Title contender Räikkönen happy at Lotus, for now

Formula One title chaser Kimi Räikkönen says he is happy at Lotus - for now - even as speculation swirls around possible vacancies at the 2007 world champion's previous teams Ferrari and McLaren

The taciturn 32-year-old's consistent displays in his comeback season after two years in rallying have lifted him to third in the standings with seven races remaining.

Räikkönen arrived in Singapore on Wednesday to pursue his long-shot title challenge on the city-state's street circuit and try to close the 38 point gap on Ferrari's championship leader Fernando Alonso.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, winner of two of the last three races, is just one point ahead of the Finn.

With talk of Hamilton mulling a move from McLaren to Mercedes dominating paddock gossip, and Alonso's under-performing team mate Felipe Massa out of contract at the end of the year, Raikkonen's future has come into focus.

"I have a good relationship with the team...people are pushing 100 percent and they are real racing people not so much politics, they want to do well in the races and that is a good starting point," said the tired-looking Finn.

"I enjoy working with the people, very nice and I'm happy here but you never know what happens in the future but right now I'm happy with what's going on," he added.

Räikkönen enjoyed five solid years with McLaren from 2002 and twice finished runner up in the championship before he switched to Italian giants Ferrari where he collected his sole title and left at the end of 2009 to go rallying.

TRICKY CIRCUIT

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez said this month that Raikkonen was happy to stay at the former Renault outfit, who were embroiled in one of the sport's biggest scandals after it emerged they had asked their driver Nelson Piquet junior to crash on purpose in Singapore in 2008 for tactical reasons.

Räikkönen also crashed under the floodlights on the narrow, twisty street circuit that year but did set a race lap record that still holds.

The Finn, with six podium finishes this year, expected a tough race again on Sunday night.

"It is quite hot and humid here and of course a bit different with the evening race than normal, it is a challenging circuit but hopefully we can do well," he said.

"It's a street circuit so it always makes it a little bit more tricky when you try to get the best out, if you make a little mistake, there is a big chance to hit the wall, in a normal circuit you have some run off areas."

Hamilton and Alonso have each won three races this year with Räikkönen yet to triumph since he began his comeback. However the Finn has finished his last 10 races in the points, his best scoring run since Ferrari in 2007/8.

"Winning is the easiest way to achieve the championship, but unfortunately I haven't been able to win this year but we have been putting ourselves close to there, giving us a chance at least...we haven't made any big mistakes," the Finn said.

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier said Raikkonen and French team mate Romain Grosjean, returning after a one race ban, could look forward to some improvements to the car this week on a circuit which should suit them.

"There's no reason to think that a podium will be out of reach," Boullier said.

"We've been quite competitive on twisty circuits this year and Singapore shares a lot of Monaco and Valencia's characteristics...Kimi has always been quick in Singapore; even if he hasn't had the best of luck during the races themselves.

"We have a few upgrades scheduled for Singapore and they should bring some extra performance."

Source: Reuters Sports

Domenicali: I’m sure Sebastian didn’t intend to jeopardise Fernando’s race

There is barely time to draw breath in this very busy season of Formula One, the longest in the history of the sport and the team is already at work preparing to the minutest detail for the next round, in Singapore

After Monza, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo had a long meeting with Team Principal Stefano Domenicali both to take stock of the immediate future  the final leg in the championship  and to discuss the mid-term, examining the Scuderia’s plans for development and moving forward on all fronts.

For Scuderia Ferrari the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix was like a rollercoaster ride. It was a relentless flow of emotions, difficulties, disappointments, hopes and, in the end, satisfaction with a team result that was the best of the day.

There was also satisfaction regarding the situation in the two championships that on one side – the drivers, has returned more or less to how it was ahead of the summer break (but with two more grands prix completed) and on the other – the constructors, has been completely opened up again thanks above all to Red Bull’s failure to score and the reliability problems that affected other title contenders.

