Vettel is not surprised about Räikkönen

All of six F1 world champions have opened their points score, when the first two races are over. Five of them already got points in Australia and the sixth, seven times champion Michael Schumacher, got a point in Malaysia for P10 spot.

Mercedes, which started this season with high hopes, got it's first point by Schumacher. From third place started 43-year-old German veteran's race was ruined by Kimi Räikkönen's team mate Romain Grosjean.

- It was a shame to end up just to one point, when I finally started from so good position. I was run over after the start, the car spun, and in reality my day was spoiled by that, Schumacher thought sulky.

The series is lead by 2006 champion Fernando Alonso before 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and 2009 champion Jenson Button.

2011 champion Sebastian Vettel has only two points more than 2007 champion Räikkönen.

Räikkönen beat Vettel on Saturday's qualification and was charging his mate hard in the race until he passed when Red Bull's rear tyre exploded because of Hispania's Narain Karthikeyan.

- I'm not at all surprised of Kimi's speed. We have seen that he has a car which has been fast everywhere. We knew before the qualification, that Lotus is one of those with whom we'll have tough competition, Vettel reassured after loosing qualification.

Vettel has been training hard to beat Räikkönen finally in badminton. When the two friends had a match, after two years break, against each other in a gym at Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Räikkönen was still better.

- Sebastian has developed in that game. But he still does not beat me, Räikkönen hinted.

Four cars are quite close to each other

In championship Vettel has now two points more than Räikkönen. The last season's Red Bull domination has disappeared together with it's superior blown diffuser.

At the moment there are at least four cars very close to each other in qualification speed. In long Sepang track, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Lotus ended up inside little over two tenths of a second. This promises very exciting coming races - and possibly a number of different winners.

- I do not yet know how competitive our car really is. Hopefully in China we will just have a normal weekend, so that the qualification as well as the race will take place on dry track - and without penalties, first corner crashes or some other stupid blunders.

- Well, at least with this car it was easy to follow Red Bull. It was nice to race. If the visibility just had been better. Now, I could not quite drive on the limits.

- We will get new parts to China and we have to figure out something to those other curves there, to get more grip, Räikkönen explained.

From Malaysia Räikkönen flew for the first time in his life to Beirut, where there is waiting Lotus Cars' public relations job.

Source: Turun Sanomat
Courtesy: reppo

Grosjean's speed didn't come as any surprise to Räikkönen

First three days and 214 laps with Lotus new E20 -car are behind and Räikkönen can now concentrate on following Rally Sweden at home in Switzerland - while following Jerez testing times. At least through the internet

Räikkönen who made the pioneering work with the new car got praisal from the engineers for his feedback. The car is developing and Romain Grosjean got immediately into speed to polish the novelty into an even better one.

– I don't know him that well but he has won the GP2-championship and other car-races. You don't win them if you aren't fast, Räikkönen said.

Räikkönen's 942 kilometers experience from Jerez tests will help the people in Enstone to both develop the car and make it more like the driver wants it to be.

The challenge is at least to build a new steering and placing the DRS-button in the place where Räikkönen wants it.

Räikkönen's engineer in Jerez and in Barcelona's first test period is Simon Renney. After that Mark Slade takes his familiar place alongside Räikkönen.

– It goes well with Simon too but I wanted Mark along. He knows me and he knows what I want since we were together for five years in McLaren. On top of that Mark knows this team after working here earlier. It's easier for me to go to a new team when the engineers have experience of the team and know how to work with me and the team, Räikkönen justified.

Gerard Lopez is very satisfied with the new driver duo. He took personally care of hiring Räikkönen.

– We were in contact with Kimi already in 2010. Back then I got the impression that he still had unfinished challenges in rally and he gave the impression that he would like to do both F1 and rally at the same time. Coming back to F1 would mainly had been because of money.

– Now everything was different. I can assure you that Kimi came back because he wanted to race and money was a minor detail, Lopez reveals.

– Even though he was away for two years he was immediately at home in the car and showed right in the first test with the old car that he is physically in a very good shape. I think Kimi makes a lot of hard work which generally doesn't even seem to be understood.

Turun Sanomat's question about how Räikkönen fits in Robert Kubica's place as the team's leading driver got Lopez to smile widely.

– Kimi is definitely the best we could get and I think that he is with certainity one of the world's four fastest drivers, Lopez praised.

Turun Sanomat. Jerez de la Frontera

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

The test did not bring any surprises to Räikkönen

Lotus driver Kimi Räikkonen says Valencia test convinced him that a successful return to Formula One series can work out

Räikkönen tested earlier this week in Valencia, Spain, Renault team's two years old car. Testing abolished concerns of the Finnish driver.

- I was a little worried that the sport to have gone ahead. Frankly, Monday and Tuesday did not bring any surprises. The feeling was the same as before, Räikkönen told to French L'Equipe newspaper.

