What did you think to Kimi Raikkonen?

Raven · 3 Mar 2002, 16:51 (Ref:226944)

I have to say watching him drive made me miss Mika Hakkinen an awful lot. I think he showed a lot of potential setting the fastest lap, but made a few silly mistakes as well that he was lucky to get away with.

Damon · 3 Mar 2002, 17:04 (Ref:226956)

I don't know if he was nervous or what but he seemed to have no fight or will to go for a very acheiveable second place. He also made numerous rookie errors, as you say Ravan, which he was lucky to get away with. He certianly didn't live up to the hype that hakkiman for one has been lauding over us for months.

BBKing · 3 Mar 2002, 17:06 (Ref:226960)

Not bad.

Mania · 3 Mar 2002, 17:12 (Ref:226965)

Raikonnen was allright. He beat DC which is always nice though not particularly difficult.

I think he drove a steady race - lets see what he does next time around though - the Mclaren didnt seem particularly fast either.

J.McClane · 3 Mar 2002, 17:13 (Ref:226967)

Good little driver one to watch

Mania · 3 Mar 2002, 17:19 (Ref:226971)

Speaking of Raikonnen - did anyone catch the drivers press conference. Looks like Kimi needs a stint at joy school

Damon · 3 Mar 2002, 17:25 (Ref:226980)

He's obviuosly been watching Hakkinen's interview technique very closely.

Ralf's Girl · 3 Mar 2002, 18:08 (Ref:227016)

He drove well but he seemed too cautious - I'm sure he could have finished 2nd.

Speedworx · 3 Mar 2002, 18:12 (Ref:227018)

Kimi did what he needed to do. He got the car to the finish and into a podium position. Those 4 points could mean all the difference to the final constructors table.

Yes he made some mistakes, but McLaren have said they expect some bent cars as he learns the car and about running with the leaders. Overall I feel he couldn't have done better in this race.

The_Z_Man · 3 Mar 2002, 18:14 (Ref:227021)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mania
Raikonnen was allright. He beat DC

When ? DC got beat by his McLaren.

Quote:

which is always nice though not particularly difficult.

Not very nice to the drivers that finished behind him in the WDC last year IMO.

Quote:

I think he drove a steady race - lets see what he does next time around though - the Mclaren didnt seem particularly fast either.

The_Z_Man

Raven · 3 Mar 2002, 18:23 (Ref:227029)

Did you guys watching ITV or the world feed know Kimi actually came out of the pits ahead of JPM before he went across the grass? I was watching ITV at lunchtime and they didn't show JPM coming through.

I wouldn't say he was too cautious, or lacked the fighting spirit as he came from 11th to 4th place in about 7 or 8 laps after the first re-start and he did really try to get the advantage over JPM coming out of the pits, but it didn't happen. The car’s set-up obviously wasn’t to its optimum, but he did show a lot of enthusiasm driving the car. A good start, 2nd place was on the table however.

R · 3 Mar 2002, 19:29 (Ref:227096)

Quote:

Originally posted by Raven
Did you guys watching ITV or the world feed know Kimi actually came out of the pits ahead of JPM before he went across the grass? I was watching ITV at lunchtime and they didn't show JPM coming through.

Yes, that's correct. They didn't show it, but Kimi came out ahead of JPM, then he made a mistake (which we saw), allowing JPM past again. We never saw JPM during this sequence of events at all (I heard about the scenario afterwards), and you really have to wonder if the producer was asleep. That being said, this often seems to happen - when a car is exiting the pits, the producer very often miss out on showing us what is happening in relation to the cars he is going to be close to on the exit. I think this is generally a very weak point in the production of F1 races for TV - after all, it is one of the more exciting aspects of the races, where a car places after a pit stop, and whether or not a pit stop strategy will be successful in terms of passing a rival car.

Back to the point of the topic - yes Kimi was good. Not bad, not brilliant, but he made a good debut in his first McLaren race. He could optimally have achieved 2nd place, but did well in the circumstances, I think. But did he ever look (and sound) like a little kid during the press conference!

Mr V · 3 Mar 2002, 19:34 (Ref:227100)

4 points in his first race at mclaren is a very good start, it will give dc something to think about!! what was the point in pushing too much harder and maybe throwing away those precious points??

EERO · 3 Mar 2002, 19:50 (Ref:227113)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mania
Speaking of Raikonnen - did anyone catch the drivers press conference. Looks like Kimi needs a stint at joy school

Mania, he's a Finn!

From what I've observed, for a Suomi, he was positively giddy

I have no doubt that he is fast and has a mature style which belies his youth. However, I have yet to see him challenge anyone on the track, let alone pass anyone.

