Formula 1 2010 Season ###SPOILER###

Raikkonen to take a sabbatical in 2010

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, November 17th 2009, 23:55 GMT


Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will take a sabbatical from Formula 1 next year, his manager has revealed, following the collapse of talks with McLaren about a deal for 2010.

Raikkonen said last month that, in the wake of being released from his Ferrari contract, his only option to remain in F1 was with McLaren - because he wanted to be guaranteed a top-line grand prix car.

However, amid increasing speculation that Jenson Button is on his way to the British team, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson revealed on Tuesday night that discussions with McLaren had come to an end.

"The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or not at all," Robertson was quoted as saying by respected Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, which has close links with the Raikkonen camp. "Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level - at least not next year.

"A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi. He worked hard over the summer - doing things in a Ferrari that only the best drivers are capable of."

AUTOSPORT understands that there were several stumbling blocks to a deal being completed with McLaren prior to the team finding out that Button was available and interested.

As well as a difference of opinion about wages, Raikkonen and McLaren were believed to not be in agreement about the number of sponsorship appearance days he should do, or about how free he was to do rallies.

With Raikkonen only interested in returning to F1 in a race-winning car, his best option for 2011 would appear to lie with Red Bull Racing - which has a theoretical vacancy for 2011 with Mark Webber currently only contracted until the end of next year.

Although it is not clear what Raikkonen will do next year, it is possible that he will focus his efforts on the World Rally Championship – while he sorts out an F1 return. Red Bull could be involved in his rally plans too.

It looks like the crash didn't stop Kubica from continuing his rally adventures and he will contest another rally. He is on the list of entrants for the 55 Rallye du Var, last round of French championship. Loeb will also drive in the rally with his wife as a co-driver in a C4 WRC. Kubica will start in a simpler FWD Renault Clio R3.

Originally Posted by F1Crazy

It looks like Kovalainen will be out as well so it means no Finnish driver in F1?!!!

I think that Kovalainen will drive in Formula One.

Now that Glock has gone to Manor, Kovalainen has a shot at the vacant Renault seat.

Also, Sauber is a possibility.

The bottom line with Räikkönen not getting the McLaren seat is MONEY.

McLaren could not pay what they were asking.

So, Räikkönen will take the 11.8 million Euros that Santander is paying him not to drive, and he will go and do something else. Like WRC with either Petter Solberg's team, or in a third Citroën for Red Bull.

It's official, Button to McLaren. Very surprised and somewhat disappointed in that move. Finally Button has the success everyone always thought he was capable of and then he leaves the team after it just secured more money through Mercedes Benz? Odd...

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../11/10228.html

Originally Posted by cwinter

It's official, Button to McLaren. Very surprised and somewhat disappointed in that move. Finally Button has the success everyone always thought he was capable of and then he leaves the team after it just secured more money through Mercedes Benz? Odd...

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../11/10228.html

It seems that Ross was still courting Button right up to the end.
Odd turn of events but then again this is F1.

Originally Posted by cwinter

It's official, Button to McLaren. Very surprised and somewhat disappointed in that move. Finally Button has the success everyone always thought he was capable of and then he leaves the team after it just secured more money through Mercedes Benz? Odd...

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../11/10228.html

I think it's a good move for Button, he accomplished what every driver sets out to do in F1, his chances of winning another championship are slim and chances of scoring more wins are the same in either team so he took the money that he thinks he deserves.

Originally Posted by Patrick

I think that Kovalainen will drive in Formula One.

Now that Glock has gone to Manor, Kovalainen has a shot at the vacant Renault seat.

Also, Sauber is a possibility.

I don't see why any high ranked team would hire him, he already had his chance at Renault. He didn't turn out to be the driver people had hoped he would be after winning that ROC.

Getting a seat at Brawn for Heidfeld would be like winning a lottery, talk about change of luck.

Patrick, just read that there is information in Finnish media about some Russian investors for 40% of Renault, bringing enough money to secure teams future in F1. There might be a Russian driver in F1 - Vitaly Petrov. ???

Originally Posted by F1Crazy

Patrick, just read that there is information in Finnish media about some Russian investors for 40% of Renault, bringing enough money to secure teams future in F1. There might be a Russian driver in F1 - Vitaly Petrov. ???

I can't find anything about this from my sources, but that doesn't mean anything.

