The Raikkonen Report

[kfzmeister]

Give Kimi Webber's seat!

Nooooooooooo!!!
Lotus might have a faster car this year.

[Mk1Racer]

Nooooooooooo!!!
Lotus might have a faster car this year.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

I will say this, the Lotus certainly looks like the best staring car on the grid. The jumps that Grosjean has gotten, and how much more speed he has than anyone else, have been impressive.

[kfzmeister]

Give Kimi Webber's seat!

I'm thinking that Kimi's got a pretty good gig!

...The MAN OF THE RACE goes to Kimi Raikkonen. Sebastian Vettel was dusting off the old finger when he looked in his mirrors and saw his next door neighbour chasing him down in a pretend Lotus. Considering he's spent the last two years driving a Citroen into a tree, his performance was nothing short of sensational.

LMAO

[J-Tim]

Considering he's spent the last two years driving a Citroen into a tree, his performance was nothing short of sensational.

[jsmyle1%...]

I'm thinking that Kimi's got a pretty good gig!



LMAO

I'm not gonna lie. I am actually rooting for Mr. Personality....Definitely more so than Mr. Monobrow. But given the choice of you and the Tifosi (Mr. Soon-to-be-unempoyed included) vs. "thahskeeter" and Mr. One-in-the-stink, I'd rather swing the red nuts!!!

[Kidstar]

I'm not gonna lie. I am actually rooting for Mr. Personality....Definitely more so than Mr. Monobrow. But given the choice of you and the Tifosi (Mr. Soon-to-be-unempoyed included) vs. "thahskeeter" and Mr. One-in-the-stink, I'd rather swing the red nuts!!!

Coffee meet keyboard!

[J-Tim]

I'm not gonna lie. I am actually rooting for Mr. Personality....Definitely more so than Mr. Monobrow. But given the choice of you and the Tifosi (Mr. Soon-to-be-unempoyed included) vs. "thahskeeter" and Mr. One-in-the-stink, I'd rather swing the red nuts!!!

I've said this before and I'll say it again, the only way to get Italians focused on something besides admiring themselves is to get Germans involved.

[dubsix]

I think the one most bothered by Kimi's comeback is MS, I mean how bad does this make MS comeback look..lol. Laidback easy going Kimi bags 2nd step back from 11th on the grid in only 4 outing, ouch, even a icecream on a stick can't ease that pain for MS.

[24vEngineer]

I think the one most bothered by Kimi's comeback is MS, I mean how bad does this make MS comeback look..lol. Laidback easy going Kimi bags 2nd step back from 11th on the grid in only 4 outing, ouch, even a icecream on a stick can't ease that pain for MS.

See the problem is Ms doesn't have any driving assist's to help him win, while on the other hand Kimi has genuine talent that has taken him to the podium.

[kfzmeister]

See the problem is Ms doesn't have any driving assist's to help him win, while on the other hand Kimi has genuine talent that has taken him to the podium.

I think he manages the tires better and has a really, really good car. Besides, he's about 10 years younger than Schumi....

I agree, Schumacher's lashing out probably comes after Raikkonen had such a great outing!

[jsmyle1%...]

See the problem is Ms doesn't have any driving assist's to help him win, while on the other hand Kimi has genuine talent that has taken him to the podium.

Ouch!!!

[GTIVRSEX2]

I think he manages the tires better and has a really, really good car. Besides, he's about 10 years younger than Schumi....

I agree, Schumacher's lashing out probably comes after Raikkonen had such a great outing!

On Michael defense, his car has been a dog the last two years as evidence by Rosberg too... This year Michael has qualified 2, 3, and 4 but has suffer from mechanical and bad luck in the race(including a Renault driver putting him). Comparing Kimi to Michael is He started 22 and finished 10th. Kimi Started 11 and finish second were is the big difference?

[J-Tim]

On Michael defense, his car has been a dog the last two years as evidence by Rosberg too... This year Michael has qualified 2, 3, and 4 but has suffer from mechanical and bad luck in the race(including a Renault driver putting him). Comparing Kimi to Michael is He started 22 and finished 10th. Kimi Started 11 and finish second were is the big difference?

Agreed. Again, not a fan of Schumacher but he really hasn't had a proper chance to show what he is capable of.

In a way, Kimi was lucky that he's got a good car this year, otherwise he'd be a laughing stock.

[dubsix]

MS lashes out at Pirelli because they won't make custom one off tires for him like Bridgestone did.

[J-Tim]

MS lashes out at Pirelli because they won't make custom one off tires for him like Bridgestone did.

No, he is just entered dark ages of being menopausal .

[kfzmeister]

He (Michael) started 22 and finished 10th. Kimi Started 11 and finish second were is the big difference?

The difference is Kimi 2nd and Schumi 10th!!!!

