Raikkonen signed five-year deal at Ferrari!

[Carl.]

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According to Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, Ferrari has exercised its option on Kimi Raikkonen to race for the Italian team next season. This means the Finn would have signed a five-year-contract.
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The story is based on the Finnish tabloid's reliable sources, which are close to Kimi Raikkonen. According to the source Raikkonen's contract is worth around 160 million euros and thus the 26-year-old would earn 32 million euros a year.

Michael Schumacher said in Hockenheim he will announce his future plans in Monza and it is very likely that Raikkonen's plans will be announced shortly after Schumacher's decision was announced.

I'm really starting to think that there will be only one world champion on the grid next year... I would have preferred to see him go to Renault, and have one last fight between these three...

Edit: In other news, Ross Brawn won't work for Ferrari in 2007, according to Autosport.

 

[Tornado]

So, I am guessing that Micheal is retiring then.

 

[Small_Fryz]

It would be nice to see MS and Raikkonen on the same side.

It should be no team orders for the 1st half of the season and maybe once the leader is shown team orders can come a bit into play.

I think this is a smart move for Raikkonen.

 

[Brett]

This is absolutely huge! 👍 Hopefully Ferrari will be able to provide Kimi with a fast and reliable car.

 

[Casio]

So if MS stays where is Massa going to go? I feel a bit sorry for him as he has really done a good job this season. A couple of times he might have been able to contest for a win if he wasn't ordered to stay back, his fastest laps in races and in qualifying are barely anything behind MS.

It would make it really interesting having Webber and Massa out of contract. I can see Webber going to Renault, but Massa won't (and shouldn't) be forced to go to Williams, or Red Bull. I can't see him at McLaren, or Toyota. (Although Toyota would be a very smart move next year, with Michelin teams playing catch-up, and Toyota's performance this year hasn't been awful)

But I think MS will retire. Because I think Ferrari would know that Kimi wouldn't just sit behind MS playing 'tail-gunner' the whole season. It'd be too much risk to take these days to let those two drivers go head-to-head at the front possibly taking each other out. As much as we'd all like to see it.

 

[Brett]

Williams has already confirmed their two drivers for next year. It will be Nico Rosberg and Alex Wurz. When I last looked, Mark Webber had not confirmed where he will be going to.

Toyota is a team that is really in need of a very good and consistent driver. Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher just will not cut it. Massa could be of benefit to Toyota, but I do not really know what will happen with Massa if both Kimi and Schumi end up at Ferrari. I have always wondered what might happen. I guess we will see in the coming days.

 

[east]

It'd be too much risk to take these days to let those two drivers go head-to-head at the front possibly taking each other out.

These two are too good, the only way that will happen is if its intentional.

I think Schumi will go for one more year with Raikkonen, this is the only thing Schumi is yet to do in his F1 career, race in the same team/same car with a driver many would consider his equal, if he does this and beats Raikkonen there will be no doubting that he is the greatest F1 driver, I dont think he will lose any respect from anyone if he teams with Raikkonen and loses.

 

[amp88]

If Brawn really is going then I can't see M Schumacher staying. I'll wait until Monza before I believe this story though.

 

[Carl.]

I've read on our local F1 site that it's only a sabbatical for Brawn.

 

[m7ammed]

Toyota already signed there drivers , so no place for webber or massa there , Webber & Massa have 4 teams which they migh have a chance going to Renualt , McMerc , Redbull , BMW

 

[Casio]

These two are too good, the only way that will happen is if its intentional.

I think Schumi will go for one more year with Raikkonen, this is the only thing Schumi is yet to do in his F1 career, race in the same team/same car with a driver many would consider his equal, if he does this and beats Raikkonen there will be no doubting that he is the greatest F1 driver, I dont think he will lose any respect from anyone if he teams with Raikkonen and loses.

But would he risk tainting his record? During his Ferrari dominance he's had Eddie Ervine, RB and Massa. All quite fast drivers, not not in the league of MS, Kimi or Alonso.

