Kimi Set To Retire?

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From SkySports...

World champion Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he is considering retiring from Formula One when his current contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2009.

With speculation rife that next season will be the Finn's last, he did little to suggest otherwise when asked about his plans ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

"I still have a contract until the end of next year," said Raikkonen at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"I haven't made any decision as to whether I will keep going or not. That's the last contract I have and we will wait and see during this year and next year what happens.

"I haven't made my mind up and we will see."

Negatives

Raikkonen, 28, said that for him, the enjoyment he got from the sport had to outweigh the negatives he perceived in Formula One.

"I wouldn't stop if I thought I would miss it," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen after next year.

"I think I'm going to race as long as I enjoy it. I think it's the right thing for me and when the day comes when it's no longer fun. Then, for sure, I stop.

"It can be the end of next year, it can be in four years' time. It's too early to say.

"But it's purely if I like it or not. That's the reason I keep going or not. There are many reasons why you like Formula One or not.

"Many people only like the driving and the rest can be something that you don't enjoy. When there are more things that you don't like, then it's time to stop."
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Time flies, didn't realise he was 28, doesn't seem that long ago when he got his maiden victory in Malaysia for McLaren.
 
Of course he is set to retire! He has a World Championship, a fair salary and pension...

However, I don't think he will choose to retire given his statements as early as next year. He still has a lot of skill left and he now seems very secure with Ferrari; he may retire in 2 years but 2 years at the soonest.
 
I heard last month that me might quit and thought nothing of it.

Kimi is one of them people that you dont know what hes thinking. Many pictures show he doesnt change his expression much. As he said he'll go on as long as he enjoys it. Fair play that hes not just in it for the money.
 
Every time I hear these reports, there's usually an accompanying statement that it will pave the way for Alonso to join the Prancing Stallions, which makes me deeply sceptical on account of the fact that Ferrari had made it plain they don't want the Spaniard.
 
Kimi says he will retire when hes no longer enjoying it.

Im sure another world champion title would make him "enjoy" it a lot more :sly:

I think what he really means is, he will stay in as long as hes at the top, or near the top. No point stickin around and dragging on with your career (aka Villeneuve)
 
I don’t really see Kimi staying past 2009. He might, but he’s not the kind of guy who seems to apply himself, so I think he’ll quit when his contract expires.

I remember in 2003 or 2004 (I think) he said he hated F1. He enjoyed the driving, but hated F1 itself. I’m sure that’s changed a bit at Ferrari because they don’t force him to do much other than turn up and race, but there is still a lot of media work involved in a GP weekend, so he still has quite a lot to hate about F1.

Do you race?
Ferrari had made it plain they don't want the Spaniard.
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IIRC they made it clear they didn’t want Alonso in the same team as Kimi because it would be self-destructive. That doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want Alonso in a team where he is clear number one.
 
That's what I understood, too. Plus, Montezemolo was quite busy praising Alonso...


Kimi does seem to be the guy to go for all-out glory, and retire when the flames are still hot. I can't see him wearing out year after year like Villeneuve did..
 
I see it as a way of Kimi negotiating his next Ferrari contract in public. A driver like Kimi will love driving next seasons cars. I can't see him retiring at the end of this year.
 
TheCracker
I see it as a way of Kimi negotiating his next Ferrari contract in public. A driver like Kimi will love driving next seasons cars. I can't see him retiring at the end of this year.
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His contract ends at the end of 2009.

And yes, I&#8217;m sure he will do nicely in the 2009 cars. Doesn&#8217;t mean he&#8217;s going to stick around for 2010 though.
 
TheCracker
Ooops, misread when his contract ended :dunce:
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Even so there have been some murmurs about him throwing in the towel if he wins the title this year. They say two titles is enough to show the first wasn’t a fluke, he’s cemented as one of the quicker drivers in F1 history, he has enough money to never have to do a day of work again, etc.

Personally I think he’ll see out his contract.
 
If a team brings you 2 world championships and you have 1 more year left why wouldnt you just full fil your contract? i mean if your regning double word champion, stick around for 1 more year for your team and who knows, maybe triple champion.
 
Blake
IIRC they made it clear they didn’t want Alonso in the same team as Kimi because it would be self-destructive. That doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want Alonso in a team where he is clear number one.
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I still find it very convenient that Alonso is holding out for a Ferrari drive for the not-too-distant future - ie next year - and suddenly there's talk that the one man Ferrari don't want to partner him with is supposedly talking about retirement ... if Kimi goes, it's like that Kubica and possibly Vettel would be high on Ferrari's list of drivers to employ. Alonso may be somewhere in the mix, but this story sounds like the one that emerged last year suggesting Ferrari had been told to go to the ends of the earth to hire Lewis Hamilton, which simply came from an over-zealous British tabloid. It wouldn't surprise me to find this originated from a similar "newspaper" (I use the term loosely because contrived gossip isn't news) from Spain.
 
