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[LRW]

Yeah, ok thats fine, I totally understand that. But at the moment, both Kimi and Alonso can be pretty confident they will be No.1 each year in their respective cars, as they are both much stronger drivers than their team mates. If Kimi comes along to Ferrari, they are both going to have to fight for that No.1 status. Therefore will they both be happy with that situation? Especially compare to how easy they both have it now (relatively).

Im not slating Ferrari's tactics in the slightest.

You do make an interesting point and, a long time ago Enzo was very heavily criticized for that. In fact there were some who believed Enzo's refusal to decree a #1 driver at the start of each season contributed to the deaths of some of his drivers. Enzo's logic was to encourage all his drivers with the belief that, with the right results, no matter who the other drivers were, they could become the teams #1. It is widely believed that this is written into every Ferrari drivers contract even until today.

And, BOTH Alonso and Kimi SHOULD believe they will be #1!

Agreed Sagi, that's been Ferrari's philosophy since the day dot and, whilst it may not be to everyone liking, it works for the team and, personally I'm happy with it P:)

I just doubt, going on the way he presents himself, that Kimi has the drive to fight for it.

Maybe this is just another retirement plan ......?

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Confirmed – Raikkonen to Rejoin Ferrari in 2014

...Raikkonen, who will partner Fernando Alonso, is said to have agreed to a two-year deal. It is believed that Shell will be footing the bill for Raikkonen to join the team. The Finn will reportedly earn 20 million Euro per season. Another alleged condition of Raikkonen’s contract includes his current race engineer, Mark Slade, make the move to Ferrari as well...

[What's Burning?]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

[sagi58]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

To translate for those who don't?

[LRW]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

To translate for those who don't?

[Big Azza]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

What does this mean for Rob Smedley?

I was looking forward to awkward relationship between them.

[LRW]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

What does this mean for Rob Smedley?

I was looking forward to awkward relationship between them.

See Here. Might help part answer your question....

[Big Azza]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

What does this mean for Rob Smedley?

I was looking forward to awkward relationship between them.

See Here. Might help part answer your question....

Right!

[LewEngBridewell]

Why does Kimi even need an engineer? He knows what he's doing.

What does this mean for Rob Smedley?

I was looking forward to awkward relationship between them.

See Here. Might help part answer your question....

Right!

No!!! Rob Smedley is too good a character to lose from the paddock!

[ptiberio]

I have been waiting for Luca to eat crow and kiss up to Kimi...wonder if Kimi included the Luca lovefest in his contract

Ferrari: Raikkonen is back to his best
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo believes that Kimi Raikkonen "has returned to greatness" since his short Formula 1 sabbatical and subsequent two-year spell with Lotus, tipping the Finn to shine during his second stint at Maranello.

Following last week's announcement that Raikkonen is to partner Fernando Alonso on a two-year deal from 2014, di Montezemolo has spoken out to describe the former World Champion as a new man compared to the one who left at the end of 2009.

And perhaps acting to further motivate Alonso, di Montezemolo hinted that Raikkonen could go on to emulate Niki Lauda, who spent two seasons on the sidelines before returning to the sport and later beating McLaren team-mate Alain Prost to the title.

"Raikkonen's case is identical to Lauda," he explained to Gazzetta dello Sport. "Niki at one point said 'enough' because he couldn't do it anymore. I'm speaking of the twin brother of Kimi, because the driver who we had racing for us wasn't the one we hired.

"The break has done him good; he has returned to greatness, he's won races and he's finished lots of races. I wanted a driver who wouldn't make me miss Massa: here he is. From Raikkonen I am demanding victories, consistency, podiums. Returning to Lauda, when he came back remember he beat Prost to the World Championship."

Di Montezemolo added that Ferrari refrained from signing a younger driver, such as Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg, as it wanted the certainty that Raikkonen could provide.

"The alternative of signing a young driver in a championship as complex as 2014 did not give us certainty," he said, referring to the major technical regulation changes. "Today Raikkonen is the strongest of them all, with Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton."

Although di Montezemolo stated last year that he did not want "two roosters in the same hen house" in future seasons, he says Alonso is "the first to be happy" with Raikkonen's impending arrival, and claims the Spaniard will benefit as a result.

[What's Burning?]

So much for the altruistic money isn't everything arguments.

ESPNF1 Kimi Raikkonen has revealed that his decision to leave Lotus for Ferrari at the end of the year was motivated by money.

Raikkonen's future has been at the centre of speculation over recent weeks after he was first linked with Red Bull before agreeing terms with Ferrari. Lotus was keen to keep the Finn and said it was close to giving him the reassurances he wanted, but Raikkonen claims missing payments swayed his decision.

"I like to race, that's the only reason why I'm here and it doesn't matter what team it is," he said. "The reasons why [I haven't been paid] you will have to ask from the team, but the reason why I left the team is purely from the money side - the thing is, I haven't got my salary. It's an unfortunate thing but I want to try to help the team as much as I can."

Raikkonen will be pitched against Fernando Alonso at Ferrari in 2014, leading to speculation that the two world champions could fall out with each other over the course of the season. But Raikkonen believes any differences will be dealt with behind closed doors and will not disrupt the team.

"I don't see the reason why it won't work," he added. "We are old enough to know what we are doing and the team is for sure working for the right things. If there is something I'm sure we can talk it through; it's not like we are 20 years old anymore.

"I might be wrong and time will tell but I'm pretty sure all things will be good. For sure there will be hard fights on the race circuit and sometimes things go wrong, but I'm pretty sure it will be okay."

Raikkonen also dispelled stories that he had not enjoyed his time at Ferrari between 2007 and 2009.

"There are a lot of stories from my past at different teams but it's all from the media," he said. "I don't think you guys work at the different teams so you don't really know what is happening and you write a lot of stuff that is sometimes true and sometimes not. I had a good time and I'm sure we will have a good time together again."

[LewEngBridewell]

More money, more magnums.

[Jabberwocky]

Lets face it if your employer did not always pay you, you would find another job.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

[Hammer278]

All I can think is what Lotus would feel seeing those in headlines everywhere. Man, talk about shameful. Their sponsors won't be pleased.

I wonder if Genii Capital is the one responsible for taking their sweet time paying employees?

[Zekenwolf]

More money, more magnums.

And more ice cream!