New Driver, New Team, Can't Drive

[ArrowsFA1]

Just saw the news that Kimi was at Jerez meeting up with his new team:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55937

Couple of things about this:
1 - how daft is it that he "was not allowed to speak for contractual reasons"
2 - Both Alonso and Raikkonen are contracted to their 2006 teams until the end of the year, but why isn't the contract written so it ends after the last race? It seems a bit daft that Alonso & Raikkonen couldn't start work with their new teams almost immediately the season finished.

[JasonD]

The contracts were probably written like that in anticipation of the driver leaving thus limiting his practise time with the new team?

[Nem14]

Obviously, logic does not apply when a team writes a contract for a driver. What, to me, is even more amazing, is that the drivers lawyer/manager lets the driver sign the bloody thing.

It could be that they all have the expectation that the driver has found Nirvana and will never seek a different employer.

Actually, It just struck me why they do it. So they can extract money from the new team their former driver is goin to by letting the driver out of the contract early.

[PSfan]

Well I think this happens mainly because the race schedule is usually not finalised until sometime into the new year prior to the season start, so its impossible to predict the final race 2 years or more prior while drawing up the contracts. Plus its simpler and cleaner to just write it up till the end of a year, not to mention some other contracts (sponsorship & such) are probably done around a drivers contract as well...

[sonic_roadhog]

Well I read today the Ron is asking Renault to realease FA to test for McLaren before the end of the year. If Renault do allow it I guess it should only be fair that McLaren release Kimi early.

Sonic

[johnny shell]

I also read that Ferrari didn't even ask to get kimi early!

[Hawkmoon]

I also read that Ferrari didn't even ask to get kimi early!

That's because Ron hates Ferrari so much that he wouldn't allow it anyway.

Fairs fair though. If Ron gets Alonso early then Ferrari should get Raikkonen. The only problem is, that while Alonso desperately wants to test for McLaren I get the feeling that Raikkonen is quite happy having the rest of the year off.

[sonic_roadhog]

That's because Ron hates Ferrari so much that he wouldn't allow it anyway.

Fairs fair though. If Ron gets Alonso early then Ferrari should get Raikkonen. The only problem is, that while Alonso desperately wants to test for McLaren I get the feeling that Raikkonen is quite happy having the rest of the year off.

Very true - Kimi looks far too relaxed to get behind the wheel. Maybe if they offer him some champange as a reward

Sonic

[Bolton Midnight]

I bet that these drivers who aren't allowed to test do so, but wear team mates lids.

[Valve Bounce]

I can't see the problem here as Ferrari have excellent test drivers to provide feedback on the new tyres and car setups. Not sure about McLaren's test drivers but I am sure Hamilton would be only too happy to test and test and test!!