I think he has promise but isn't there yet.

Glen · 3 Mar 2002, 21:01 (Ref:227198)

Quote:

However, I have yet to see him challenge anyone on the track, let alone pass anyone.

Were you watching the same race?! He was practically last, came in for a new nose and then very briskly worked his way up to the leaders - no simple matter when the leaders were the three WDC favourites.

Frankly I can hardly imagine how he could have done more - ok he might have taken the fight to JPM, but on the other hand he obviously didn't have the basic car speed over the Williams (which I'd guess would be a symptom of not having race experience on the Michelins).

senna12 · 3 Mar 2002, 21:12 (Ref:227209)

I thought it was a pretty good first effort in a Mac. But like EERO, I would like to see him a bit more aggressive.
But on the other hand, he may just have a style that is opposite to that of someone like JP. Kimi is more like an Alain Prost, quick and smooth. The next few races should give us a better indication, but he doesn't seem to be the forceful type. I guess his year in the Ferrari junior squad took an edge off his "me first" attitude!!

ljakse · 3 Mar 2002, 21:13 (Ref:227211)

I think Kimi did a good job for hist race for Macs. Is there anybody who can honestly say that we should have expected more from him?

DarrellB · 3 Mar 2002, 22:20 (Ref:227289)

Kimi's pace seemed to fluctuate throughout the race. He was capable of setting fast times but not consistently like Schuey can when he needs to.

Nice to see another interesting press conference at the end must be something in the water in Finland!

Mania · 3 Mar 2002, 22:33 (Ref:227302)

Quote:

Originally posted by EERO

Mania, he's a Finn!

From what I've observed, for a Suomi, he was positively giddy

I have no doubt that he is fast and has a mature style which belies his youth. However, I have yet to see him challenge anyone on the track, let alone pass anyone.

I think he has promise but isn't there yet.

Well okay so he's a Finn! But Hakkinen could at least crack a joke or two - Kimi looked like he was miserable. I wonder what'll happen when he wins a race. Maybe he'll show us some of his teeth at last !

f1manoz · 3 Mar 2002, 22:35 (Ref:227303)

I'm still far from convinced that he can step into the shoes of 'The Flying Finn' but yesterdays performance was good, but he did make errors that he should have made last year!!

Blowing it coming out of the pits, and letting JPM through, was very silly, but he obviously has permission off RD to blow it a few times....

Speed · 4 Mar 2002, 00:46 (Ref:227412)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mania
Kimi looked like he was miserable.

Exhausted, dehydrated..., it´s normal.

drexel · 4 Mar 2002, 02:43 (Ref:227436)

Kimi only caught up to Juan in the early stages becase JPM was losing time fighting off Schumacher...Once Michael got past, JPM's and Kimi's pace stayed equal... Kimi put in a big effort before the pits but it didn't quite work.

How old is Kimi? How old is JPM, Ralf, DC etc?

Kalevi · 4 Mar 2002, 07:27 (Ref:227501)

Quote:

Originally posted by EERO

Mania, he's a Finn!

From what I've observed, for a Suomi, he was positively giddy

I have no doubt that he is fast and has a mature style which belies his youth. However, I have yet to see him challenge anyone on the track, let alone pass anyone.

I think he has promise but isn't there yet.

I think Kimi drove a very smart race and took the 4 points home. As for passing: actually Kimi overtook more cars that were on the same lap than anyone else.

On what grounds do you Eero base your comments about finns in general, perhaps ignorance?

D.R.T. · 4 Mar 2002, 11:30 (Ref:227637)

For his first ever race for McLaren after coming from Sauber, I think he done a very respectable job and this race has set him up for a good year.

Jonny Apex · 4 Mar 2002, 13:24 (Ref:227747)

Does anyone know - for fact - why he was able to bang in that mega quick lap once JPM was out of his way just before the stops but then never seem to be able to do the same thing again after the stops. Indded, he gradually fell away from JPM. Did his off deliberately going straight on (wise driving, a bit like Schuey thinks) at the first bend affect his car more than just needing a new nose. And what did he have that needed clearing from his backside? Did this rattle free again later in the race and was this why he fell away from JPM?

Shame the producer missed him PASSING people in the early stages. Producer also kept cutting to replays when he should have kept following Schuey/Montoya etc. Grrr.

View Poll Results: What did you think to Kimi Raikkonen?
He did a brilliant job, couldn't have done any better!	5	10.00%
He did really well to take his first podium, nice steady start.	26	52.00%
He did OK but the car deserved to finish 2nd.	11	22.00%
Very erratic and showed his inexperience, needs to pull his socks up.	8	16.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll

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