While you say he won't lose any respect if you he loses out to Kimi. I'm not so sure. I think people will say he only won the championships because he always had the best car, and his teammates were always told to stay behind. Last year for example, the Renault was the best car, if there was ever a time to prove that he was really the greatest ever, it was then. But instead he finished 3rd in the Championship. If not for the US GP then he would have finished 5th, and wouldn't have a win for the whole season.

So what happens if next year, Kimi goes to Ferrari and blows him out of the water? It would surely prove he only won because he had the best car, and no competition from his teammates. Wouldn't it?

 

[Small_Fryz]

But would he risk tainting his record? During his Ferrari dominance he's had Eddie Ervine, RB and Massa. All quite fast drivers, not not in the league of MS, Kimi or Alonso.

While you say he won't lose any respect if you he loses out to Kimi. I'm not so sure. I think people will say he only won the championships because he always had the best car, and his teammates were always told to stay behind. Last year for example, the Renault was the best car, if there was ever a time to prove that he was really the greatest ever, it was then. But instead he finished 3rd in the Championship. If not for the US GP then he would have finished 5th, and wouldn't have a win for the whole season.

So what happens if next year, Kimi goes to Ferrari and blows him out of the water? It would surely prove he only won because he had the best car, and no competition from his teammates. Wouldn't it?

Your forgetting 1994 and 1995. Plus he almost won again in 1997 against a mighty supirior Willams. Ferrari last year sucked big balls, Alonso definetly wouldnt have won any more than Schui did if the roles were reversed.

 

[east]

I think people will say he only won the championships because he always had the best car, and his teammates were always told to stay behind.

People have been saying that for a long time now anyway

Last year for example, the Renault was the best car, if there was ever a time to prove that he was really the greatest ever, it was then.

He has a second chance at it this year, and this year Alonso had an even better start than last, and Schumi looks all set to take it from him this time, but the season isnt over yet, so we'll have to wait and see on that

But would he risk tainting his record?

That I do not know

 

[Casio]

Your forgetting 1994 and 1995. Plus he almost won again in 1997 against a mighty supirior Willams. Ferrari last year sucked big balls, Alonso definetly wouldnt have won any more than Schui did if the roles were reversed.

While it's true in 1994 Schumacher only won by 1 point. He was disqualified for 4 races during that season. Every other race that he completed he finished first or second. So I'd make the assumption that he would have finished infront of Hill by at least 20 points at the end of the season had he been allowed to race those. Hill only got close because he won 3 of the 4 races Schumacher is disqualified. I think the Benetton Ford was at least equal to the Williams Renault that season, had it not been for the DQs he would have convincingly won that season, and Damon Hill isn't in the same league as MS, Alonso, Kimi, Senna etc.

This was proven in 1995, when Schumacher won the championship by a country mile. Again everytime he finished only on 1 occasions was he off the podium. Beating Hill and Coultard, who again, are quality drivers, but not superstars.

1997 is a bit funny, because although his Ferrari was crap compared to the Williams', Villeneuve isn't a superstar driver either. He hasn't even won since 1997.

 

[Blake]

He’s only had 3 races where he was in a car that was remotely competitive since 1997.

 

[Kylehnat]

He’s only had 3 races where he was in a car that was remotely competitive since 1997.

And sucked big time.

I think Michael should bow out. It's just time for him to go. There seems to be a youth-movement in F1 these days. If he stays around too much longer, he'll be twice as old as some of the drivers in the field.

 

[Small_Fryz]

And sucked big time.

I think Michael should bow out. It's just time for him to go. There seems to be a youth-movement in F1 these days. If he stays around too much longer, he'll be twice as old as some of the drivers in the field.

As long as he can still fight for the title, He has more right than most of the feild to be their.

 

[TMM]

These two are too good, the only way that will happen is if its intentional.

