Kimi's future - No racing in 2010?

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

The only bitterness we have here is your bitterness that McLaren Mercedes dumped useless Heidfeld and bought Kimi instead back in 2001. :rotflmao: Talk about being a fanboy.
As for sarcasm, yes, I admit to being guilty of that. Stupidity of some people often brings that side of me up.

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Ouch

Let's quit personal comments/attacks...thank you!

I appreciate that you're a moderator and that you have a responsibility, but it was only a bit of banter. We were still discussing F1 more than anything else.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Than why didn't they accept what McLaren proposed to them? Let us know when you find some SF answer to this question.

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I thought the answer was pretty clear. McLeran offered Kimi probably the same $ that Button offered to drive for, and Kimi would make more money sitting at home thanks to Ferrari.

If McLeran had the Budget, they should have ignored the money Ferrari where paying kimi and offered what he was worth which would be probably in the 8-10mil range instead of thinking they could get a deal because Kimi was already being paid. But as it stands McLerans is probably already paying more on Hamilton + Button then they have ever paid for 2 drivers, one has to assume they didn't really have the money to give Kimi what he wanted.

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

You still have not shown us the logic why Kimi would say he is only interested in McLaren (ruling him out of other options), while according to you, he is afraid of Hamilton and does not want to team up with him.
Explain that.

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You want me to explain something I already explained but you wouldn't explain your part? Nice try.

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Originally Posted by PSfan

I thought the answer was pretty clear. McLeran offered Kimi probably the same $ that Button offered to drive for, and Kimi would make more money sitting at home thanks to Ferrari.

If McLeran had the Budget, they should have ignored the money Ferrari where paying kimi and offered what he was worth which would be probably in the 8-10mil range instead of thinking they could get a deal because Kimi was already being paid. But as it stands McLerans is probably already paying more on Hamilton + Button then they have ever paid for 2 drivers, one has to assume they didn't really have the money to give Kimi what he wanted.

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I don't think money was the problem, IMO Kimi would have lost too Lewis and he and Robertson know this so they saved face asking for an insane amount of money (for a driver who didn't prove much the last couple of seasons, while continuing to say that they would like to get a contract with McLaren.

Any driver who gets beaten by his team mate loses market value and that's something the manager doesn't want to happen. What I don't understand is why Kimi didn't chose himself to drive for McLaren for the millions they offered him when he already got plenty of money from Ferrari?!

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Originally Posted by pettersolberg29

If you want me to drive for McLaren, possibly the best team in F1, for minimum wage then I'll be there. Its not exactly as if they offered him a pittance is it? It would have been at least 5/6 million, yes million, euros.

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Totally agree.

I just wonder whether McLaren felt that Bunsen might be the better team mate for Lewis than Kimi.

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Originally Posted by ioan

I don't think money was the problem, IMO Kimi would have lost too Lewis and he and Robertson know this so they saved face asking for an insane amount of money (for a driver who didn't prove much the last couple of seasons, while continuing to say that they would like to get a contract with McLaren.

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I'm inclined to go with Gerry on this, Lewis is a constant at McLeran so why would Kimi's team mention that it was McLeran or nothing prior to the Mercedes announcement. And we will never know what Kimi's insane asking price, we do know Button signed for less then what Kimi would have to sign for to break even with what Ferrari are paying for him to stay home.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Any driver who gets beaten by his team mate loses market value and that's something the manager doesn't want to happen. What I don't understand is why Kimi didn't chose himself to drive for McLaren for the millions they offered him when he already got plenty of money from Ferrari?!

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I really don't think being beat by Lewis would have been much concern for Kimi. He didn't seem fazed much by being out-performed by Massa. One could say why ask for more money from McLeran when he was already getting alot of money from Ferrari, but thats a pretty simple explanation. the Ferrari money is a one year deal only... so as it stands in 2010 Kimi will be making $17 mil to stay home or would have made $16 mil to race at McLeran. But come 2011 it would be harder to ask for his true market value after he accepted only $6mil from McLeran

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Originally Posted by ioan

Than why didn't they accept what McLaren proposed to them? Let us know when you find some SF answer to this question.

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I think the problem is that Ferrari pays Kimi 17 million if he DON'T drive next season, but "only" 10 million if he participate in some team in F1..

So the new team must pay 7 million or Kimi "lose" money – and if the McLaren offer was 5 million as rumours tells - then that would be 2 million $ minus for Kimi, I think that’s the main reason for the idea to go to Rally next season. Kimi like F1 but also Rally.. Maybe he thinks that let Ferrari pay - Kimi didn't like to leave Ferrari - but when the Santander was there their money and Ferrari kick out their latest Champion (for money) so let them pay - 17 million dollar. Kimi is a big talent and the best paid driver on the greed - but he can’t drive. Thanks to Ferrari..

Now it looks that people in Mercedes GP are interested of Kimi - maybe - (and Norbert Haug and Kimi know each other very well) under thus conditions – maybe it’s possible to make a construction where a good result for Kimi also pays him that much that he gets his money. I think the car is no problem; it should fit Kimi very well.

But everything tells that Kimi doesn’t drive F1 next season.. Rally – possible, I would like to see him in F1 but Rally with Kimi would be interesting as well.

:)