It was in fact the duel with one of the Red Bulls, that of Sebastian Vettel, that led to one of the most crucial moments of Fernando’s race yesterday afternoon.

Domenicali said, “It was a hard battle and I believe the Stewards’ decision was right, above all given the clarification that was given out by the FIA after the last Bahrain Grand Prix. I’m also sure that Sebastian didn’t have any intention of jeopardising Fernando’s race: the German is a driver who is firm but fair.”

The chief of the Maranello team continued: “This will be a very intense week because there will also be action on track at Magny-Cours, where there is a young drivers’ test going on. For us there will be Jules Bianchi and Davide Rigon, who will take turns at the wheel of the F2012. One of the priorities of the test will be to fine-tune the correlation between the simulator and the track, a crucial aspect of modern-day Formula One.”

While the sound of the V8s returns to France for the first time in more than four years, the work will continue unabated in the simulator and on the test benches at Maranello.

One man who will be getting used to the surroundings inside the Sporting Department tomorrow will be Sergio Perez, who will be making a visit to Maranello in accordance with an appointment that has been planned for months as part of his programme of work as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Then on Thursday and Friday it will be Felipe Massa’s turn to proceed with the ‘virtual’ development work on the F2012.

Source: YallaF1

Stealthy Räikkönen builds up healthy points tally

Kimi Räikkönen has moved stealthily up the Formula One standings to a healthy third place and the Lotus driver could become even more of a contender now the championship has turned its back on Europe

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier made no secret of the fact that Monza, the fastest track on the calendar and a power circuit with long straights and few corners, did not play to his car's strengths on Sunday.

"We knew here would not be easy," he said after Räikkönen finished fifth at the Italian Grand Prix, the last European race of the year with the focus now on the Far and Middle East before the season ends in the Americas.

"We look forward now obviously to the next races because it should suit our car much better."

Scoring regular points has been key in this most unpredictable of championships and Raikkonen and Ferrari's championship leader Fernando Alonso have been the kings of consistency.

Räikkönen has scored points in his last 10 races and, although the Finn has yet to win in his comeback season after two years in the world rally championship, he has been on the podium six times in 13 races.

Alonso's focus has been mostly on Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Monza race winner Hamilton so far this season but the Spaniard may have to take his Ferrari predecessor into account as well now.

Both Red Bulls failed to finish at Monza but Raikkonen banked points as usual.

Alonso will need no reminding of how Raikkonen took the 2007 title against the odds, mounting one of the sport's great comebacks by winning three of the last four races of that season to pip Hamilton and the Spaniard, at the time McLaren team mates, by a single point.

"It's good to go into third position," said Räikkönen, just one point behind Hamilton and 38 adrift of Alonso despite the top two having each won three races this year.

"It was a difficult weekend as we were too slow in a straight line. We came into the race looking for sixth or seventh so fifth is the maximum we could have done here this weekend."

Nobody has won more than three races this year and Räikkönen has plenty of time to clamber on top of the podium before the year is out. Japan's Suzuka circuit, which comes after next week's Singapore Grand Prix, is a particular favourite.

Räikkönen was Lotus's sole points scorer on Sunday, with regular French team mate Romain Grosjean banned for the race after causing a pile-up at the start in Belgium and replaced by Belgian reserve Jerome D'Ambrosio.

D'Ambrosio's hopes were hit by a KERS problem, a big blow at a track like Monza, and Grosjean will be back for Singapore champing at the bit but with a lesson learned after a weekend spent watching and listening from the garages.

"I think he learned a lot because being in your car you have only one radio in your head, when you are sitting in the garage you have both cars and you can learn a lot," said Boullier.

"I think he is extremely eager (to return)."

Source: Reuters Sports

Kimi Räikkönen wishes Robert Kubica good luck in his comeback

Robert Kubica's budding comeback to motosport a year and a half after his accident made Kimi Räikkönen wish him good luck

- It's great to hear that he already feels better. That [accident] was an unfortunate event and he was unlucky. It's marvellous that he can race again and I wish he does well, Räikkönen said in ORF:s interview in Monza.