- The old reflexes and the touch came back really quickly. Of course, it took a little time to find the limits, but on Tuesday, everything went much better. Certainly there is still room for improvement, added Räikkönen.

The Finnish driver is already eagerly waiting the races of upcoming formula season.

- This sport has a lot of things I do not like. However, when I'm racing everything is OK. I love to race against other drivers. In that I'm at my best and I get the most enjoyment, said Räikkönen.

Source:MTV3
Courtesy: reppo

Video: BBC - Silverstone win 'nice surprise' for Fernando Alonso

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso believes upgrades to the car - not modifications to the rules - helped him win the British Grand Prix, a victory he describes as a "total surprise".

The Spaniard says the "special win" will be a huge motivation for him during the rest of the season, but says Sebastian Vettel may be too far ahead in the title race.



Source: SixtyBuckss

Will Kimi surprise immediately?

Last year's World Rally Championship silver medallist, Jari-Matti Latvala, believes that Kimi Räikkönen will improve his driving performances this year

- If Kimi can drive here in Sweden and finish in the top 5-8, it is a good result for him, Latvala said Wednesday evening at the local Ford dealer's premises in Karlstad.

- As the season proceeds, Kimi willl surely be able to get closer to us. However, one must also remember that this season there will be quite a few rallies which are totally new to him, Latvala pointed out.

Räikkönen has gotten to drive the new Citroën for approximately 250 test kilometres.

- In some competitions Kimi may be able to reach the top five but the podium will not be reached before next season, Latvala estimates.

So far Räikkönen's best result at the world championship level is fifth place in last season's Rally of Turkey.

Source: IltaSanomat
Courtesy: sleenster

Kimi's comeback would surprise his racing fellows

A year ago after Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari announced that they had broken the signed contract for this season with Kimi Räikkönen. Now they are pondering on Singapore paddock whether Räikkönen could switch back to F1 from rally in 2011.

Turun Sanomat asked about his chances from people who have worked with him and from people who had raced with him.

Peter Sauber was the team manager who hired the 21-year old Finnish talent straight from Formula Renault -serie to F1 in 2001. Sauber lifted up his hands when I asked him how realistic the thought of Räikkönen's comeback to F1 sounds.

– I have absolutely no idea, I really don't know. Of course it could be possible after one year in rally. Otherwise I wouldn't have hired Nick Heidfeld myself.

– Personally I would be very pleased if Kimi would come back. I like that guy. He is so different and talented, Sauber said.

Heidfeld was Räikkönen's first team mate. How does he react to the talks about Kimi's possible comeback?

– If Kimi would want it then I'm sure that he could do it without the smallest adjusting problems. I was away myself for a long time and I believe I can do it too.

– In any case Kimi's one year away is not the same as Michael Schumacher's three years, Heidfeld said.

Jenson Button was one of the young talents the family Robertson brought to F1 along with Räikkönen. Button does not think that he will see his racing fellow on GP-tracks anymore.

– I don't think that Kimi likes this sport so much that he would still come back. At least it didn't look like that last year. It would also be difficult because Kimi would of course only want to drive a good car.

– Kimi seems to enjoy it in rally and he even flies there at times. But if Kimi himself would want to come back then there wouldn't be any problem with that, he would drive just as he did before, Button says.

Chris Dyer worked as Räikkönen's race engineer in Ferrari when the duo made miracles in 2007 with winning the WDC.

Ferrari's strategist knows Räikkönen's skills and ability to adjust, but on the other hand he also knows about his love for rally.

– It would be a surprise if Kimi would come back to F1. You can see from his face how much he likes rally. I think the managers are more for the comeback than he is.

– In itself the return of a driver who is on Kimi's level would be easy. One year isn't much. It would also be in his advantage when others have to get used to the new Pirelli tyres. And Kimi can also already use the KERS-button well.

What about Räikkönen's attitude towards F1-driving?

– I never noticed at any point that Kimi would have seemed less interested than he used to be. Yet it doesn't matter. I know Kimi so well that I know he does exactly what he wants to do next year and I don't want to start guessing over it one way or another, Dyer stated.

Fernando Alonso shook his head when asked of Kimi's chances to come back.

– I don't have the faintest idea. We drivers always want to do what we feel is best for us.

Felipe Massa was of the same opinion.

– Kimi seems to like rally more than F1. Personally I would never go to rally. It doesn't suit my head. Only Kimi himself knows what he wants, Massa said.

Renault's Robert Kubica could become the Finn's team mate should he decide to come back to F1.

– Anything is possible in F1. If Kimi decides to come back then I'm sure everybody welcomes him back. It wouldn't be difficult for him to adjust to all this again because rally is completely different.

– But I don't know about Kimi's plans. If I would be Kimi I would stay in rally but I don't say it because I would want him to stay away, I say it because I know how great a WRC-car is and since my nature is what it is, I would choose rally if I was Kimi.

