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Posts for Tag: Lotus

The Driver Merry-Go-Round... Pivotal Decisions

2015 has been quite a year for F1. The Introduction of new venues, more reliable Engines in the new era of F1 but the most important, entry of youth in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The rookies have impressed in 2015 so far and their abilities have silenced the doubters.


At the Mid point of the season, rumours are rife in the paddock about potential driver lineups for 2016. Not many seats are up for grabs but for some, time to prove their worth is running out.

Who is safe and who is not, time to have a run through.


Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 :

The Fastest team in F1 ( Currently ) has steered clear from any paddock chatter by locking down the current lineup of Hamilton and Rosberg with long term contracts. Rumours about drives being available would be the last thing the team would want for themselves as well as for their drivers in their battle to maintain their edge in the current formula.


Scuderia Ferrari F1 :

The Loss of Jules Bianchi has hit both the Team and the F1 Fraternity hard. Sebastian Vettel has a contract. Kimi Raikkonen, as always is in the news about his future in F1. The Finn's contract expires at the end of 2015 and Ferrari has the option of extending it for another year based on the performance this year. 2015 has been a better year for Raikkonen but there is a considerable gap ( 84 points ) to his team-mate which isn't doing his chances any good.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams F1 Driver is being shortlisted as a replacement for Raikkonen and the rumours gathered a lot of steam in the past couple of months. However no formal announcement was made in this regard. Max Verstappen too has emerged as a contender in the past week but for 2017.

Ferrari have emphasized on multiple occasions that Kimi's contract extension / replacement isn't a priority at present. Recent developments suggest that the Maranello outfit will renew Kimi's contract for another year.

Kimi has the speed. In James Allison's words "Kimi is as quick as Seb, only difference is that Kimi has made a couple of mistakes in qualifying to Seb's one." Kimi has also been on the wrong end of reliability in 2 races. Add those results and he would be in contention for 3rd place in the Drivers' Championship.

Raikkonen's decision is the most pivotal in the market and can trigger a lot of movement. Else Status-quo.

Raikkonen has proved his mettle on more than one occasion. He remains Ferrari's Last Champion. Belgium beckons and being the most successful driver there, I am hoping to see the "King of Spa" do well.


Williams Martini F1 :

Williams should be happy with their current lineup of drivers. They have performed exceedingly well since 2014. Massa will continue into 2016. Bottas' future though is questionable. The Finn is young and fast besides being consistent. His performances have caught the attention of Ferrari and seems to be the favourite to sign for them. Bottas has reiterated that no deal with Ferrari is in place and such rumours should stop doing the rounds. Williams on the other hand were instrumental in bringing Bottas into F1 but that shouldn't hamper his chances of moving higher up the grid given the opportunity.

There were some rumours of Nasr stepping up but they were written off when Sauber renewed his contract.

Another rumour that surfaced was that Button was considering a switch to Williams. ( Discussed later ). Alex Lynn, formerly belonging to Red Bull's driver program, signed up with Williams as a development driver. It won't be long before he is ready to step up into F1. So Williams have their hands full.

The Possibility of Bottas to Ferrari looks pretty certain but I feel Ferrari will hold stations for another year.


Red Bull Racing F1 :

Red Bull Racing seems to have their Driver Contracts sorted for next year inspite of talk of a potential offer for Ricciardo. Sometimes the media links every driver with a Ferrari Seat. Red Bull would like to continue with their current crop of Kvyat and Ricciardo considering the position they are in. Losing their Quadruple World Champion Vettel to Ferari didn't do them any good. Red Bull must keep their lineup stable to rebuild and mount a new challenge.


Sahara Force India F1 :

Force India too preserved their lineup of Perez and Hulkenberg for 2015. Both Drivers performed well so far. Perez has been overshadowed by Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg is another candidate for the Ferrari Seat for 2016 but substantial sponsorship backing besides a height disadvantage is hurting his chance of moving higher up the grid. Haas F1, a new team in 2016 with Ferrari Power should consider him as a candidate. If none comes calling, the Hulk will stay at Force India. Perez is best suited to Force India with the abilities he possesses. Perez should continue with Force India as he enjoys a great relationship with the team.

GP2 has some candidates willing to take the big leap but I feel the team must stick with their old guns and build a solid platform for the future.


Lotus F1 :

Grosjean and Maldonado continued into 2015 for Lotus F1. Grosjean should continue in Lotus. I don't see him going elsewhere. Maldonado has been reckless to be frank and its high time for Lotus to open up a seat. Maldonado might have a fat sponsorship with him but his failure to bring him consistent results is costing the team dear. Jolyon Palmer, the reserve driver is the current GP2 Champion and has every right to graduate into F1. This might be the last year for Maldonado according to me. Palmer seems favourite to land a drive in 2016.


Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Toro Rosso, Red Bull's "B" Team recruited 2 rookies in Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. Verstappen joining F1 at a tender age of 17. Both have performed well so far in the season and Toro Rosso might opt to retain them both, maybe until the time is right to move to the Big League.

It would be very difficult for any driver from the Red Bull Program to grab a seat in 2016. The Best anyone can manage would be to become the 3rd Driver.


Sauber F1 :

Sauber F1 has been instrumental in bringing the best into F1. Many greats began their careers in F1 through Sauber. The Team dismissed any rumours about their drivers fairly quickly by confirming new contracts for Nasr and Ericsson. Marciello, a Ferrari Driver Program graduate, might have to wait another year and prove his mettle in GP2 if he wants a seat with the team, courtesy of Engine Suppliers Ferrari.



McLaren Honda F1 :

McLaren's new partnership with Honda began in 2015. They hired the services of World Champions Button and Alonso ( Dual WDC ) to assist them in their quest to return to supremacy. However their poor form and reliability has left the duo frustrated. Alonso expressed that he is slowly losing interest in the sport. He is happy to be a part of the challenge being faced but he is slowly losing the excitement he had about the sport. Alonso didn't re-sign with McLaren only to leave prematurely. He will dig deep and bring home the results and McLaren need to keep him interested to stay.

The situation with Button is very different. Button has been with the team for a fair amount of time and quite frankly, lived in the shadow of his team-mates. He has been in the news on many occasions with questions being raised about his abilities. The toughest was last year when McLaren bided their time in renewing his contract. Magnussen, his team-mate from last season, stepped down to 3rd driver and is waiting in the wings hoping to land a drive in 2017. To complicate matters, McLaren's protegee, Stoffel Vandoorne is performing brilliantly in GP2. He must get a drive sooner rather than later. Vandoorne should win the championship this year and failure to absorb him into the F1 team will leave him with few options ( A GP2 champion can't return to the feeder series ).
McLaren has to decide. Soon.