When asked if the driver is more important in rally than in F1, Räikkönen replied cautiously yes.

- It's a completely different sport and of course you have to have a good car, but the dudes are very close to each other. After a 40-kilometer stint they can be one second apart from each other.

- So if you don't have a good car, then you don't have any chances either, but in some circumstances the driver can make a bigger difference in rally than in F1. It's a real sport, funny and challenging.

Kubica's first comeback-rally went better than expected, since he won the Ronde Gomitolo di Lana -rally in Italy on Sunday.

Source: SuomiF1
Courtesy: Nicole

Kimi Räikkönen and former F1-driver suspect cheating - we were quite certain that he cheated

Kimi Räikkönen's McLaren-teammate Pedro de la Rosa may have cut corners in Jerez in the past during testing to get the fastest times in his names, Austrian ORF tv-channel's F1-expert and former F1-driver Alex Wurz believes.

ORF:s reporter snatched Räikkönen into an interview during Monza GP -weekend and asked on behalf of Wurz the following: “Did you ever find out if de la Rosa was in the habit of cutting the chicane in Jerez in order to get the fastest time?”

- Yeah, we often joked about it, because he was always very fast there, Räikkönen laughed in the interview.

- We were quite sure about it with Alex that [de la Rosa] cheated there in tests, although we don't have any proof of the matter.

Source: SuomiF1
Courtesy: Nicole

Heikki Kulta's Blog: Up to luck

In the WC-battle the most crucial 175 points from seven races are still not given out. Hence it's useless to make any long-term conclusions, because the top leader Fernando Alonso has at the moment 179 points.

Therefore so far only Heikki Kovalainen and a few other drivers have already lost their mathematical chances for the WDC...

I'm writing this on the flight from Milano to Helsinki and from there to Turku. Nearby sits Mika Salo from MTV3, with whom we ended up to the conclusion that the next race on Singapore streets in Marina Bay's night will show what Kimi Räikkönen's Lotus really can do.

– Lotus was still the fastest car in July's races. After the break it hasn't gone anywhere in Belgium and Italy. I wonder if they have fallen off the wagon in Enstone factory since other top teams have been busy in their own development work? Salo wondered.

– Spa and Monza are of course special tracks in every sense, hence the more realistic picture of Lotus-car's speed can only be seen in Singapore, which is a downforce-track and where they again drive with softer compounds, which have been more successful for Lotus.

– But at this exact moment it looks like Fernando Alonso will take the WDC. If they had a defense-strategy in Belgium, then in Monza again the Ferrari attacked at full blast, Salo thinks.

I asked after the race on Monza paddock about the sceneries for the WC-battle and about Kimi Räikkönen's chances to come with a super-surprise.

Eric Boullier stated that they knew Monza would be extremely difficult, but that all the remaining tracks would surely be more favorable for E20-car.

– Kimi does have a chance to win this WDC but it's going to be difficult. We will return back to better positions in Singapore. Here in Monza we had to sacrifice our qualification result, because we needed more downforce for our setups than some other teams needed, Bouillier thought.

Boullier was of course also speaking on the behalf of his team. But let's take an opinion from a completely opposite side. 

Peter Windsor is a long-time media personality, who has an immense experience from all F1-works - and who at times has a very critical point of view. 

How will it go in this WC-battle?

– I wouldn't want to sound arrogant, but I predicted already before the first test that Alonso will be WDC and Lewis Hamilton will be his toughest contender. I have at no point changed my opinion. I knew after last season that with the new regulations this will become a very tough and even WC-battle. Back then I believed that Alonso would be in the best position to get the best out of his team and car.

– Of course I can see that Ferrari isn't that great car, but it's good enough for Fernando to win the WDC. Hamilton is a spectacular driver and McLaren is at the moment the strongest car, but just like Mark Webber couldn't take points from Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button also takes points from Hamilton. That's why his chances against Alonso aren't so good.

