Kimi Raikkonen denies Red Bull move
Lotus driver still unsure about his future next season.
Fernando Alonso has defended the race strategy Ferrari used in the German Grand Prix even though he finished off the podium. PHOTO: AFP
Expectations for Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen to depart from the team once his contract expires at the season’s end has strongly linked him to a move to Red Bull. But the 2007 title winner was adamant the deal had not been made yet, according to Sky Sports.
The Red Bull target’s intentions are still undecided and he vowed his future was unclear after Sebastian Vettel admitted he would welcome the ‘great challenge’ of partnering the Finn in 2014.
Alongside Raikkonen, Toro Rosso duo Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo have been shortlisted as favourites to replace the retiring Mark Webber. Plenty of paddock insiders however believed Raikkonen’s seat had been finalised with some reports making claims that Webber had jumped the wagon before he was pushed.
But Raikkonen insisted against these emerging rumours.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future,” Raikkonen assured reporters after the German Grand Prix.
“Things will be decided at some point but until that happens there’s nothing to talk about. I would definitely tell if I know something just so that all these follow-up rumours and nonsense stops straight away. But right now, there’s absolutely nothing for next year and we will just have to wait and see.”
Alonso defends race strategy
More noises were made after the German Grand Prix concluded as Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso defended the race strategy his team had used even though he finished off the podium.
He trailed winner Vettel, Raikkonen and another Lotus driver Romain Grosjean at fourth place, now 34 points behind the champion in the Drivers’ Championship.
“The strategy was very good,” the Spaniard said after the race. “I think this strategy gave us the possibility to fight for the podium.
“We were not quick enough today, we didn’t have the pace. And even with that, we fight for the podium and we were very close to the leading group.”
On another note, leading Formula One team bosses have called to tighten up pit-lane safety in the wake of the incident which saw a television cameraman face injury due to a flying tyre at the German race.
According to them, everyone – apart from the mechanics – close to the action should wear protective head gear.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2013.
The Red Bull target’s intentions are still undecided and he vowed his future was unclear after Sebastian Vettel admitted he would welcome the ‘great challenge’ of partnering the Finn in 2014.
Alongside Raikkonen, Toro Rosso duo Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo have been shortlisted as favourites to replace the retiring Mark Webber. Plenty of paddock insiders however believed Raikkonen’s seat had been finalised with some reports making claims that Webber had jumped the wagon before he was pushed.
But Raikkonen insisted against these emerging rumours.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future,” Raikkonen assured reporters after the German Grand Prix.
“Things will be decided at some point but until that happens there’s nothing to talk about. I would definitely tell if I know something just so that all these follow-up rumours and nonsense stops straight away. But right now, there’s absolutely nothing for next year and we will just have to wait and see.”
Alonso defends race strategy
More noises were made after the German Grand Prix concluded as Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso defended the race strategy his team had used even though he finished off the podium.
He trailed winner Vettel, Raikkonen and another Lotus driver Romain Grosjean at fourth place, now 34 points behind the champion in the Drivers’ Championship.
“The strategy was very good,” the Spaniard said after the race. “I think this strategy gave us the possibility to fight for the podium.
“We were not quick enough today, we didn’t have the pace. And even with that, we fight for the podium and we were very close to the leading group.”
On another note, leading Formula One team bosses have called to tighten up pit-lane safety in the wake of the incident which saw a television cameraman face injury due to a flying tyre at the German race.
According to them, everyone – apart from the mechanics – close to the action should wear protective head gear.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2013.