Kimi rejects $72m McLaren deal

last SG · 2006-03-24T15:59:32+00:00

Ferrari desperately needs to find a MS replacement and the best way to crown the new ""king"" is to let him beat the old king fair and square.

Gazelle SG

According to reports in the Finnish press, Kimi Raikkonen has turned down a whopping $72 million deal to stay at Ron Dennis' McLaren team.

The reportedly rejected contract, which would have seen the 26-year-old Finn earn $24m per year until the end of 2009, will only intensify speculation that Raikkonen is already (secretly) committed to switch to the Ferrari team in 2007.

But his reluctance to pen a new Woking pact might also be linked with McLaren's less than shining winter season, not to mention his apparent irritation at Dennis' decision to already sign up world champion Fernando Alonso.

dragg SG

kimi and alonso cant possibly drive for the same make.

iveco SG

Is the Iceman replacing Schumi at Ferrari?

Gazelle SG

No necessarily. If Honda and Toyota do well this year, Kimi might be better off joining one of them. $$$$$

Gazelle SG

According to german press, Kimi has already finalize deal with Ferrari, and MS has signed another 2 years contract with Ferrari…MS and KR…wow!!

SBS9828X SG

Remembered it said sumthing of not making the same mistake ron did by not announcing early

finoq SG

hm MS and KR...

hmm...

Gazelle SG

technically it is still correct because it is not coming out from the horses mouth.

Kuali Baba SG

Sounds improbable, unless Ferrari decide not to continue having Schu or anyone as Numero Uno.

Gazelle SG

I dont think MS is interest to be numero uno in the team anymore. He has already established himself as the all time numero uno in F1. Before you let someone like MS go, you will have to get someone like kimi in during transition to fill up the vacumm.

Personally I think this is already a done deal, or else ron wont be so desperate to sign alonso and telling everyone that both kimi and Juan can leave anytime. Basically Ron is trying to protect his own ego.

Gedanken SG

At this point in time I can't see MS not wanting to be #1 driver. It's one of the factors that has gotten him to where he is, and I would imagine that his panties would get in a bunch if his other driver didn't pull over for him just before the finish line.

Kimi's in a tight spot here. At Mac, he'd have Alonso and at Ferrari he'd have MS, both of whom have something he doesn't yet have. Between the two, though, I'd say Ferrari's the more sound choice - Alonso's going to be around a lot longer than MS, and the Macs are still way too fragile to be serious championship contenders.

[email protected] SG

I doubt Kimi would want to be at Ferrari and play #2 to MS. Besides, Ferrari’s engine reliability now seems to be suspect. Quite surprising, but keeping in line with what I heard about their testing niggles during the winter.

Gazelle SG

If kimi would to sign for Ferrari, you can be sure that he will not be a #2 driver, and I dont think Ferrari is so stupid to keep MS as #1 when we all know that he will be retiring anytime soon. F1 is about marketing, and Kimi to me is now the most popular driver on the grid, and he knows that ferrari is the only team that can really afford him. As for the engine problem, this is a common problem for all the big teams, and they will have the resouces to overcome this problem in the next few races.

[email protected] SG

maybe u've not been following the news, but just as Kimi's rejection of the McLaren deal is an insider rumor, so is the news that MS has signed with Ferrari till 08. So if Kimi is indeed going to Ferrari, he's either going as #2, or hes not going till 09. And Ferrari is not the only team who can afford him. In fact, u might want to remember that Ferrari's parent company Fiat are not in financial health. Already their budgets are starting to tighten up.

And as for the engine problem, its not a given that any team will overcome them in the next few races.

Gazelle SG

MS is currently paid 35m per year and the only team that can top that is toyota. Will Kimi wants to join toyota? I personally dont think so because they are a new team with no F1 heritage and they are still struggling this season despite having the biggest budget. Kimi rejecting Mclaren offer is already an old news, there are new rumour coming out from Ferrari engineer that Kimi-ferrari is already a done deal. As for MS, it is already a known fact that MS will retire if Ferrari is no longer capable for winning races, as of now, I think it is still 50/50.

Fiat might not be in good financial health, but ferrari is doing extremely well because of rising China and oil wealth.

When it comes to driver, a team like ferrari will definitely need to make sure they get one that can attract big sponsors and following around the world. At the moment, I think kimi is the only person that can fill MS shoe, and you can be sure that ferrari will make that happen.

[email protected] SG

personally, lets just say i doubt it. Ferrari engineers also say that MS is signed till 08 already. Kimi won't play #2.

And start of 07, Ferrari's biggest sponser leaves. Furthermore, the deal with philip morris seems to be heading to a dead end as F1 tries to shake off tobacco money completely.

To be honest, its completely open where Kimi might go. Ferrari might want Kimi, Kimi might not want Ferrari. No matter what u say about Kimi n McLaren, the truth is, Kimi n Ron have quite a close r/s, like father n son. Chances are that he'll stay on in McLaren, and he turned the deal down to see how his year would go.

SBS9828X SG

i wud rather kimi #2 to MS than Alonso tho

Gazelle SG

father and son is a long term relationship with unconditional love. but in sports, you only have limit chance and good years to be making big bucks. Honestly why would kimi want to stay at Mclaren when he knows that Ron is never gonna pay him more than what he is paying for world champion alonso. beside that, alonso is young, in fact younger than kimi, therefore would you have reason to believe that kimi would like to stay at mclaren to be #2 and let someone else takes the #1 place at ferrari when MS retire?

Gedanken SG

Gaz has got a point. Looking at the historical precedents, Ron and Senna were a lot closer, and ultimately, Senna delayed signing a his final contract with Mac for months before taking off for Williams. Right till Adelaide, Ron left the door open for Senna to stay with McLaren, but Williams was where the promise was, and that was that.

Personally, if I were Kimi I'd be looking to move to Renault. This looks like the second year in a row where they seem to have built a fast and reliable car, instead of being hobbled with German grenades (by the same measure, I really hope Alonso knows what he's doing by moving to McLaren). Ferrari looks to be having another bad year, what with their pistons and the dodgy wings, and at this rate 2007 looks like a 50/50 proposition for them.

Gazelle SG

renault's future is still quite uncertain. some are speculating the renault might pull out of F1 all together. however I doubt bernie would want to let such an efficient team to leave. bad news at ferrari this season might be good news for Kimi. If Ferrari is down this year, most likely MS will call it quit, and start his own F1 team.