– I think that during a season like this a fast teammate is really not of any use when every point counts. Felipe Massa is in that sense a brilliant teammate for Fernando, Windsor sums up.

Then what about Räikkönen's chances - he is third isn't he?

– Although I appreciate Finns and although Leo Kinnunen is my eternal idol, I have at no stage seen Kimi as a strong WDC-candidate. He might win some race during the endseason, but a lot would have to go wrong for these other top drivers for him to become a champion.

– This isn't because I wouldn't respect the team, the elements there just aren't top class. And innermost I don't see Kimi as fast as he was when he destroyed Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren. Although I still love to watch Kimi racing I still don't think he is as fast as he was especially at McLaren, not even as fast as he was when leaving Ferrari.

Michael Schmidt from Auto, Motor und Sport also thinks that Alonso will take his third WDC. Monza changed the settings so that now Ferrari has to now be more alert when it comes to McLaren instead of Red Bull.

– McLaren is at this stage the measure stick for everything. They won three races from pole in a row on completely different tracks with their car. No other team has this season won three races in a row. If Hamilton can drive safely to the end, then Alonso will have a really hard time.

– I guess that this championship will be decided in the very last race.

– Lotus scores points every time, Kimi is the most reliable driver in this serie, but unfortunately the car is too slow. The same tune will continue on the next tracks also, Schmidt thinks.

Martin Brundle from Sky Sports joked if I want him to claim that Kimi is no good or that he will make a sensation.

– Realistically it looks like Alonso has the best assets when going to long distance races whereas those behind him driving for victories are possibly Vettel, possibly Hamilton, possibly Button, possibly Webber, possibly Kimi, possibly Sauber. The scores will get mixed up conveniently and when Fernando like this starts from 10th grid, doesn't drive any super-race - more like a very normal race - comes in 3rd and at the same time grows the score-gap to the next battle. Hey, that's just the luck that a champion needs!

– Kimi is doing a good work. But in order to win the WDC he needs victories, Brundle emphasizes.

Courtesy: Nicole

Video: Sky Sports - Italian GP - Kimi - Car performed to the max

Lotus' Kimi Räikkönen believes he and the team performed to the max at the Italian Grand Prix - The Finn moves into third position in the World Championship standings



Source:  SixtySixBucks

Räikkönen's contracts performance level clauses have been exceeded

Gerard Lopez is very calm about the rumors which are taking Kimi back to Ferrari or McLaren.

What is Räikkönen's future in Lotus like?

- Kimi is with us at least on a short-term range. We have a contract which is based upon performance level and we have exceeded it, Lopez tells Turun Sanomat.

– And we never keep anyone by force if they don't want to be with us. Kimi wants to be with us and so does Romain Grosjean – and we are satisfied with them.

Did the rumors about other teams' interest in Räikkönen come as a surprise?

- No. This is F1. Sometimes rumors are true, sometimes they are just made up although they aren't based on anything.

Do Räikkönen's and Grosjean's contracts need to be confirmed officially?

– It is official when it is announced. We think that they are already official and when we present the car, we also present the drivers.

The new E21 -car is presented when winter tests begin. Räikkönen hasn't yet signed the contract, because the option closes at the end of September. Hence there is more than enough to be polished in it. In F1 even the concept of 'certain' is a variable concept.

Car 2013 is also strong 

The most important thing for the drivers is that next year's Lotus is also competitive. Does the long WC-battle affect the striking ability of next year's car?

– We have a good understanding of our car. When you look at the most successful team in the past years, Red Bull, you can see that they don't either make any big changes into their car. They have a good basis and they develop it with patience.

– Now we also have a good basis. We aren't going to make any revolutionary car for next year. We make it a car that works a little bit better than this current one does.

– There aren't any big changes in regulations for season 2013 when we continue with the same engine for example etc., Lopez reminds.