Nico Rosberg who has closely witnessed how difficult it has been for Schumacher to come back is assured that Kimi would have no problems if he would come back.

– I know that Kimi likes to drive F1-cars. The comeback would surely be very easy. A different thing is if Kimi would accept that he wouldn't make as much money as he is used to. If Kimi demands the same salary as before, then I don't think that we will see him here anymore, Rosberg thinks.

Webber does not believe in the possibility of Kimi ever coming back to F1.

– Kimi has already learned a lot in rally. I'm sure it would be best for him to take advantage of it next year because he doesn't enjoy the numerous off-track tasks in F1. In rally Kimi has already made it half and half.

– I'm sure Kimi would want to drive F1-cars but when the hottest fire under the belt is gone I don't think it motivates him the same way it did before, Webber thought.

– I love rally and I have always followed it. It's just so damn difficult. I know what the notes mean there - and phew... I'm not laughing at all at the difficulties Kimi has had, Webber said.

Vettel tells it straight and says he misses Räikkönen and wants him back.

– Personally I would be really happy if Kimi would drive in F1 again. I think he is one of the best drivers and one of my most genuine favorites from the the whole F1-bunch.

– A year in rally hasn't taken an inch away of Kimi's competitiveness. I think that Kimi will come back if he gets the chance to drive for the WDC 100%, Vettel says.

Heikki Kovalainen would also be pleased if Kimi would come back.

– It would be cool to see how he would still do. A year in rally is not any hinder if Kimi only is motivated to drive in F1. Of course it also depends upon what kind of a car he would get his hands on since it looks like all top teams are closed. I'm sure Kimi has more than enough of challenges in rally too if he should decide to stay there.

Aki Hintsa from McLaren who also has been Räikkönen's family doctor is merciless when it comes to time lines.

– If Kimi will come back then it should happen now. It would still be possible in 2011 but after that he has no chances. The train leaves and nobody catches it. You can see it from Michael Schumacher's comeback. Kimi hasn't been away for as long as Schumi has. It would still be a different matter, Hintsa says.

– What is crucial is the human age that none of us can do anything about - no matter how talented you are. The more you are over 30 years, the more your ability to react will slow down and the ability to learn something new becomes more difficult. There's something new coming to these cars all the time so the equation also changes and the more it changes, the more it's minus, Hintsa sums up.

Turun Sanomat, Singapore

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Surprise guest of Vesku premiere: Kimi Räikkönen

The documentary depicting the life of artist Vesa-Matti Loiri interested also rally driver Kimi Räikkönen

Premiere of the movie Vesku directed by Mika Kaurismäki was held on Tuesday night at the Maxim theatre in central Helsinki. Several celebrities showed up but undoubtedly the most surprising guest was rally driver Kimi Räikkönen.

Kimi, who was dressed in a black hat and sunglasses, didn't stop to talk to the media people flocking outside the theatre and instead just walked in with his entourage.

Before the start of the showing Kimi's parents Matti and Paula Räikkönen were seen together with Loiri sitting on the terrace of a restaurant situated next door to the theatre.

(MTV3-MIKKO KORMILAINEN)
Courtesy: Dracaena

Whitmarsh: Button's form no surprise

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh says he always expected Jenson Button to produce the kind of superb form that has seen him leading the world championship just four races into his relationship with the Woking team.

Contrary to the widespread pre-season assumption that Button would be hard-pressed to get on terms with incumbent team-mate Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, the reigning champion has out-qualified his young stablemate at the last three grands prix, and his wins in Australia and China have given him a 10-point championship lead.

But Whitmarsh said he always thought Button's combination of speed, experience and determined would lead to spectacular results for McLaren.

"I don't think it's a surprise - I think Jenson has done a fantastic job with the team," said Whitmarsh.

"He's a mature world champion, he's got a lot of experience, he's had a lot of tough times in his career and he's clearly learnt from it.

"How he has conducted himself in the team, how he works with Lewis, how he operates out on the track is fantastic."

Although Button's wet weather skill played a part in both his McLaren wins so far, Whitmarsh dismissed any suggestion that the triumphs were lucky ones.

"Here we are four races in, and he's won two of them," said Whitmarsh.

"No one who's watched those races could say anything other than that he thoroughly deserved to win them.

"They were 'driver wins' - races where the driver had to make the difference, and he did make the difference."

He added that both Hamilton and Button deserved huge credit for McLaren's success so far this season, as the team has not yet been an outright pace-setter and is thought to trail the Red Bull slightly - especially in qualifying trim.

"To come away leading the championship after four races when not everything's gone right shows we've got two great racing drivers and a strong team," Whitmarsh said.

"It's testament to the team and the drivers.

"In China in qualifying I think we had the second fastest car, I think we were still slower than Red Bull but we underperformed in qualifying and didn't make it easy for ourselves.

"We don't always get it right, but we make decisions and we get on with it.

"We've got two drivers who are great racers and they've made a massive contribution."

Source: ITV.com