Where is Kimi racing next year?

[WhiteBlue]

I think that the Brawns will be pretty good next year as well. They seem to be set for Merc works team 2012 and there are claims that they have secured substantial sponsorship. It may not be on a level of Ferrari or McLaren, but McLaren are also likely to loose a lot of cash flow from Merc under the new strategic situation.

Kimi will either go ralleying or back to McLaren. There is not much more in terms of options if he wants to race in a top team in F1. Brawn would be too much of a gamble and he doesn't know Ross personally from previous experience. Toyota cannot really be an option. Howett is probably telling bull manure as usual.

[noname]

What's more concerning is how much of a budget they have for next year, and how will that affect Brawn's car next year? Surely they will not be able to keep up with the top teams in development money and pace.

yes, but there is also question mark over their abilities to work under much tighter deadlines. apart from having huge money from Honda they had a lot of time (they've decided to focus on 2009 car at the beginning of 2008). this year they are involved in the battle for the crowns right to the end.

of course there will not be as radical rule changes between 2009 and 2010 as it was the case from last year to 2009 but team was reorganized and is much smaller than it was.

nevertheless, I'll keep the fingers crossed for them. seems like 2009 was a little bit bumpy ride for them but they were able to stay on track.

[Richard]

At one point this weekend I saw him say on camera that he's done what he wanted to do, so time to try something different. I couldn't figure out if he was talking about F1 or Ferrari.

[ds.raikkonen]

I couldn't figure out if he was talking about F1 or Ferrari.

He always said that he wanted a World title, and got it. I think its F1.

[Richard]

I couldn't figure out if he was talking about F1 or Ferrari.

He always said that he wanted a World title, and got it. I think its F1.

I tend to agree. I now recall it was when he said he'd done all he wanted to do. It was the "all" that made me think he was on his way out of F1... or did I imagine it?

It would be interesting if his pay off from Ferrari includes a ban on him driving in F1 next year? You can imagine "OK Kimi, we admit you are entitled to claim your full F1 salary from us, stay on as a consultant and we'll pay you the full whack, saves complicated legal hassle. Of course if you stay on as consultant then there's no need to find another F1 team. Remember how a sabbatical did wonders for Miki and Ayrton, it'll do you good too."

[ds.raikkonen]

It would be interesting if his pay off from Ferrari includes a ban on him driving in F1 next year? You can imagine "OK Kimi, we admit you are entitled to claim your full F1 salary from us, stay on as a consultant and we'll pay you the full whack, saves complicated legal hassle. Of course if you stay on as consultant then there's no need to find another F1 team. Remember how a sabbatical did wonders for Miki and Ayrton, it'll do you good too."

I cant imagine Kimster being there, but not racing. He s just not used to `consulting' and and being a `test driver' and Ill bet any money that he would want to race next year. Somehow, I can't imagine the grid without the `iceman'. Some people say that the only wall between him and McMerc is the Hamilton family, coz they dont want anybody to outshine their precious Lewis, obviously.

[xpensive]

I seem to remember that under EU-law, you can actually force someone to take a "gardening leave" if there's a non-competition clause in the contract, provided you pay his/hers salary to the full.

Typically happens to top-designers and the like, Mike Gascoyne being an xample.

[ISLAMATRON]

It would be interesting if his pay off from Ferrari includes a ban on him driving in F1 next year? You can imagine "OK Kimi, we admit you are entitled to claim your full F1 salary from us, stay on as a consultant and we'll pay you the full whack, saves complicated legal hassle. Of course if you stay on as consultant then there's no need to find another F1 team. Remember how a sabbatical did wonders for Miki and Ayrton, it'll do you good too."

I cant imagine Kimster being there, but not racing. He s just not used to `consulting' and and being a `test driver' and Ill bet any money that he would want to race next year. Somehow, I can't imagine the grid without the `iceman'. Some people say that the only wall between him and McMerc is the Hamilton family, coz they dont want anybody to outshine their precious Lewis, obviously.

No, it is not "some people" it is in fact you saying it... provide proof or source please.

And for richard... when did Senna take a sabatical?

[modbaraban]

It would be interesting if his pay off from Ferrari includes a ban on him driving in F1 next year? You can imagine "OK Kimi, we admit you are entitled to claim your full F1 salary from us, stay on as a consultant and we'll pay you the full whack, saves complicated legal hassle. Of course if you stay on as consultant then there's no need to find another F1 team. Remember how a sabbatical did wonders for Miki and Ayrton, it'll do you good too."

Then he would've just announced retirement (or sabbatical) immediately, if he does that later, it would look like failure to find a decent seat.

[Richard]

Or it would be more like the failure of a team to be sufficiently enticing?

[ringo]

Kimi could be waiting for Ferrari to lobby the 3 car per team accommodation to be put in the regulations.

About the Hamilton family preventing him from joining Mclaren; that is just baseless and an attempt to demonize them. His dad has no say whatsoever in deciding who gets the second seat; after all he is not relevant to the team.
His dad was around when Alonso was his team mate, and there wasn't even a peep coming from him about Alonso being just as good, contrary to that it was Alonso doing all the squealing. I thing daddy Hamilton doesn't care who His son's team mate is; a 30 year old Kimi should be the least of his worries too.
Kimi is probably the one worrying if he can win another championship with having Hamilton as a team mate. Rosberg was scared off to Brawn for the same reasons. No one wants to tango with the BOSS.

[segedunum]

apart from having huge money from Honda they had a lot of time (they've decided to focus on 2009 car at the beginning of 2008). this year they are involved in the battle for the crowns right to the end.

Remember that the regulation changes from last year to this were quite large to the point where it was sensible to start development on a new car as early as possible. This season into next, although we have no refuelling that will affect the characteristics of the cars, in other respects the regulations are the same. It's possible to carry over what's good about this year's car into next year, and perhaps use the last few races as a limited testbed especially with the lack of testing. That's why I wouldn't be keen on Ferrari's decision to totally give up on this year's car and develop the new on in isolation.

I think the Brawn, given its characteristics this year, will be fine next year. They might even be better.

[segedunum]

It would be interesting if his pay off from Ferrari includes a ban on him driving in F1 next year?

I very much doubt it. Ferrari wanted Santander as a sponsor yesterday, Alonso came as part of the package, they wanted them in as soon as possible, they had to smooth Raikkonen's exit as much as possible and Raikkonen probably came to the conclusion that he didn't want to be around that atmosphere and maybe even felt he had a better chance of winning elsewhere.

There would be far too much goodwill from Ferrari in order to butter Raikkonen up for his exit (note that they won't say a bad word about him) for them to throw in a non-competition clause, and Raikkonen's advisors are far too wily for that anyway.

[segedunum]

Duplicate.

[ds.raikkonen]

There would be far too much goodwill from Ferrari in order to butter Raikkonen up for his exit (note that they won't say a bad word about him) for them to throw in a non-competition clause, and Raikkonen's advisors are far too wily for that anyway.

Yeah, Stefano Domenicali said that "You ll never hear me saying anything negative about Kimi, because he s a great driver."
What if Ferrari actually hate doing all this, removing Kimi due to Santander's demands