[Driver] Kimi coming back?

[strider]

There are a couple of rumours going the rounds about about Kimi returning to F1 in one way or another.

The first is that he may undertake some tyre testing duties for Pirelli, because they need someone neutral with the right experience to do the job. In one sense it would be a good idea, but I don't see it as something that would appeal to Kimi.

The second is that Renault may try to lure him back as Kubica's team-mate next year. Again, i don't really see this happening. The two Ks get along well enough and are both no nonsense individuals, but Kimi's venture into rallying is beginning to show some progress now, so I don't see him abandoning that just yet.

[ECW Dan Selby]

A Kubica/Raikkonen team. Now that sounds good.

Selby

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by strider

There are a couple of rumours going the rounds about about Kimi returning to F1 in one way or another.

The first is that he may undertake some tyre testing duties for Pirelli, because they need someone neutral with the right experience to do the job. In one sense it would be a good idea, but I don't see it as something that would appeal to Kimi.

The second is that Renault may try to lure him back as Kubica's team-mate next year. Again, i don't really see this happening. The two Ks get along well enough and are both no nonsense individuals, but Kimi's venture into rallying is beginning to show some progress now, so I don't see him abandoning that just yet.

Why not? If scheduled correctly, it lets him keep rallying, and gives him a chance to just flog an F1 car without any sort of pressure or sponsor tie ins. I'd think tire testing would be right up his alley, as long as it didn't conflict with the WRC.

[Ralf's Girl]

I think Raikkonen's F1 days are well and truly over. He said when he left Ferrari that he was only interested in going to a team where he could win, and when McLaren signed Button that reduced his options to zero. As far as I can tell, his options in winning cars still amount to zero, so what would he gain from coming back?

[tblincoe]

I too could see a Kubica/Raikkonen pairing working well at Renault.

However, I can't see Petrov not getting a re-up for next year...

[pannenmann]

I think Petrov will be gone after this season. Kimi/Robert might work as a team, but I can't see Kimi doing that. As you said, first of all his rally driving is begining to show progress. And second, Kimi won't join a team like Renault is in the current state. If RBR offers him a seat, that would be smth different. Though even then I'm not too confident he will re-join as he seemed to be rather fed up by that whole F1 circus when he left.

[herowassenna]

Originally Posted by pannenmann

he seemed to be rather fed up by that whole F1 circus when he left.

Yes cause he'd been found out...

[strider]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

Yes cause he'd been found out...

...and there I was thinking that you were politely biting your tongue.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

Yes cause he'd been found out...

Found out as a master of Spa.

[Super Hans]

I think the sport would benefit from his return. His stock fell at Ferrari, but now Alonso is proving it isn't so easy to do well there now, no matter how good you are.

[Born Racer]

Kimi found out?

Not many could have done as well as he did with that Ferrari last year.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

Yes cause he'd been found out...

Found out that he is ? If you could fill us in on the details please..

[Born Racer]

Apparently Jeremy, the 2007 World Champion was useless for Ferrari.

[JeremySmith]

Hello Mark how are things mate ?....Kimi please come back!

[FPV8U]

Would be a good team in Kubica & Raikkonen @ Renault, two no BS drivers that know how to get their head down and could turn Renault into the winner it once was in 05/06.

Personally i don't think he will leave rally, but i do hope im wrong..

[marcosgt]

I wouldn't want to see him back.

He seemed totally jaded and disillusioned with F1.

He had talent, but didn't seem to want to use it - If I had a person that like in my employee I'd have got shot of him long before Ferrari did.

I hope he's enjoying his Rallying - He does show a modicum of enthusiasm for that, at least.

M.

[strider]

Kimi has always said that he would make up his mind about coming back to F1 next year or not around now.

I think the fact that there are four WRC tarmac rounds coming up may well be significant, starting with Rally Bulgaria this week. He did a non-Championship tarmac rally recently and was only 5 seconds slower over the day than Sébastien Ogier, who is the coming man in the WRC, and at times during the day he was ahead of him, so the speed is coming.

Personally I would love to see him back in F1, but I doubt if it will happen.

[MrTTraces]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

Yes cause he'd been found out...

Found out he liked Ice Cream

'Paddock Sources' say his favourite flavour was Vanilla.

[Yannick]

Tyre testing for Pirelli surely would get Kimi back in shape after one year of leave - and hiring a star like him would bring the tyre manufacturer the publicity that they crave for so much that they signed the F1 contract in the 1st place.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Yannick

Tyre testing for Pirelli surely would get Kimi back in shape after one year of leave - and hiring a star like him would bring the tyre manufacturer the publicity that they crave for so much that they signed the F1 contract in the 1st place.

I can see the point of using someone like Kimi to do the Pirelli tyre testing.
A previous World Champion with loads of experience who wouldn't gain any (unfair) advantage from knowing about the tyres as he's not going to be racing on them next season.
Unfortunately (unless he's paid a Kings Ransom to do so, which is unlikely) I can't see him being motivated to do this. Let's face it we all remember him abandoning his car to eat ice-cream once he realised his chances in the race were over...

[strider]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Let's face it we all remember him abandoning his car to eat ice-cream once he realised his chances in the race were over...

Oh dear, when will people remember the truth?

The team had withdrawn the car because there was a KERS malfunction. The decision had nothing to do with Kimi and he chose to have an ice cream because it is very hot in Malaysia.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by strider

Oh dear, when will people remember the truth?

The team had withdrawn the car because there was a KERS malfunction. The decision had nothing to do with Kimi and he chose to have an ice cream because it is very hot in Malaysia.

Sorry strider, I don't want to upset you.
The point that I was trying to make was that Kimi appears to be easily demotivated, and I don't think that winding around the track testing Pirelli's would be enough to float his boat, he is a racer and not a tester or someone to just make up the grid...

[ptclaus98]

He wasn't demotivated as much as disillusioned because he signed with a competent Ferrari only to have all the competent people leave. At the end of the day he wants a fast car to drive, and if he's alone on the track, I'd think he'd have fun with it. He misses driving the car and making it better, outside of that, I don't think he misses anything about F1.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Apparently Jeremy, the 2007 World Champion was useless for Ferrari.

As useless as Schumacher was good in the wet.

[mountainstar]

Kimi was an example of what hype and fluffing from managers could do for you. His initial foray into Formula Renault was a disaster and without the Robertsons you would have never heard of the guy. There are plenty of other talented drivers out there the same happens too and it was just plain luck you heard of Kimi.

No doubt he has speed, but he was never a worker nor someone who worked around problems. I don't really miss his monosyllabic drone or lack of enthusiasm. Of course now I have to put up with it watching the WRC.