Manor Marussia F1 :

Manor, the buyers of Marussia brought in Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens for the 2015 campaign. Both have brought home satisfactory results. Merhi has been outshone by his team-mate on many occasions. There were rumours of Merhi's seat being up for grabs in 2016 but the bosses at Manor have reiterated that holding onto both for 2016 is the priority. The team wants stability going forward but as is the case with smaller organizations, nothing can be taken for granted. Fabio Leimer, the 2013 GP2 Champion bagged the reserve driver's seat and I won't be surprised to see him challenge for a drive in 2016.


Haas F1 :

Haas is the new kid on the block. It might be early days but there is a lot of buzz surrounding the team's entry into F1 in 2016. Haas has enjoyed a close relationship with Ferrari who will eventually supply them the engines. Ferrari will have a say when it comes to hiring the pilots for 2016 ( for at least one seat ). Estebaan Gutierrez, 3rd Driver at Ferrari currently should return to the starting grid in 2016 with Haas.

Haas must sign someone who is quick and can bring home the results consistently. Their intentions are clear - they want to be a top running team in F1. Nico Hulkenberg will be the perfect candidate for the job. But will the bosses at Haas consider him worthy? Surely they must!


To Summarize, Haas has 2 places, Lotus should have 1. Little movement elsewhere according to me.

F1 is a very funny sport. A lot of things can change overnight. We still have 2 races left in the European Leg of the season. More Rumours are bound to emerge, some totally absurd. Its tough for both the teams and drivers to operate in such a competitive environment, but compete they must. This post might be a bit earlier than it should have been. Nevertheless the silly season has thrown up enough speculations for the F1 Fraternity and Fans to keep them engrossed for months.

Who goes, who stays, only time will tell. Some might already know their fate..some might be in the dark...it will all be revealed soon...


The Season isn't over yet. We still have 9 races to go.


Time to put all that aside and prepare for the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix. I shall be at the race supporting Kimi. There will be updates from the Grand Prix once I return.


Have a great week and enjoy the race everyone!
 

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The Driver Merry-Go-Round.... Speculations Galore

2014 is a new chapter in the history of Formula 1.

The Rules have changed, the Designs have changed, the chariots look different, the Turbos have returned and new battlegrounds have been added.

Reliability is paramount this season. The changes have humbled some and brought a resurgence for some.

We are almost nearing the end of the season and the paddock is abuzz with rumours about drives for next season.

How does it all shape up? Lets have a quick peek.


Williams Martini Racing :

Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa are retained for 2015 and its not a surprise considering their performances so far. The Team can now focus on fighting for Constructors' Championship as well as on developing their 2015 contender.



Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team :

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton stay in the team for 2015. The Incident in Belgium created a huge stir but I feel both have grown from the incident and learnt many lessons. The 2014 Title is still up for grabs and either one could go home with top honours. Leaving a team dominating the way they are this season would be unthinkable. The Team only needs to ensure that both cars finish races.



Marussia F1 Team :

The Team should retain their current lineup for 2015 and with the possibility of a higher financial influx at the end of the season should aid the survival of the team ( thanks to vital points in Constructors this year ). Chilton and Bianchi are both resourceful, the latter enjoying preference for a seat as the team is a Customer for Ferrari Engines. Staying with the current lineup is the way forward but as is the case with smaller teams, guarantees can never be given.



Sahara Force India F1 Team :

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez have been performing really well and the sheer talent of the duo should ensure their seats for 2015. Its a shame to see Hulkenberg's inability to move up the grid due to a lack of sponsors and the height disadvantage. A man with his talent definitely deserves a seat in the sharp end of the grid. Daniel Abt from GP2 is waiting in the wings but his decision to also race in Formula E might hamper his chances into F1.



Sauber F1 Team :

Sauber is a team known to spot talent. However the team's existence in F1 itself is at stake due to a lack of funds and dismal performances. Sergey Sirotkin, the rookie might get a Practice Session in Sochi and his chances for 2015 seem bright. Gutierrez and Sutil might lose their seats to Van der Garde and Sirotkin if they can't raise sufficient finances for 2015.

Sutil seems the most likely to go out with Sirotkin taking his seat. Van der Garde is a talent but does he have the same financial backing as Sirotkin? - I don't think so.



Caterham F1 Team :

A Change of Ownership and a management overhaul means there is a lot of uncertainty about the team. The Team has reiterated its intention of staying in F1 and the current line-up of Kobayashi and Ericsson cannot take a 2015 seat for granted. Kobayashi has already lost his seat once this year and Ericsson is definitely not the quickest rookie around. Both Seats would be up for sale according to me and the Highest Bidder will get them. The Contenders are many and for most this might be the ticket into Formula 1.



Lotus F1 Team :

Lotus went backwards in 2014 after 2 years of great success. The Drastic Rule Changes left them struggling at the back of the grid not to mention the exodus of technical personnel and the lack of finances. Maldonado was hired in 2014 to bring PDVSA onboard and some much needed finances. The Car has not yielded the results expected and the team is languishing at the back of the grid. Grosjean will be looking to greener pastures and Maldonado's performances will not help him go elsewhere. For Charles Pic ( the reserve driver ) the possibility of a drive is getting bigger by the day.



Scuderia Toro Rosso :

Red Bull's B Team and the final hurdle before earning a drive in the Big Team. Both Vettel and Ricciardo spent time here and their performances helped them moved into the A Team. Jean-Eric Vergne already lost his seat for 2015 while Daniil Kvyat retains his. Max Verstappen who will be 16 years old next year joins the team for 2015.

Is he too young for F1? Many believe if someone is quick then age shouldn't really be a factor but the lack of experience might prove to be detrimental. Red Bull is the best judge and I am sure they might have seen something in him to be reason enough to award him with a drive. Carlos Sainz Jr. who belongs to the same program and races in a series higher than Verstappen was overlooked and would feel hard done by Red Bull's Decision. I hope he does well and proves the doubters wrong.



Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari F1 & McLaren Honda :

6 Drives and uncertainty looms all over in 3 of the top teams in F1. Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen will stay with Red Bull and Ferrari respectively for 2015. The other 4 drives are a classic case of Driver Merry-go-round in F1 with the rumour mills running overtime.

Red Bull Racing will try to hold onto their Quadruple World Champion Sebastien Vettel. He had a tough season so far but his abilities and talent are unquestionable. 

Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Vettel might swap seats as per the latest rumours. Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010 and is yet to win a World Championship with the team. Ferrari has had a forgettable 2014 and the struggles within the Maranello outfit compelled Alonso to explore options. Alonso's departure would also mean the loss of a big sponsor in Santander for Ferrari and the team must look for a worthy replacement for his seat.

The Advent of the Honda Engine for McLaren in 2015 adds more confusion to the mix. Reports suggest that McLaren are trying to sign either Alonso or Vettel or if possible both. Kevin Magnussen is a rookie this year and his performances bode well for him. A product of the McLaren Driver Program, he would be hoping to retain his seat.

Jenson Button faces an uphill task to hold onto his. I feel his stint at McLaren is over and the team wants a change of guard. Honda comes in as a new engine supplier in 2015 and joining the team carries a big risk for a new entrant. The Uncertainty of the performance and reliability could severely backfire on Alonso or Vettel if they choose to go down that path. Alonso had issues with the management at McLaren but those are things of the past. Alonso is more likely a contender for the seat than Vettel as it would be taking a step back for the latter.

According to me, Vettel and Alonso swapping teams seems to be more realistic with Alonso opting to be with Red Bull only for one year; this would help the Spaniard to assess the performance of McLaren in 2015 with the Honda Engine and of the Renault in the Red Bull. He can weigh his options at the end of 2015. McLaren would be stronger in 2016 with Honda addressing engine issues ( if they have any in 2015 ) and if Ferrari produces a resurgence, maybe return to replace a retiring Raikkonen for 2016.

Red Bull would definitely have something in place for him in 2016 but considering his age and the talent pool that Red Bull possesses, Alonso's one year will be the perfect time frame for Red Bull to ready the next Ricciardo or Vettel.

Romain Grosjean could spring a surprise in all this.

Grosjean's Manager Eric Boullier is the Racing Director at McLaren while Ciaron Pilbeam the Chief Race Engineer at Lotus F1 ( in 2013 ) also joined the Woking Outfit this year. Both know how big a talent and how resourceful Romain is. His arrival would be like a breath of fresh air at Woking.

All this points to only one thing - Jenson Button's Career is at stake. Should he lose his seat to any of these, he would either have to hang up his boots or move down the grid and join a smaller team. Lotus F1 seems to be the most viable option.

However McLaren must keep Button and Magnussen for 2014 to maintain stability but the final decision rests with the management.


Personally, I see 4 to 5 drivers not featuring in next year's Driver Line-up. Its a sad story this but with the cut-throat competition, drives are few and far between.


2014, dubbed the "Silly Season" has been one the most exciting in the history of F1. The Possibility of a major reshuffle within the big teams would be an intriguing one. What happens at the end of the season? Only time will tell.

Till then, lets enjoy the remainder of 2014.

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Paddock Club Diaries - Abu Dhabi GP 2013 Day 3

Sunday was the Big Day!! The Final day of the Paddock Club Diaries for this Season! The last of the 4th and Final Paddock Club Experience for me.

Well, Lets relive it!


UAE is known for its fancy cars and I came across a couple on my way to Yas Island.



Enroute to Yas Island :


I reached the Paddock Club and the First event of the day was the GP2 Sprint Race :


Kimi Raikkonen joined us in the Suite to oblige the guests with autographs!!


Eric Boullier talking about the Team's Performance so far


Lunch!!!


A quick lunch and it was time to go down for the Final Pit Lane Walk of the weekend and the Final one for me to be at. I wanted to make the most of it.


Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :


A Moment with Steve Robertson ( Kimi Raikkonen's Manager ). He is a very approachable man and very humble.


The Pit Lane Walk ended and preparations were in full swing for the race.

Cars doing installation laps :


Lotus Boys taking sighters of the Track :


The Grid Preparations :


The Etihad Airways Fly-Past :


The Cars rolled out for the Formation Lap and the Mechanics had to run back to the pits!

Video Link :


The Cars lined up on the Grid and Expectations were high. Kimi Raikkonen started at the back of the grid after the disqualification on Saturday and I was praying for a strong result.

Race Start Video Link :



The Race began and Kimi jumped the Marussia but ran a bit wide on the kerb. The Resulting imbalance caused contact with the Caterham and damaged the front suspension rod. It was a First Lap retirement for the Iceman and a good weekend that went from bad to worse for me :( A Rare Retirement for the Iceman...

There was still a race to be won and here are some shots from the Race :


McLaren Mercedes during their Pit-Stop

Video Link :



The Lotus F1 Team in the Race :



Lotus F1 Team Pit-Stop Video Link :



The Chequered Flag came out and it was Sebastien Vettel again who took victory! Mark Webber finished 2nd while Nico Rosberg held off a late charge by Romain Grosjean to hold onto 3rd place.

Kimi Raikkonen was the sole retirement in the race.


Video Link ( Chequered Flag ) :


Fireworks display :


Parc - Ferme :


It was time to say goodbye to my friends at Lotus F1 Team and as I headed out, I saw the Yas Marina Hotel shining in all its glory!!


Some more exotics on the way back :


It was a good weekend from a neutral point of view but very disappointing as a Kimi Fan.

I was sad to see it end like this. This was the last race in 2013 that I would be at and it turned out to be the last one for Kimi too as he decided to go in for Back Surgery.

Overall it was a satisfactory 2013 for me. It all started with an All Expenses Paid trip to the Malaysian GP thanks to Tourism Malaysia. Then the German GP, Italian GP, Indian GP and the Abu Dhabi GP to make it 5 races for the season. I was with the Lotus F1 Team in the Paddock for the 4 races and I must say it was a great experience. I shall cherish every moment.

A Special Thank you to Oliver Anderson, Anne-Charlotte Remy, Sophie Stapleton, Anna Pamin, Fleur Foster, Francois Puentes, James Robinson, Gaby Mills, Anita Nyers, Fred Garcia and Luca Mazzocco for all the Hospitality shown to me.

I made some really dear friends in this season and I am thankful to God that I got a chance to meet such wonderful people!!

A Big Thank you to YOU my followers and readers on various social platforms who have been patient enough and enjoyed reading everything that I have shared over the past year.

2014 will have its own experiences and I pray that I get a chance to be at a couple of races... Fingers Crossed.

God Bless You All!!

Paddock Club Diaries - Abu Dhabi GP 2013 Day 2

Saturdays normally start early for the teams but the Abu Dhabi GP being a twilight race meant that the teams could have a slightly later start to the day.

