SILLY SEASON 2009/2010

From what I've been reading if Kimi were to go on sabbatical he would be looking to take Mark Webber's seat in 2011. Which is interesting seeing as when Kimi still had a contract with Ferrari, Red Bull were only willing to give Mark a 1 year contract so I'm wondering if such a move hasn't been in the planning stages for a while. Can't wait to see the length of the contract if he should join Merc GP, I don't really want to see Mark leave Red Bull, but I would like to see Kimi there.
 
^
I wouldn't mind that Webber/Raikonnen combo too, but I also like the Webber/Vettel combo because it was strong. If RB does go well better next year, do you think they'll try and keep the combo or make some room for Kimi?
 
Another twist:

Raikkonen would consider Mercedes

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, November 19th 2009, 05:58 GMT

Kimi Raikkonen would be willing to consider a race seat at Mercedes Grand Prix next season - but only if the team could convince him it will be good enough to fight for race wins and the world championship.

Raikkonen is currently facing the prospect of taking a sabbatical from Formula 1 next year after he could not reach an agreement with his preferred option McLaren for a drive alongside Lewis Hamilton. With his talks there stalled, McLaren instead completed a deal with Jenson Button.

Although Raikkonen said recently that it was McLaren or nothing for him in F1 next year, Button's shock exit from the former Brawn GP team may have changed the situation.

Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson said on Thursday that although a sabbatical remained the most likely outcome, the 2007 world champion would listen to any offer that Mercedes made if it was interested.

"This is Formula 1. If they can offer, or convince us, that they can provide Kimi an opportunity that Kimi is happy with, and that we are happy with, and he feels he can win races and the championship, then never say never," Robertson told AUTOSPORT about the situation with Mercedes GP. "There is always a possibility."

He added: "There are not that many teams that would appeal to Kimi because he is honest when he says he has got to have a car to win. He is not interested in the money.

"Of course, money is a part of it but he doesn't need the money. He wants a car where he can show his talent. He was very frustrated this year by the fact that he could not win more races and challenge for the championship.

"When you have been in F1 for nine years and been a world champion then you need challenges ? and for Kimi the challenge is to win championships and races."

Robertson said that Raikkonen had the desire to compete at the top level in F1 and that even if he went off and did rallying for a year, he would definitely work hard to find a seat with a front-running F1 team for 2011.

When asked if Raikkonen had the hunger to get back into F1, Robertson said: "Yes. As far as Kimi is concerned he has unfinished business - if the opportunity is there to win races and another championship. That is his main goal.

"Now it looks like he is not doing F1 we will look at other options. Rallying, or something else ? but there is nothing firmed up in that area yet because F1 has only just finished for us in the last few days. Now it is the time to discuss other things."
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80215
 
To be honest, I'd rather have him do rallying and let some other people win some World Championships for once.
 
I'll still bet on Mika, not Kimi for the Mercedes seat. No one (except for the german tabloids and some Nazis in a beer hall) wants a all-german no-GP-win driver lineup at Mercedes. This includes Ross Brawn and all the enigneers and pit crew at MercGP... you got to keep their motivation up, too.
 
Sir Stiggington said:
I do agree that from Jenson's point of view it isn't a very smart thing to do (unless he truly believes he's quicker than Lewis). But for McLaren, it's really perfect, so I'm ecstatic...
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I'm looking forward too to the MP4-25 and both champions wiping the floor.

That said, I wanna see how Ferrari and MGP and RBR cope.
 
You think it could be a repeat of 1988, where Mclaren took al wins bar monza, and even that one would have been a Mclaren win, if Senna wouldn't have been taken out by a backmarker?
 
^ I'd be surprised if one team was overly dominant this year. The rules changes this year meant we'd often see the top 10 in practice and qualifying separated by < 1 second. The rules are essentially the same for 2010. Sure the big names have had time to get their shit together and learn the rules properly this time around, but I just don't see the scope for there to be another Brawn-style breakaway at any stage of the season, let alone any team winning 18/19 races.
 
nicjasno said:
You think it could be a repeat of 1988, where Mclaren took al wins bar monza, and even that one would have been a Mclaren win, if Senna wouldn't have been taken out by a backmarker?
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I think things way too close now for anything like that to happen, but if McLaren make a car on the same pace as their nearest rival, they're fine, as the have the best driver line-up. Same goes for Ferrari to an extent.
 
