with any F1-team at the moment.
Robertson can't tell about Räikkönen's plans for nex season in detail, since according to him no decisions have been made yet.
- All options concerning next season are still open. Will Kimi drive rally, Nascar or even F1 - so far there's nothing to comment because no decisions have been made.
If Kimi would want to go back to F1, would Williams be an option?
- I can't comment on that at all.
Are you negotiating with any F1-team at the moment?
- No.
MTV3 also asked Williams-team's representatives for an interview on Singapore paddock. The team informed through their publicist that the team will not comment the matter at all.
Source: MTV3Courtesy: Nicole
Kimi Räikkönen's ex-manager Steve Robertson was a familiar sight in F1-races for decades. He worked together with his father David Robertson, first with Jenson Button and later on as Kimi Räikkönen's manager.
Although we haven't seen the Robertsons on the F1-paddock anymore, the current Grand Prix -entertainment carries the men away genuinely.
– F1 is once again a completely fantastic formula. Some puritans think that they have made it more artificial racing with the DRS-system but the truth is that these days each race is the best entertainment. Even Monaco offered the most entertaining race ever, Steve Robertson praises.
– Whoever came up with this rear wing -system earns the most genuine praises. Of course part of the honor goes to the tyre-department too. The F1-car has maintained it's undisputable speed and at the same time it is even more competitive. A full 10 points to those who made the decisions!
Robertson assured that Button's performance was blazing but he reminded that McLaren's British star is at his best in difficult conditions like these.
– When you think about Jenson's best races, almost every victory has been won during wet circumstances. Jenson is one of the best race drivers on a slippery track. He has his own genuine driving style and we saw the most visible example of how good he is on a wet and semi-wet track in Canada.
– Sebastian Vettel would have won this race too if it weren't for the safety cars. It's easy to say afterwards that he should have squeezed more right after the SC-situation was over. Once Jenson got close it was already too late.
– I'm sure frustration took the better over Hamilton's patience and he tried to overtake immediately when he got the slightest chance. Lewis is a fiery driver so when he badly needed a good result these things just happen, Robertson understood.
– It was clearly Michael's best racing performance after his comeback. He was able to use all his experience to his advantage on that track he has won so often on, and also his knowledge of those circumstances. Michael would have deserved a podium without a doubt but unfortunately Merc's car wasn't good enough.
How would the current wing-system and tyres have suited Kimi Räikkönen?
– Kimi was one of the most genuine overtakers already before this wing- and tyre-development. All Kimi needed was half of a chance to overtake and he was immediately ahead. That is Kimi's greatest strenght - his ability to visualize when overtaking. Kimi wasn't much stuck behind someone if he could challenge even a little.
– On top of that Kimi is one of the most cleanest overtakers. He handled very clinically nine overtakes out of ten.
– This rear wing would have suited Kimi brilliantly without a doubt. When overtaking is made easier this way, he would really be in his own element on the track, Robertson assured.
Turun Sanomat
HEIKKI KULTA
Courtesy: Nicole
Kimi Räikkönen’s current racing agenda has been outlined to GPUpdate.net this week by the Finn’s long-term manager, Steve Robertson. The 18-time Grand Prix winner is currently contesting the World Rally Championship (WRC) with ICE 1 Racing and will continue to do so while embarking on his new NASCAR ambitions.
The ex-Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari Formula 1 driver signed a deal with Kyle Busch Motorsports earlier in April to compete in the NASCAR Truck Series and Robertson has explained that, if Räikkönen’s selected races prove enjoyable throughout the season, the 31-year-old could commit himself to the sport.
"He’s got a plan for this year, so he’s doing some races this year in the trucks and also the Nationwide cars," Robertson told GPUpdate.net.
"That’s happening very, very soon. Obviously he’s got a pretty heavy programme with WRC as well and he’s going to combine the both, which is not so easy to do, but that’s what he wants to do.
"But (his move to NASCAR is) with a view for possibly 2012 and 2013, but he wants to see if he enjoys it first before he makes a decision as to what he does."
Source: GPUpdate.net
Ex-F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen will remain faithful to the World Rally Championship. But the Finn will change his tactics and plans to place more emphasis on testing
With his own team "ICE 1 racing" Kimi Räikkönen returns to the World Rally Championship in 2011. For a long time the rumour mill was buzzing that the Finn would withdraw completely, "but that was totally wrong," said his manager, Steve Robertson.
Räikkönen will take part in ten out of 13 of the World Rally Championship races with a Citroën WRC DS3. The expensive overseas rallies are omitted for budget reasons. Kimi will make good use of the resulting free time. Additional tests are planned to gather further experience.
For 2012, the signs are good that Räikkönen will remain in the WRC. After a two year break, he believes there little chance that he will return to Formula 1. “It’s not impossible, but it certainly makes it harder to go back, the longer you leave it,” said Kimi. “If I missed Formula One I would have gone back, but in fact I haven’t missed it at all.”
Source: Rallye-Magazin
Courtesy: sleenster
Kimi Räikkönen's manager Steve Robertson, knocks out the talk of the F1 world champion would take a year off at the motor sports
Räikkönen got some sad news during Christmas when his Matti-dad suddenly died after an illness-attack. According to rumours Kimi put all negotiations in ice and even started to consider stopping his career.
- There has been a lot of talk about it and of course he is sad over his father passing away which is normal. Yet talks about him keeping a break are pure speculation, Robertson told.
Robertson told that he is still negotiating with several quarters. According to some rumours the deal with Citroen might be announced soon.
- I'm pretty sure that Kimi is still in motorsporting, Robertson assured.
The manager didn't want to comment if Räikkönen could possibly drive in some other serie than WRC.
- Kimi is a WDC in F1 so of course Kimi has had other options too. However at this moment we don't have anything to announce, Robertson emphasised.
There might be some news concerning Räikkönen's future to be expected soon.
- We are now in January so I don't think it takes much longer anymore, Robertson promised.
Source: MTV3Courtesy: Claudie and Nicole