Saturdays would see the Teams do Qualifying Simulations in FP3 and prepare themselves for Qualifying.


Enroute to the Circuit :


The First Pit Lane Walk sees the team practice their Pit Stops.

Shots from the Pit Lane Walk :


Video Link of the Lotus F1 Team practising their Pit Stop :


The Paddock Club was open and I made it to the Terrace to indulge in some snacks prior to lunch


The GP2 Feature Race was the First Event of the Day and it was quite a start.


Video Link :



Lunch!!!!



FP3 was a very important session for many teams. The Lap times were close and this was a precursor to an awesome Qualifying Session

Shots from FP3 :



Lotus F1 Team in action in FP3 :



Sebastien Vettel was the Fastest in FP3. Romain Grosjean was 5th and Kimi Raikkonen 9th.


Alan Permane and Eric Boullier in a very engrossing conversation :



We were soon joined by Sir Jackie Stewart in the Suite and he shared about his career in F1 and his role in the team now.



The time for the Final Pit-Lane Walk of the day had come and it was time to see the Teams prepare for Qualifying up-close.

Shots from the Pit-Lane Walk :



A Moment with Mark Arnall - Kimi's Physical Instructor!



The Pit Lane was then vacated to make way for the start of the Qualifying Session!

Q1 saw the elimination of the slowest 6 drivers.

Shots from Q1 :



Lotus F1 Team in Q1 :


Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Q1. Kimi Raikkonen was 3rd fastest and Romain Grosjean 8th fastest.



The Lull before Q2 :



Q2 decided the final 10 drivers for the Final Shoot-out ( Q3 )

Shots from Q2 :



Lotus F1 Team in action in Q2 :


Nico Rosberg was the Fastest in Q2. Romain Grosjean was 8th Fastest while Kimi Raikkonen was 9th Fastest.

Fernando Alonso was shunted out of Q2 in 11th Place.


Q3 would be a closely fought session and once gain it was a duel between the Red Bulls and the Mercedes AMG Petronas teams.


Shots from Q3 :



Lotus F1 Team in Q3 :


A Red Bull was on pole and it was Mark Webber! The Australian pipped his team-mate to finish fastest in Q3.

Kimi Raikkonen did well to qualify 5th while Romain Grosjean qualified in 7th Place. It was a great session for Lotus F1 Team until a couple of hours later news emerged that Kimi Raikkonen was Excluded from the Qualifying Session!!!!

Kimi's car had floor damage and failed a floor deflection test. The Result was his 5th Position being snatched from him and the Finn had to start last. So much effort down the drain...


Post Qualifying, Romain Grosjean joined us in the Suite for a Quick Q&A and Autograph session


A Moment with Romain Grosjean :


His departure also signaled the closure of the Paddock Club for the day.

The Yas Marina Hotel at night :


The F1 Village at Night :


It would have been a great day had it not been for Kimi's Disqualification from Qualifying.

Nevertheless, I would like to thank the Lotus F1 Team for all the Hospitality shown to me.

A Big Thank you to Oliver Anderson, Anita Nyers, Francois Puentes, Anne-Charlotte Remy and Fleur Foster for taking such good care of me.

The Sunday too was very different. Experience coming soon...

A Gallery of Memories - Part 6

My Last Stop was the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It was a good year with another 5 races ticked off the calender. I am not sure if I can repeat this feat next year... so really Thank God for this  experience.

Last Year it was 4 - Malaysia, Silverstone, Singapore and India.

This Year I went one better - Malaysia, Germany, Italy, India and Abu Dhabi!



It wasn't such a great weekend in terms of results but a unique experience nevertheless.


The Gallery of Memories for this season reaches its finale! Hope you have enjoyed the journey. I thank you for being so patient with me as have been super busy!


So, here goes!


Davide Valsecchi, Lotus F1 Reserve Driver!


Sir Jackie Stewart!! The Legend!


Mark Arnall, The man who keeps Kimi Fit!! ( Kimi's Physical Instructor )


Romain Grosjean, Lotus F1 Driver!


Kimi Raikkonen the Iceman!!!!!


Eric Boullier, Lotus F1 Team Principal!!


Steve Robertson, Kimi's Manager!! A Very Humble Guy and extremely approachable. Such a Pleasant experience!


All in all 3 amazing days.  The Full Report shall be up shortly.


I would like to thank Oliver Anderson, Francois Puentes, Anne-Charlotte Remy, Fleur Foster, James Robinson for all the Hospitality and Help!



A Big Thank you to the Lotus F1 Team for entertaining me and being so hospitable!!


Patience everyone... More to come ;)

Paddock Club Diaries - Italian GP 2013 Day 3

The Big Day arrived.

Sundays are always Special, the Stands are filled, the atmosphere is awesome. The Tension slowly builds as how you fare on the Sunday is all that matters. Friday and Saturday Performances don't bring home any points.


An early start on Sunday morning ensured that I had a smooth run to Monza :

Brisk Travel :


A short walk to the Paddock :


We were ushered straight into the Pit Lane, most shutters were down with team personnel yet to arrive.


The Shutters coming up :

McLaren Mercedes celebrated 50 Years of Racing and all Team Personnel wore Vintage attire. RESPECT McLaren Mercedes!


It was them time to enter the Paddock Club and the gifts today were simply fantastic!!


Tea Time :


Shots from the GP2 Grid ( 2nd Race ) :


The Motorhomes on Sunday Morning :


The Helicopters having a busy Sunday Morning ferrying Drivers and Top Team Personnel :


It was time for Kimi Raikkonen to arrive!!!! The Line was huge and many people wanted a moment with the Iceman. I missed the opportunity but I still have a couple more chances!!


However I was able to gift Kimi the gift I had made for him and the Team was gracious enough to publish it on Twitter!!

THE GIFT :


The Photo on Twitter :


Lunch :


Shots from the Final Pit Lane Walk :


Some Entertainment on Track :


The Team Pit-Wall


Practice Makes Perfect :


Got an autograph from Dani Pedrosa who came down for the race. He raced at Misano one week later in MotoGP.


A Light Shower made everyone run helter-skelter while the Mechanics ensured all that was important was covered :


I hurriedly finished my Dessert to ensure that I don't lose a good place to shoot photos from.


The Activity on the Grid :


The Cars ready for the Formation Lap :

Video Link :




The Cars taking their Grid Slots :



The Race Start ( Video Link ) :




Vettel had a clean getaway while Kimi too had a fantastic start. However Perez cut across Kimi and missed his braking point. Kimi suffered a huge lockup and rammed into the back of the McLaren, damaging his Front wing pretty badly. This isn't the first time these 2 have crossed paths and it is clear that McLaren are running out of patience with Perez. The Ensuing Damage meant that Kimi had to pit for a front wing change and rejoined way back down the grid. Frustrating.....