Turun Sanomat, Monza

Courtesy: Nicole

Video: Sky Sports - Italian GP - Parade lap with Fernando Alonso

Source: SixtySixBucks

Räikkönen disappointed in loosing to Alonso - "not a complete catastrophe"

Kimi's comments:

- Alonso, who is leading the series, got more points than us. That is never a good thing. It doesn't matter if you're second, third or fourth if the top guy runs away in points, Räikkönen said to MTV3.

- Not the easiest weekend, but at least we got something done so that it didn't turn out a complete catastrophe, Kimi continued.

- Our pace just isn't enough in the straights. I couldn't compete against them. I had to try to do only one stop. We barely were able to keep the fifth spot. It was a relatively difficult weekend, but the main thing is that we got some points and we didn't lose that much points against Alonso, Räikkönen said.

The topspeed-tracks Spa and Monza are now over. Räikkönen hopes that the tracks in the rest of the season are better for the Lotus-car.

- They are more normal tracks. I hope that our cars would work better in them or otherwise we don't have chances of any kind.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Leijona

Alonso: Nothing to say about Seb

Fernando Alonso has refused to slam Sebastian Vettel after their on-track tussle damaged his F2012 in Sunday's Italian GP

Fighting over fourth place around the Monza circuit, Alonso was stuck behind Vettel despite appearing to have the faster car.

The Spaniard tried several times to look up the inside or around the outside before finally opting for the latter at the Curva Grande.

But instead of taking fourth, Alonso got a face full of dirt as Vettel pushed him wide and off the track.

Telling his Ferrari mechanics that "that's enough," Alonso overtook Vettel two laps later at the same spot while Vettel was then called into the pits for a drive-through penalty.

Asked about the incident, Alonso said: "Nothing really to say."

"I lost 10 laps behind him, after the incident, and for sure the car is damaged because at 330km/h you are jumping on the gravel so I don't think the floor and everything will be fine after those jumps."

Alonso, who had started tenth after car troubles in Saturday's qualifying, went on to finish in third place having been overtaken by Sergio Perez in the final ten laps.

"It was a difficult race starting from 10th but we knew we had possibly the quickest car this weekend," said the Spaniard.

"We had the pace to recover the position so it was a good result for us."

Alonso's 15 points mean he now holds a 37-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton with seven races remaining.

Source: Planet-F1

Hamilton: Little by little I'm closing in

Lewis Hamilton was never concerned about Sergio Perez pipping him to the win as his claimed his maiden Italian GP crown on Sunday

Putting all the off-track rumours pending him, Hamilton did his talking out on track at Monza this weekend taking pole position in qualifying and following that up with an a smooth victory.

Hamilton led from start to finish, only relinquishing the lead to Sergio Perez when he came in for his only pit stop of the day.

However, it wasn't long before Hamilton was back in front of the Sauber driver, who was a late stopper and put in a massive charge in the final ten laps to move up to second, overtaking both Ferraris.

Asked if he was concerned about Perez's late pace, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: "I wasn't.

"I had a 14-second gap I think it was - a 14.5-second gap - and he was catching a second a lap at the time I was cruising.

"I tried to just balance that out over the eight laps or so I had left, then he started getting a little bit closer so I switched it on a bit and minimised the amount he was catching me."

Sunday's victory was McLaren's third successive triumph with Hamilton also winning in Germany while Jenson Button took the chequered flag at Spa.

Hamilton, though, is the first to admit that the job is not yet done despite praising his McLaren team for their recent improvements.

"It's incredibly close between us and the Ferraris, and obviously the Saubers were incredibly quick this weekend, but we've done a fantastic job.

"We came with a really good package for the last couple of races and it's been a shame I have not got the maximum I needed to get from the performance that we've had for the last few races.

"But obviously to have two wins in the last three grands prix is good and I hope that we can continue with that pace."

His latest triumph elevated the McLaren driver to second in the Drivers' Championship where he now trails Alonso by just 37 points.