Petrov was Ok in GP2, but I am not sure if he would be any better than Grosjean.

Keke Rosberg (who has all of the inside info on Formula One) says that Kovalainen will go to Renault.

[QUOTE=cwinter;4693803]It's official, Button to McLaren. Very surprised and somewhat disappointed in that move. Finally Button has the success everyone always thought he was capable of and then he leaves the team after it just secured more money through Mercedes Benz? Odd...QUOTE]



The way I see it Brawn and Button lucked out in the beginning of the season with a dominant car. Button managed to not f/u and then drove it home. If there were more races Button and Brawn may not have made it to the end in points.

Brawn team is still very new and all the bucks$ in Mercedes can not change that.

Kimi to Brawn/Mercedes.

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Kimi to Brawn/Mercedes.

And his team mate is Juan Poblo.

Originally Posted by franka

And his team mate is Juan Poblo.

All I know is that its on a number of sites tonight.

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Kimi to Brawn/Mercedes.

Räikkönen to Mercedes GP.

Originally Posted by franka

And his team mate is Juan Poblo.

No, Rosberg.

Originally Posted by Patrick

Räikkönen to Mercedes GP.

No. Räikkönen is taking a year off.

Now we can end the speculation!

Originally Posted by Patrick

No. Räikkönen is taking a year off.

Now we can end the speculation!

Yeah, that'll work

My head's spinning. Think I'll lay down for a while.

Originally Posted by franka

The way I see it Brawn and Button lucked out in the beginning of the season with a dominant car. Button managed to not f/u and then drove it home. If there were more races Button and Brawn may not have made it to the end in points.

Brawn team is still very new and all the bucks$ in Mercedes can not change that.

A lot of championships have been won like this recently.

Someone comes out the gates faster and the other teams play catchup. Nothing new. Brawn did a fabulous job all season long and this championship is Ross Brawn's crowning achievement. If he wasn't a legend already, he is now.

Originally Posted by Patrick

No. Räikkönen is taking a year off.

No, not without my permission is he taking a year off.

Brawn will not release Button early

By Edd Straw Thursday, November 19th 2009, 15:19 GMT


Jenson Button will be blocked from doing any work for his new team McLaren before the end of the year by his current employer Brawn, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The Mercedes-Benz owned team has Button under contract to the end of 2009, and although in similar cases squads have sometimes released departing drivers to their new teams early by mutual consent, his current employer has no intention of doing so.

Button's current contract expires on December 31, and although he will be free to work with McLaren once that date has passed, Brawn will be "rigorously enforcing" his contract until that time.

"Jenson will not be doing anything at all for McLaren until the end of this calendar year," Brawn chief executive officer Nick Fry told AUTOSPORT. "And if he does, we will be looking on it very dimly.

"He didn't have any obligations to us for 2010, but there are issues with regards to the signing process on which we are in discussion with him at the moment.

"There are clear constraints on what Jenson can do between now and the end of the year, which we will be rigorously enforcing."

Button signed a three-year contract with the defunct Honda team during the 2008 season that tied him to the team until 2011, but when the outfit was reformed as Brawn he signed a new deal for only the 2009 season.

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I can not see Button doing well at McLaren. Right now Button holds the championship but if he goes to McLaren and is not at least equal to Lewis it will always be said that Button wasn't good at Brawn, it was just the car he was in.

I predict that Lewis will have the upper hand over Button and that it will be like that for most of the season. Button does not have killer instinct.

Originally Posted by franka

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I can not see Button doing well at McLaren. Right now Button holds the championship but if he goes to McLaren and is not at least equal to Lewis it will always be said that Button wasn't good at Brawn, it was just the car he was in.

I predict that Lewis will have the upper hand over Button and that it will be like that for most of the season. Button does not have killer instinct.

Very likely. Shades of Alonso's move to McLaren. I doubt Button will block Lewis from pitting in time to do a final qualifying lap, though.

I hope that you are all sitting down.








MSchumacher is negotiating a contract with Mercedes Grand Prix, to return to Formula One in 2010.

This is according to the BBC.

Eddie Jordan is assisting with the negotiations.

Originally Posted by Patrick

I hope that you are all sitting down.








MSchumacher is negotiating a contract with Mercedes Grand Prix, to return to Formula One in 2010.

This is according to the BBC.

Eddie Jordan is assisting with the negotiations.

E.J.'s involved.
Nuff said