Shots from the first few laps :

 

Lotus F1 Team having to play catchup. Romain was in a better position though.



Some Close Battles being fought :



Some more Shots from the Race :



Lotus F1 Team in action :



The Lotus F1 Pit Wall discussing Strategic Changes :



Their Planning paid dividends as Romain Grosjean reeled in the McLarens and the Toro Rosso.



Kimi Raikkonen too passed the Force India with relative ease and was on the tail of the McLaren duo :



Adrian Sutil drove into Retirement on the Penultimate Lap with Brake Failure :



Kimi Raikkonen's and Mark Webber's Cars stopped just after the Chequered Flag to save fuel for later scrutiny.


Sebastien Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber were the Podium Finishers. Massa, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Hamilton and Button completed the Top 10. Hamilton's late pit stop allowed up to charge upto 9th. Raikkonen produced a spirited drive but just missed out on points in 11th.


The Tifosi running towards the Podium



Fans as far as the Eyes can see!! Amazing, Absolutely Amazing!!




Podium Celebrations. Adrian Newey, the Da Vinci of Aerodynamics in F1 represented Red Bull Racing for collecting the Constructors' trophy. The Podium Interviews were carried out by the Great Sir John Surtees and Jean Alesi!



Mark Webber saying Goodbye to Fans in Europe :( He will be missed. AussieGrit all the Way!!



Fernando Alonso obliging the Tifosi with some photos :



Podium Celebrations ( Video Link ) :



As the Fans slowly left the track, the trucks came in and it was time to packup!!



Quick Photos with Kimi Raikkonen's Helmet!!



The Suite now bearing a deserted look :



The Motorhomes of 2013, for one last time!!



Made New Friends!!


Thank you Lotus F1 for all the Hospitality and Thank you Guys and Gals!



The way back to the Hotel :



It was a nice Sunday. We didn't achieve good results but memorable 3 days nonetheless.

Once again, a Big Thank You to the Lotus F1 Team for all the hospitality. Thank you to Anne-Charlotte Remy and Oliver Anderson for all the logistical help.

Thank you to Anita Nyers, Fleur Foster,  Luca Mazzocco, Francois Puentes, Frederic Garcia & Veronica Sassella for hosting me over the 3 days. Really enjoyed the Experience.


Indian GP is my next stop, till then God Bless and stay safe!!



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Paddock Club Diaries - Italian GP 2013 Day 2

Saturday is always a busy day for Teams. Activity starts early in the morning with the Team Pit-Stop Practice. Setting up the Car for Qualifying is also very important. Any problems or niggles have to be ironed out so that the Drivers can have unhindered sessions.

I missed the Pit-Stop Practice in Germany so an early start allowed me to be in the thick of action.


En route to the Circuit :


The FIA Weigh-Bridge ( would see a lot of activity on Saturday ) :


Mercedes AMG - Petronas getting ready for their Pit-Stop Practice :


Francois and Oliver are all smiles as they welcome the Team Guests on Saturday :


The Car ready for Practice :


As the Boys were getting ready for practice, I grabbed the opportunity of sharing screen space with Alan Permane ( Lotus F1 Trackside Operations Director ), Ciaron Pilbeam ( Lotus F1 Chief Race Engineer ), Paul Seaby ( Lotus F1 Team Manager ) & Ayao Komatsu ( Romain Grosjean's Race Engineer ). 

Ciaron was fantastic and very welcoming. He was loving the challenge of pushing Lotus up the Grid, just like his stint at Red Bull Racing until last season.



The Mechanics busy practising :



Video Link :




More shots from the Garage :



Now that is a nice welcome ;)



The Paddock Area abuzz with Activity. Photographers waiting for Drivers to walk in :



Saturday Practice would see Teams run Race Simulations but the main agenda was to have Qualifying Simulations done.

Lotus F1 had run the Long Wheelbase Version for Kimi on Friday but as the difference was marginal, he switched back to the Standard Version for Saturday.

Some Shots from FP3 :



Lotus F1 Team in Action!!


Sebastien Vettel was the Fastest, Kimi and Romain 10th and 14th Respectively.


We were soon joined by Sir Jackie Stewart. The Triple World Champion talked about the Team's Performance so far this season. He talked about the changes brought into F1 down the years. He also stressed on the importance of Sponsorships for the teams.



Moments with the Legend himself !!



You cannot neglect nutrition in all this and I don't like missing lunch at the Paddock Club :)


A Quick Lunch and it was time to head down for the Pit-Lane Walk!

Oliver had a surprise for me. I had 20 minutes to scurry around the Paddock and meet whoever I could! Fantastic!


The Paddock - Ground Zero!!



The SKY PAD - Best tool for Analysis!!


The Man who mans the Sky Pad - Anthony Davidson. Great Guy. The Waistline Difference is appalling!



Uh, wrong place Ma'am :P


With Romain Grosjean's Car :



It was now time for Qualifying! The Sessions that would decide the Grid for Sunday!

Q1 saw the slowest 6 being eliminated.

Shots from Q1 :



Lotus F1 Team in Q1 :


Sebastien Vettel topped Q1, Kimi was 11th and Romain 8th.

Gutierrez ( Sauber-Ferrari ), Bottas ( Williams-Renault ), Van Der Garde ( Caterham-Renault ), Pic ( Caterham-Renault ), Bianchi ( Marussia-Cosworth ) and Chilton ( Marussia-Cosworth ) were eliminated.



Times were reset after Q1. The Slowest 6 drivers from the remaining 16 would be eliminated in Q2.


Shots from Q2 :


Lotus F1 Team in Q2 :


Monza was never a Great Track for Lotus F1 and the lack of pace from the Renault Engine meant that both the Lotuses were Eliminated in Q2.

Sebastien Vettel Topped Q2. Kimi missed Q3 by a tenth of a second ( whisker ) while Romain was about 3 tenths slower than the 10th place Vergne.

Lewis Hamilton too was eliminated but it was later revealed that Adrian Sutil impeded him on his flying lap. Sutil received a 3 place Grid Penalty.

Raikkonen ( Lotus-Renault ), Hamilton ( Mercedes ), Grosjean ( Lotus-Renault ), Sutil ( Force India-Mercedes ), Maldonado ( Williams-Renault ) and Di Resta ( Force India-Mercedes ) were eliminated from Q2.