"The gap's been quite big - 40-something points for a while - and the pressure's on in the team and the Championship to close that little by little," he said.

"When I heard that Fernando was second I thought 'how did he get from 10th to second?'

"But then I heard Sergio had passed him and I thought that's good. I was hoping that someone else got past him but nonetheless we still got good results."

Source: Planet-F1

Italian GP: Hamilton Claims First Monza Win

Lewis Hamilton led from lights to flag as he dominanted the Italian GP, taking an easy win ahead of the late-stopping Sergio Perez

Hamilton got off the perfect start especially as Felipe Massa took second, putting a buffer between Hamilton and his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button. Button's challenge ended on lap 34 when he parked his McLaren on the side of the track with a suspected fuel pick-up problem.

Button's demise freed up the Ferraris with first Massa and then Fernando Alonso leading their charge. However, the Ferrari drivers were quickly picked off by Sergio Perez as the late-stopping Sauber driver took first Massa and then Alonso as he put his much-fresher Pirellis too good use.

Perez, though, didn't have enough laps to catch Hamilton as, despite being a second per lap quicker, he was 11s behind when he climbed to second place.

Hamilton eventually crossed the line 4.3s in front of the Mexican driver, taking his third win of the season and the much-needed 25 points.

Alonso completed the podium, bagging another 15 points towards his Championship lead, which increased to 37 points over Hamilton and an additional one ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and two ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

The Red Bull racer had a difficult day as he was slapped with a drive-through penalty for pushing Alonso off the track at the Curva Grande and then broken down five laps from the end. He stopped on the side of the track after being told quite frantically to "stop the car, we need to save the engine."

Massa was fourth ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Mark Webber was a late retirement, pulling into the pits on the penultimate lap, elevating Paul di Resta to eight.

Race Results

01. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h19:41.221
02. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 4.356
03. Alonso Ferrari + 20.594
04. Massa Ferrari + 29.667
05. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 30.881
06. Schumacher Mercedes + 31.259
07. Rosberg Mercedes + 33.550
08. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 41.057
09. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 43.898
11. Senna Williams-Renault + 48.144
12. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 48.682
10. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 50.316
13. d'Ambrosio Lotus-Renault + 1:15.861
14. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
15. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
16. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
17. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap
20. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 2 laps
21. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 3 laps
22. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 6 laps


Did Not Finish
Button McLaren-Mercedes 32
Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 8

Source: Planet-F1

Räikkönen lost the highest top speed

After qualification Räikkönen seemed to be more pissed than usually. 

Why didn't the speed on the straight reflect as top times in the temple of speed, Monza?

– Our top speed is okay here, but some cars find their top speed faster than we do. After that it doesn't mean a thing even if we had a 20 km/hour better top speed than earlier when we still can't get one lap faster, Räikkönen grunted.

– Here we would have needed either Merc's of Ferrari's engine.

Alonso's problems in a bad time

Räikkönen's strategy to drive only one time in Q3 didn't fall in place due to the stabilizer-problems Fernando Alonso suffered from. Kimi wasn't aware of that and of course he was bugged when the lap suffered because of Ferrari.

– I don't know what it was with Alonso, but all of a sudden he didn't go as fast as he did in the beginning. I got too close to him in the last corner. Then again I wouldn't have been able to go much faster anyway, Räikkönen thought.

According to Mark Slade Kimi lost about 0,15 seconds due to Alonso which would have been enough for the 5th grid.

- We were stuck in the position we have been in all weekend. 6th or 7th. Hopefully we are stronger in the race. Last race showed again that anything can happen, Kimi said.

Because of Paul di Resta Räikkönen climbed up to 7th grid.

What chances do you have?

- I'm not a fortune teller. We see it on Sunday, Räikkönen snapped.

We can expect only one pitstop for nearly everybody. The critical moment is the start, since the first shicanes usually aren't crash-free.

Turun Sanomat, Monza

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

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