Blake
I don&#8217;t really see Kimi staying past 2009. He might, but he&#8217;s not the kind of guy who seems to apply himself, so I think he&#8217;ll quit when his contract expires.

I remember in 2003 or 2004 (I think) he said he hated F1. He enjoyed the driving, but hated F1 itself. I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;s changed a bit at Ferrari because they don&#8217;t force him to do much other than turn up and race, but there is still a lot of media work involved in a GP weekend, so he still has quite a lot to hate about F1.
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Well that pretty much sums it up. Kimi is not a complicated person and when the pressure is up to him, thats when he starts to quit. I'm sure Kimi want to keep on driving, but the whole media and the paparazzi keeps bugging the hell out on him. Even the scandal of last year and this year really winds him up. But to be honest, he may quit F1, but he surely won't quit competing. He may start competing in snowmobile races for all we know... :dopey:

Small_Fryz
If a team brings you 2 world championships and you have 1 more year left why wouldnt you just full fil your contract? i mean if your regning double word champion, stick around for 1 more year for your team and who knows, maybe triple champion.
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Maybe like what Schumacher did, he quit while he was still competitive instead of competing just for the sake of it. People would then just say "why did he quit when he was so good" instead of "why didn't he quit yet, he already has passed his prime". A persons image is very important...... ;)
 
Muzaffar Musa
Maybe like what Schumacher did, he quit while he was still competitive instead of competing just for the sake of it. People would then just say "why did he quit when he was so good" instead of "why didn't he quit yet, he already has passed his prime". A persons image is very important...... ;)
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Erm... Schumacher quit at 38 (I think? Born '69) after many, many years in F1. His problem wasn't really a decline of speed, so the analogy is kind of wrong. :odd:
 
Metar
Erm... Schumacher quit at 38 (I think? Born '69) after many, many years in F1. His problem wasn't really a decline of speed, so the analogy is kind of wrong. :odd:
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Well..... he was still quite good back then and even in his last season, he finished 2nd in the WDC. You could say he could go on forever like that.... :) So the analogy stays. :p Okay, maybe not him, but what about Mika Hakkinen? Or Alain Prost? They can just be said just the same as well......
whatever, at least you get the point....
 
kimismoodshe5.jpg

( from funny pic thread )
 
you could ask why is barrichalleo still driving or DC or even villenurve towards the end..

They just kept driving even though they were far from where they once were...
 
I understand both ways - on the one hand, you have drivers trying to preserve their image as a fast driver - but on the other hand, driving in Formula 1 is probably the best fun you can have with your hands on the steering-wheel.
 
Here's what Kimi has to say on the subject, plagiarised from GP Update:
Raikkonen faces up to retirement rumours
06 June 2008

As he met the media ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari driver and reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen faced questions over growing rumours that he is planning to retire at the end of his current deal with Ferrari at the end of next season, or even at the end of this one if he wins the title again.

"There's been rumours like that for many years," Raikkonene said with a smile. "I always say that I still have a contract until the end of next year. I haven't made any decision as to whether I will keep going or not after that. So far, that's the last contract that I have and we will see during this year and next year what happens."
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Typically ambiguous.
 
I'll just be glad when he's gone. At best he's a paper champ, via Massa's gift. No passion, and not the one to replace MSC. That would be 2x WDC Fernando Alonso. The day will come, wait for it.
 
mustang245
I'll just be glad when he's gone. At best he's a paper champ, via Massa's gift. No passion, and not the one to replace MSC. That would be 2x WDC Fernando Alonso. The day will come, wait for it.
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Wha..?!


Bu...?!



Argh, forget it, I'm not even wasting my time on you anymore on these sorts of discussions. What makes you think Alonso is the best driver out there? The only one with passion? Please, explain us! Are you Alonso himself perhaps?






:crazy:
 
mustang245
I'll just be glad when he's gone. At best he's a paper champ, via Massa's gift. No passion, and not the one to replace MSC. That would be 2x WDC Fernando Alonso. The day will come, wait for it.
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Why do you want Alonso at Ferrari? I thought you said you hated Ferrari?

Bram Turismo
Wha..?!

Bu...?!

Argh, forget it, I'm not even wasting my time on you anymore on these sorts of discussions. What makes you think Alonso is the best driver out there? The only one with passion? Please, explain us! Are you Alonso himself perhaps?

:crazy:
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If he bothers you, add him to your Ignore list.

On topic: rumours of Kimi retiring have been floating around for years; he's always said he doesn't want to stick around forever. This thread isn't exactly news.
 

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