A disappointing Qualifying Session but we were optimistic about the Race. The Lap Times were too close and the Lotus is confident in Race Trim, so all was not lost. A Free Tyre choice also meant that strategies could be different from the front runners.


The Times were Reset and it was time for the Top - 10 Shootout!! Q3 would see some really close battles!!

Shots from Q3 :


Sebastien Vettel dominated all three sessions and bagged Pole Position! Mark Webber ensured that the Red Bulls lock out the front row. Nico Hulkenberg sprung a surprise for Sauber-Ferrari and qualified 3rd on the Grid. The Team did well in 2012 too and now had a platform to score big on Sunday.


An Ecstatic Sauber Pit-Wall and Manisha Kaltenborn!



The Ferraris could only manage 4th and 5th for the Ferrari Faithful, Massa out-qualifying his more consistent team-mate Alonso.

Rosberg ( Mercedes ), Ricciardo ( STR-Ferrari ), Perez ( McLaren-Mercedes ), Button ( McLaren-Mercedes ) and Vergne ( STR-Ferrari ) completed the top 10.


Monza has always favoured cars with better powertrains and the presence of only two Renault-powered cars in the top 10 was testimony to this fact. Red Bull came out on top due to the cars' aerodynamic efficiency ( Thanks to Adrian Newey ) and still lacked the raw pace compared to their Ferrari and Mercedes Powered Competitors.

Only the Red-Bulls cracked the 1min 23 secs barrier and only half a sec separated 3rd from 9th. It would be an intriguing race on Sunday!!


Dessert to douse the disappointment :



Romain Grosjean visited the Suite an hour later and talked about his season so far. He was optimistic about Sunday and was sure about the team scoring points.



With the Frenchman : ( What did I make him sign? I shall reveal in due time )


It was now time to leave the Paddock Club. A Disappointing day in terms of the Result but an enjoyable day nonetheless!

I got to meet a host of people in the Paddock for which I am really really thankful to Oliver Anderson. Thank you Oli for your kindness!


The Journey Back :


Once again, a Big Thank You to the Lotus F1 Team for all the hospitality. Thank you to Anne-Charlotte Remy and Oliver Anderson for all the logistical help.

How can I forget Anita Nyers, Fleur Foster,  Luca Mazzocco, Francois Puentes, Frederic Garcia & Veronica Sassella for hosting me and ensuring that I enjoy the Saturday.


Day 3 not too long now.. Patience :)





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A Gallery of Memories - Part 4

My F1 Travels took me to the "Home of the Tifosi". Nestled in a town to the north of Milan the Iconic track of Monza hosted the Italian Grand Prix from 6th September to 8th September 2013.

The Lotus F1 Team had their Private Suite ( for Hospitality ) to entertain guests and sponsors and what would ensue would be 3 hectic days!!


The Atmosphere was amazing as the Ferrari Faithfuls unfurled huge flags of the Prancing Horse and sang chants in Italian.


The Lotus F1 Hospitality area too was abuzz with activity on all 3 days.

As always, this post is a continuation of the Series : "A Gallery of Memories" Let us relive those moments!!


Friday is the day of Mr. Davide Valsecchi! As always his friendly demeanour is endearing! He loved being at his Home Race!


Friday is usually a less crowded day in the Paddock and one always gets the chance to get some nice clicks!

Mark Slade is one guy who keeps a low profile but does his job efficiently. It is no surprise that Mark was Kimi Raikkonen's Race Engineer at McLaren and returned to partner him at Lotus F1 after their partnership was temporarily broken during the Finn's Time at Ferrari. He is one guy that Kimi seems to be comfortable conversing with over a race weekend.

A Moment with the Busy Mark :


I have some great friends in the Team and they are as important as the Pilots :

Thank you Francois Puentes and Oliver Anderson!


I missed Team Pit-Stop Practice on Saturday Morning in Germany ( thanks to traffic ) but this time I had no intentions of not making it in time. Saturday Morning gave me a rare opportunity though, A Photo Op with Alan Permane ( Lotus F1 Trackside Operations Director ), Ciaron Pilbeam ( Lotus F1 Chief Race Engineer ), Paul Seaby ( Lotus F1 Team Manager ) & Ayao Komatsu ( Romain Grosjean's Race Engineer ).

Ciaron was fantastic and very welcoming. He was loving the challenge of pushing Lotus up the Grid, just like his stint at Red Bull Racing until last season.


No Private Suite Hospitality is complete without the appearance of a certain Sir Jackie Stewart!! Entertaining as ever, Sir Jackie took us through a time machine talking about F1 in his time and what it is now. He also stressed the need for Sponsorships for the team to pump in the necessary finances to move up the grid!


Sharing Screen-space with the Maestro :


During the Pit-Lane Walk I got the time to roam around in the Paddock. Bumped into loads of people but could get a moment only with Anthony Davidson who was busy setting up the Sky-Pad!


The Guests soon welcomed Romain Grosjean! The Smiling Frenchman talked about his season so far and his chances for this weekend.


Romain was surprised to see the scroll on which I asked his autograph. What did it contain? I shall reveal soon!!

Loved his look though!


Sunday saw the arrival of the Man, the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen! The Line for autographs was huge and my chance never came. However I shall have more opportunities this season, so chin up!


The Final Pit Lane Walk allowed me to grab an autograph of another sportsman who plies his trade on two wheels - Dani Pedrosa. Have been a big fan of the Honda Repsol Team since the Mick Doohan days so meeting one of their top riders was a pleasant surprise. The Moto GP race was held the following week in Misano ( wish I had known )


I could also get a couple of photos with the Replica Helmet of Kimi Raikkonen :


The Race didn't get us a great result but it was a great day nevertheless! I made new friends and had a fantastic weekend!!


The Lotus F1 Team Personnel who welcomed, hosted and entertained us ( some are missing though )


A Big Thank you to Anne-Charlotte Remy and Oliver Anderson for all the help with the Italian GP arrangements!

A Special Thank you to Oliver Anderson, Anita Nyers, Fleur Foster, Anne-Charlotte Remy,  Luca Mazzocco, Francois Puentes, Frederic Garcia & Veronica Sassella for welcoming me and being so hospitable!!


More, Coming Soon!!

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The Driver Merry-Go-Round... Surprise on the Cards??

The Cards are on the Table. The Time has come for speculations to start. The Time has come when Driver Lineups are being planned for next season.