Sir Stiggington said:
I think things way too close now for anything like that to happen, but if McLaren make a car on the same pace as their nearest rival, they're fine, as the have the best driver line-up. Same goes for Ferrari to an extent.
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I doubt Massa would be able to beat Alonso, I seriously doubt it. The McLaren boys have more of a chance to be honest. Button+hamilton should be a solid strong line-up, McLaren pretty much got half the championship in the bag already.
 
Kimi Confirms he will not race in 2010, despite Robertsons comments. He will only be returning to Formula One should a competitive car be at his disposal in 2011.

The Espoo man also feels that, contrary to the feelings of Manager Steve Robertson, a place at the Mercedes (n?e Brawn) team is no alternative. "I have not held talks with Brawn," he revealed. "I feel they will run two German drivers next year, now that Mercedes are involved."
"As I said, I will only return in 2011 if I can drive a competitive car," the 2007 Champion reiterated. "I do not want to race just to make up the numbers, that doesn't interest me, but there's a lot of time until then so let's wait and see what happens in the months ahead."
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Brawn will not release Button early

By Edd Straw Thursday, November 19th 2009, 15:19 GMT

Jenson ButtonJenson Button will be blocked from doing any work for his new team McLaren before the end of the year by his current employer Brawn, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The Mercedes-Benz owned team has Button under contract to the end of 2009, and although in similar cases squads have sometimes released departing drivers to their new teams early by mutual consent, his current employer has no intention of doing so.

Button's current contract expires on December 31, and although he will be free to work with McLaren once that date has passed, Brawn will be "rigorously enforcing" his contract until that time.

"Jenson will not be doing anything at all for McLaren until the end of this calendar year," Brawn chief executive officer Nick Fry told AUTOSPORT. "And if he does, we will be looking on it very dimly.

"He didn't have any obligations to us for 2010, but there are issues with regards to the signing process on which we are in discussion with him at the moment.

"There are clear constraints on what Jenson can do between now and the end of the year, which we will be rigorously enforcing."

Button signed a three-year contract with the defunct Honda team during the 2008 season that tied him to the team until 2011, but when the outfit was reformed as Brawn he signed a new deal for only the 2009 season.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80229

Someone is PISSED.
 
Christ I wonder if it's Ross or Ze Germans that are enforcing that contract and furthermore, looking into the signing process...This is totally out of spite, either by Ross for leaving him after making Button a world champion (I can very much understand that) or by Mercedes, I dunno how it all ended between them and Mclaren but I'm willing to bet it did not go down nicely.

On a side note I'd just like to say I think Jenson is an ass hole for leaving Brawn GP so late into the silly season and leaving them hanging with almost no option for a top driver. I think Ross and the rest of the team deserve more than that from him and he deserves whatever they manage to impose on him. I understand the will to go to an all UK team but there's this thing called loyalty, Button should look into it. (this from a Button fan...at least up to this saga, we'll see what happens from now on).
 
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David Coulthard has rubbished reports his friend John Button will be unable to thrive alongside fellow British world champion F1 father Anthony Hamilton at McLaren.

In the wake of Wednesday's announcement, some pundits claim that Hamilton is so ensconced at the Woking-based team and one of F1's most highly rated F1 fathers, Button will comparatively struggle.

Former team owner turned BBC pundit Eddie Jordan, however, believes Button faces a tough challenge for his championship year.

"Anthony is a tough customer and he will be looking for absolutely the best for that side of the camp," he told the Sun. "John will need to play all his cards very well."

Let the battle of the fathers commence!
 
According to Helsingin Sanomat, one of the largest finnish newspapers, Kimi's managers are still in negotiations with mercedes.
 
Red_Bull said:
David Coulthard has rubbished reports his friend John Button will be unable to thrive alongside fellow British world champion F1 father Anthony Hamilton at McLaren.

In the wake of Wednesday's announcement, some pundits claim that Hamilton is so ensconced at the Woking-based team and one of F1's most highly rated F1 fathers, Button will comparatively struggle.

Former team owner turned BBC pundit Eddie Jordan, however, believes Button faces a tough challenge for his championship year.

"Anthony is a tough customer and he will be looking for absolutely the best for that side of the camp," he told the Sun. "John will need to play all his cards very well."

Let the battle of the fathers commence!
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Pink shirts VS black tops.
 
nicjasno said:
You think it could be a repeat of 1988, where Mclaren took al wins bar monza, and even that one would have been a Mclaren win, if Senna wouldn't have been taken out by a backmarker?
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Anyone have footage from that race, I had never seen it (What with the race being held a few months before I was born and all.)
 
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