Seriously though, the only comparison between those two is how well they've done since their comeback. I already said that Kimi got lucky with a good car. I'm suggesting that Schumacher is pissed because Kimi just about won a race and therefore lashed out at Pirelli.

Can't wait for the Iceman's first win!!

[kfzmeister]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that Kimi could be World Champion this year!!!!

[GTIVRSEX2]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that Kimi could be World Champion this year!!!!

It will be good to see a Vettel and Kimi fight, since Hamilton is driving like a woman now!

[atoson]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that Kimi could be World Champion this year!!!!

Not a bad thought, very possible!

[24vEngineer]

Not a bad thought, very possible!

That would be awesome! But how would nick deal with the defeat of his manlove Vettel?

[kfzmeister]

A nice comparison between Vettel and Kimi during the Bahrain GP...

http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/20...ckered+Flag%29

[Sono Qui]

If Lotus comes back from testing just as strong, I do think Kimi has a chance. He clearly has the skill and the car to get wins, all he needs is to get his consistency back and he'll be set.

[GTIVRSEX2]

If Lotus comes back from testing just as strong, I do think Kimi has a chance. He clearly has the skill and the car to get wins, all he needs is to get his consistency back and he'll be set.

Kimi needs to up his qualifing performence to have a good chance at the race.

[kfzmeister]

Kimi needs to up his qualifing performence to have a good chance at the race.

I say he can only get better with each race.

[DubbyDriver]

I agree that qualifying should be #1 on his agenda. It is also the most demanding from a reaction time perspective, and as such will require the most time to reacquire if it ever comes back completely.

[Kidstar]

I dont see the big whoop... I mean MS vs Kimi... That's like discussing Magic vs Tony Parker....

[moose82]

A nice comparison between Vettel and Kimi during the Bahrain GP...

http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/20...ckered+Flag%29

Cool article. Thanks for posting this. I didn't realize Kimi was faster than Seb for so many laps. I can't wait to see him win a race. I love listening to his interviews

[vdubjb]

http://jalopnik.com/5905421/watch-ki...zed-by-the-fbi great friend.

[kfzmeister]

Classic Kimi!

"I'm only here for racing. All the other bulls**t I can do without"

[kfzmeister]

.....it emerged this week that, just before Grosjean was passed by Raikkonen, the French driver was told on the radio: "Kimi is faster than you.

"Do not hold him up," the radio message, broadcasted for the first time by F1's official website this week, ended.

Onboard footage of the move also showed Raikkonen briefly waving to his teammate as he completed the easy pass, ostensibly to thank him.

Smedley now working two part-time jobs??

[kfzmeister]

...Veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit wrote in Blick newspaper: "Lotus, with Kimi Raikkonen in super shape, is the championship dark horse."

Were quoted also as fastest at Mugello this week.

[kfzmeister]

I'm thinking that Kimi is close to victory. I recently read that James Allen predicts either Hamilton or Kimi to win at Monaco.
Considering how the forces have been working against McLaren this year, Kimi winning here is looking rather attractive.

It seems that the team just need to get their tire strategies dialed in a notch better, cause that Lotus impressed again last weekend. To see just how competitive Kimi was, check out Alan Permane's comments:

It is worth noting that Lotus set the fastest lap in the race. A WHOLE second faster than the nearest car!!

Hi James,

Your usually excellent analysis is somewhat flawed here. If you look closer at the 2nd and 3rd stints for KR you will see that the 2nd stint laptimes are significantly quicker (fuel corrected). New primes were fitted for the 3rd stint as I wanted to push longer to give a short 4th stint. In hindsight it could have been better to run softs for this final stint but then wear may have been as issue.

We didn’t win because ultimately we weren’t quick enough but hopefully it won’t be long!!

All the best and see you in Monaco

Cheers

Alan.

[gizmopop]

Considering how the forces have been working against McLaren this year, Kimi winning here is looking rather attractive.

Seriously. Mclaren needs to hire someone to lift the curse that is currently burdening them.
Hamilton has had the pace to qualify on the front row of every race this season so far, @ China he was docked 5 places (dropped to 7th) for the gearbox change, and sent to start from the back row in Spain for fuel issues.

Kimi will win one this season (if not more).

[Uk in NY]

As long as Lotus can continue to develop the car, the WDC this year will come down to Kimi and Hamilton.

Anyone for a wet race in Spa between the two of them? again!

[kfzmeister]

As long as Lotus can continue to develop the car, the WDC this year will come down to Kimi and Alonso.

Anyone for a wet race in Spa between the two of them?

Hmmm, yeah....you could be right.

I thought i'd get this thread up again, since we're probably in for a good showing at SPA, or...Kimi's living room.
The super duct is debuting on the Lotus, which should be awesome for the long straight. Can you say: "Kimi snags Fisi"??
Here's to Kimi's comeback win and to continuing his impressive showing this year.