Who Stays ? Who Goes ? Who Won't Go ? - Well, it shall be examined right here, right now!


The Situation is fragile at all the top teams barring Mercedes AMG Petronas and McLaren Mercedes.


Mark Webber Leaves F1 :

Mark Webber has decided to call it quits at the end of the 2013 Season. He has decided to retire from the sport altogether and will switch to Porsche in the Le Mans. The Australian has had a rough ride and his deteriorating relationship with team-mate Sebastien Vettel has been one of the causes of his departure. Red Bull are already in the market searching for a worthy replacement. Daniel Ricciardo has been impressive in the Scuderia Toro-Rosso, the Red Bull-B team effectively. Promoting himself ( Ricciardo ) into Webber's seat would be the final step in his endeavour to get to the top. Kimi Raikkonen and maybe Fernando Alonso ( Maybe just a rumour ) are also being considered for the seat. Clarity should come by the end of the Mid-Season break. I see Ricciardo grabbing this seat as he would play the perfect support role to Vettel.


The Situation at Ferrari :

Ferrari has suffered a big slump in form. Fernando Alonso seems to be unhappy and has stressed the importance of getting their act together. When asked on his birthday as to what he would want as a gift, Alonso said " Someone Else's Car ". The Presence of his manager in the Red Bull Motorhome in Hungary also sparked rumours of a possible switch at the end of this season. The Speculation has definitely unsettled the top bosses at Ferrari.

On the other hand, the team is running out of patience with Felipe Massa who has been producing mediocre results. The Possibility of seeing two new drivers at Ferrari ( next season ) can't be ruled out.

Raikkonen has been offered the 2014 seat. Nico Hulkenberg and Paul Di Resta are also being shortlisted as replacements. I don't see Alonso leaving but I don't see Massa staying either. Hulkenberg would be a worthy replacement for Massa.


Lotus driver lineup?

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean are both out of contract at the end of this season. Kimi Raikkonen is hot property for 2014 with Lotus F1, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari vying for his signature.

I have explored his options in detail in my previous post : http://tech-know-crat.posthaven.com/where-art-thou-goeth-iceman

Romain Grosjean's future hinges on Raikkonen's. Lotus Team Principal "Eric Boullier" has admitted that he wants to hold onto at least one driver for 2014. Grosjean would have to improve his on-track results if he wants to justify his job at Lotus should Kimi stay. Kimi's departure to another team would definitely boost Romain's chances of holding onto his seat.

Hulkenberg, Maldonado and Davide Valsecchi ( Lotus F1's Reserve driver ) have been shortlisted as potential replacements. I would like to see Valsecchi get the seat. He is the current GP2 Champion and his work for the development of this car has been commendable. He deserves a drive in 2014.


Sauber Ferrari have been under great financial duress. Their situation has compelled them to release Hulkenberg from his contract, allowing him to join another team with immediate effect. However the German who hasn't been paid for some months now has decided to stay with the team. His drives now would be more like an audition to switch to another team next season.

Sauber Ferrari have got Russian Sponsors to give them the financial backing that they need. As a compromise, they are going to offer a young but unknown quantity a drive next season; a Russian named Sergey Sirotkin. The 17 year old is currently plying his trade in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.


Scuderia Toro-Rosso have shortlisted Carlos Sainz, Jr. who has taken part in the Young Driver's Test at Silverstone should any of their current drivers leave for Red Bull.


Mercedes AMG Petronas, McLaren Mercedes would have the same driver lineups.


The Next Couple of Weeks would be crucial. Kimi Raikkonen's decision should get the ball rolling for the rest.


Till then we wait.....




Where art thou goeth ICEMAN ??

"Flying Finn", " Iceman", "The King of Spa" are some of the nicknames that he is associated with. Love him or Hate him, he is a character you can't stop talking about in F1, be it his uninteresting though straightforward answers to the media or his rant on the pit radio in the races. As Natalie Pinkham once said " We know that he knows what he is doing ", one must admit that Kimi Raikkonen is from a different planet altogether.

Kimi has been hounded by the press recently who want to know his future plans. Kimi is without a contract at the end of the season.

Steve Robertson, Kimi Raikkonen's Manager has admitted that Kimi would stay in F1 in 2014. It is clear that the Iceman has enjoyed his second stint in F1. Lotus F1, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari are all vying for Kimi's Signature. Where will he end up?

Let's explore his options...


1)  Lotus F1 :

Kimi joined Lotus at the start of the 2012 season on a 2 year deal. The Team were a mid-table runner up until 2011. However Kimi's arrival has helped the team immensely and the team has been moving up the grid steadily. 2012 saw Kimi score in every race ( China the only exception ) and even win the Abu Dhabi GP. He Finished 3rd in the Drivers' Championship and the Team were 4th in the Constructors, a big leap compared to 2011.

The Team has gone from strength to strength with Kimi winning the season-opener at Australia in 2013, being 2nd 5 times after that and finishing every race in the points up until this point ( in 2013 ). Romain Grosjean has played the perfect support role to Kimi's Title Charge. Kimi is currently 2nd in the Standings, 38 Points behind leader Sebastien Vettel.



Reasons to stay at Lotus F1 :

Kimi loves life at Lotus. He has openly admitted that this. The Team has allowed him to enjoy life outside F1, be it participating in Motocross or other adventure sports that he loves. The Team have also kept Media and PR events at a minimal for him.

The Car has been extremely reliable for Kimi. He has finished every race so far, something that he couldn't accomplish even in his championship winning year in 2007. Kimi has responded with great results on track and will continue to do so as long as he has a strong package to play with.

Kimi is the no.1 driver in the team and shall always have the full support of the team.
The Team knows how to win Championships ( 2005 and 2006 ) and with Kimi they know another title is definitely on the cards.

An elaborate plan is in place for 2014 too and they would want him to spearhead the charge.


Hurdles in Contract Renewal :

Lotus F1 has a modest budget and fewer personnel compared to the bigger teams. However they have performed way better than the bigger names so far. F1 is an expensive sport and how long would the team be able to sustain the challenge at the front is the question.

Finances have started to trouble the team as some media reports suggest. Infiniti Racing, a 35 % Stakeholder in the team
( supposedly ) are yet to fulfill their financial commitment. The delay has put a strain on the team's resources. 

The reports of bigger players like Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari offering Kimi a seat in 2014 have not helped their cause.

If Lotus were to lose Kimi in 2014, finding a worthy replacement would be difficult. They might not be able to continue their climb up with the new replacement as he might lack the ability and the experience that Kimi possesses. 