I think Schumi will go for one more year with Raikkonen, this is the only thing Schumi is yet to do in his F1 career, race in the same team/same car with a driver many would consider his equal, if he does this and beats Raikkonen there will be no doubting that he is the greatest F1 driver, I dont think he will lose any respect from anyone if he teams with Raikkonen and loses.

I disagree, Schumi would sooner take Kimi off the track than have him pass him in the same car, then he doesn't have any more excuses...

I think he will retire and move into a different form of racing, maybe after a year or 2 break. He is married now and doesn't he have children as well?

 

[Roo]

I think people will say he only won the championships because he always had the best car

Personally, I'm of the opinion that more or less regardless of driver, if the car isn't any good then wins won't happen. Alonso wouldn't have won last year if his car performed like the 04 Renault did. MS won seven times because he was driving seven of the best cars in the field in their respective years. Same goes for Hakkinen, Villeneuve, Hill... pretty much any driver who's ever won the championship has been driving one of the best cars of the year.

Sure, the driver makes some difference - Schumacher won so many championships mostly because of the car, but also because he's a damn good driver - but if he'd been driving, say, a Williams for the last 7 years, he'd never have come close (except possibly in 2003).

Championships come down to at least 95% car.

 

[Carl.]

^^ Indeed.

As much as I'm tired to hear this, the very nature of F1 makes this a reality, we'll never know how much is due to the driver skills and how much is due to their car.

One thing is sure though: some drivers, with the right car, are able to make it. Few drivers have what it takes to win a championship (Villeneuve, Hill, Alonso, MS), while the rest of them don't (Coultard, Fisichella, Barichello, Trulli, Ralf and so on...).

Perhaps with the exception of the Senna/Prost years at McLaren, you can bash about every single world champion in modern F1 on how superior his car was compared to the rest of the field (especially when you don't like him ). But then what's the point of watching, or even following F1?

 

[Lee]

Opens things up nicely for Webber if the story is infact true. If MS stays in the game however then Massa could be screwed out of a good seat, which I agree is a shame.

 

[<_Spike_>]

It's rumoured Webber will be signing for Red Bull, along side DC...

As for this news...papers report stuff all year round, until Monza nothing is certain in my eyes

 

[DLRgian]

This is absolutely huge! 👍 Hopefully Ferrari will be able to provide Kimi with a fast and reliable car.

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. Their car is the fastest at this point in the season and reliable.

 

[Brett]

I mainly meant that if Kimi does in fact move to Ferrari, their run of engineering a fast and reliable car will continue. It would be a real shame for that to change once a new hotshot moved in.

 

[C_Suzuki]

i think if MS wins he will might stay in the game but if he becomes runner up he will rerire

 

[Z]

i think if MS wins he will might stay in the game but if he becomes runner up he will rerire

I'm thinking the exact opposite. The man has nearly every meaningful record on lock-down. An 8th WDC would be an excellent way to put the final nail in the coffin, so to speak.

Then again, even if he should lose by a mere point or two, it would still have been a fine year. With family life to tend to and many years ahead of him. . . why not get it while the gettin's good? I'd certainly hate to see a Brett-Farve like decline.

Staying in the game with all the records, etc.. (not to mention the huge margins on some of those records) seems a bit greedy, IMO. Make way for some fresh talent here and there . . .

Just my view on things . . .

 

[m7ammed]

I think he shouldn't risk it eally and just retire this year , what happens if in 2007 he gets another 2005 season? or maybe worse ...

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

I just hope Massa doesn't lose his seat, he's delivering excellent results 👍

 

[DLRgian]

Massa has really stepped up in the last few races. Grabbed valuable points for Ferrari.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I think that Schuey would be quicker than Raikkonen over a season. As much as he's called "The Iceman" I really don't see that Kimi has the self-control to mount a championship challenge, and to be at the top of his game race-in, race-out.

Indeed, if Raikkonen and M.Schumacher were at Ferrari, I could see a Richard Burns-style WDC for a (similar) journeyman such as Giancarlo Fisichella.