2)  Red Bull Racing :

Mark Webber retires from F1 at the end of the season. Kimi is one of the options that Red Bull are considering for 2014. Will he make the switch?

Reasons to join Red Bull :

Red Bull Racing have been the team to beat since 2010. They have won 3 consecutive Drivers' Championships ( Vettel ) and 3 Constructors' Champions and are favourites for both titles this year too. The Car has been fantastic at most circuits thanks to the aerodynamic expertise of Mr. Adrian Newey. Red Bull has been the best package in 2013 too and the rest have been playing catchup.

Kimi Raikkonen was sponsored by Red Bull during his rallying years and enjoyed a great relationship with Adrian Newey when both were at McLaren Mercedes. Dr. Helmut Marko, advisor to Red Bull Racing has always admired Kimi and has expressed his desire to see him at Red Bull at 2014. Kimi knows that he has only a couple more years of racing left in him and with Red Bull he improves his chances of winning a second title considerably. 


Hurdles for a Red Bull Switch :

SEBASTIEN VETTEL is the biggest hurdle for such a switch. Vettel has been reared by Red Bull Racing and has come through the ranks to become their top driver. The 3 time World-Champion's life at Red Bull is reminiscent of the relationship Schumacher enjoyed with Ferrari during their Glory Years. Vettel would not want his co-driver to jeopardize this relationship or his position within the team. Kimi Raikkonen is very much capable of giving Vettel a hard time should he be his team-mate in 2014. Red Bull would find it difficult to show equality to both as they almost lost the plot in 2010 at the Turkish GP when Vettel crashed into Webber ending the latter's Championship hopes. Vettel has stated that he won't have a say in choosing his 2014 team-mate but I doubt that. He would want someone who would play a support role rather than challenge his throne.
Vettel also said that he would enjoy having Kimi as his team-mate as both are great friends off the track and Kimi is more straightforward according to him. Would events in 2014 put a strain on their friendship? Maybe..

Red Bull have a long-term plan in mind. They want someone who would build a similar relationship with the team like Vettel has. Kimi would not want more than 2 years on his contract and this might just dissuade Red Bull from obtaining his signature.

The 2014 Season might be another factor. The Massive Regulation changes would level the playing field and Red Bull might not have the same advantage that they have enjoyed so far. Vettel too has renewed his contract only till the end of the 2014 season, so he also is keeping his options open. Kimi's decision to switch might just backfire on him.

The Car isn't immune to unreliability or problems either. Mark Webber has suffered from many mechanical and personnel errors. Vettel too had to retire in some races due to issues in his car.

 

Scuderia Ferrari :

Ferrari have been playing catchup and have not won a championship since Kimi Raikkonen's title in 2007. They have come close in 2010 and 2012 only to end up second-best to Red Bull. They are 3rd in the Constructors this year and seemed to have lost their way. The Team has been going backwards and their development has been hampered by the lack of a proper wind tunnel for testing.

Why Ferrari :

Kimi always had admirers at Ferrari. Michael Schumacher stated that only Kimi Raikkonen was a worthy successor to his seat for 2007. Kimi performed exceptionally well and won the Drivers' Championship in 2007. Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari Team Principal still shares a healthy relationship with Kimi.

Ferrari still is the most successful team in F1 History and has enough finances to turn around the deficit that they face right now. James Allison joins the team on the Italian GP weekend and it is the first step towards addressing their problems. James had been an instrumental figure at Ferrari from 2002-2006 and helped Lotus regain ground until he left them this year. Kimi would feel at home and with James to assist the team with development, they might just return to their glory years.
Ferrari needs Kimi rather than vice-versa.



Issues at Ferrari :

Ferrari are very strict when it comes to regulating Drivers' Lives outside of F1. Kimi had to be wary whenever he participated in events outside F1. He did it all in secret much to the displeasure of Ferrari. Kimi's contract was cut short and he had to leave the team in 2010 to open the door for Alonso's entry who also brought in Santander who became Ferrari's Biggest Sponsors. Kimi thus had an unceremonious exit. He is not on good terms with Luca Montezemolo and has told those close to him that he would never work with the Ferrari top boss.

2014 with the Regulation Changes brings in its fair share on unpredictability and Ferrari engineers are reportedly struggling with keeping the fuel efficiency of the 1.6L V6 Engines in check. It might not be a smooth ride for Kimi if he were to switch.

Kimi would also be monitoring who would partner him at Ferrari. Alonso has expressed displeasure at the car's lack of performance this season and some sources believe that might jump ship to Red Bull. If so then Ferrari must bring in someone of Raikkonen's calibre. Massa too has had a torrid season and Ferrari is running out of patience with him. Raikkonen would face a similar situation ( like Red Bull ) if Alonso stays. Two champions in one team would make it difficult for Ferrari to play the balancing act.



Kimi Raikkonen has maintained the stance of concentrating on this season. He has not let next year's talk hamper his performance so far. Clarity would come sometime during the mid-season break. Kimi said in the Thursday Press Conference at Hungary that he shall take a decision soon. He said : "I think there is going to be an overall package and whatever feels right for me. Whatever the decision will be it might feel stupid to somebody else but then it might feel right for me. I have no idea what will happen. We have to wait and see what will come but hopefully whatever it will be, it will be the right choice." " Basically everything just has to feel right and I think in the end it comes down to whatever I think is the right choice and there will be no guarantee that the choice will be the good one in the long run but I’m fine with it, whatever the outcome will be; you live with the choices." ( Credit : www.fia.com )

The Word "Stupid" indicates different possibilities :

1) Some might interpret Kimi's decision to stay at Lotus as stupid as he had the chance to switch to Red Bull.

2) Some might interpret Kimi's decision to switch to Red Bull as stupid as he might have to play second fiddle to Vettel

3) Some might interpret Kimi's decision to switch to Ferrari as stupid as they are currently struggling and the struggle would continue 
    into 2014.

However he is ready to live with whatever he chooses as he knows it would be right for him

I believe that Lotus still offers him the best package overall. Leaving them at the end of the season would cause all the good work come to naught. He has built a great relationship with them and he enjoys life at Lotus. Others might be better off in other areas but Kimi would have to start from scratch and he might struggle with the working environment of other teams.


We can talk, speculate, discuss but we would never know what goes on in the mind of the Iceman. He would eventually make the call and believe its the right one for him.


He definitely knows what he is doing.


Wherever Kimi Raikkonen goes, I shall support him!!

The Flying Finn is at his best! All Hail the ICEMAN!! Common Kimi!!