Comments on: Raikkonen’s demands could see Heidfeld at McLaren http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/ Formula 1 Blog Journal of F1 Opinion Formula1blog.com is an online Journal of F1 opinion. The Aristarchus of F1. Auditors of F1 opinion. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:40:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: davetherave http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-63290 davetherave Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:12:21 +0000 http://www.formula1blog.com/?p=9609#comment-63290 I still think "Quick Nick" is the best option, well, for the team anyway, maybe not so much for him as I agree with the comments of peterriva. He did a great job in the BMW last year when the car was good, so, give him a good car. He is probably one of the most under rated drivers on the grid, I find from a lot of conversations that poeple are still so much anti German as they were with Schumi and likewise still with Rosberg they ignore how good a driver is. Nationality has nothing to do with F1 the driver,equipment & teamwork makes the party swing. I still think “Quick Nick” is the best option, well, for the team anyway, maybe not so much for him as I agree with the comments of peterriva. He did a great job in the BMW last year when the car was good, so, give him a good car. He is probably one of the most under rated drivers on the grid, I find from a lot of conversations that poeple are still so much anti German as they were with Schumi and likewise still with Rosberg they ignore how good a driver is. Nationality has nothing to do with F1 the driver,equipment & teamwork makes the party swing.

]]> By: Rich http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-63210 Rich Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:53:25 +0000 http://www.formula1blog.com/?p=9609#comment-63210 I never understand why people under-estimate Nick as a driver. When teamed with Kimi, Felipe and Mark he has scored more points per race than they have. While teamed with Robert for the last three years he has collectively scored 40% more points than Robert. How many fastest laps of the race has Robert set in his career - I cannot recall any while Nick has set two during 2008. When Nick was teamed with Mark, did Mark get two second places and a pole? No but Nick did. Finally if you examine race pace consistency you will see that Nick is more consistently fast during most races than Robert (see http://f1numbers.wordpress.com/). During the British GP 2008 Nick made two double overtakes in the wet which included both Kimi and Fernando. Over the last three years Nick has scored 140 points, with only Fernando(196), Felipe(213), Kimi (223) and Lewis scoring more, all (except Fernando) have driven in the acknowledged two overall best teams during this three-year period. Add with his consistency (41 consequetive race finishes) it seems he is the perfect driver to back Lewis rather than fight Lewis for the championship next year. He is acknowledged as very good at car development (we saw how BMW Sauber's completely new car introduced mid year improved during the last few races). I will concede qualifying is not his strength, but he can make his tyres last a good distance and is a driver with one of the highest number of overtakes over the last three years. I find little evidence to suggest a mid-fielder and a lot of evidence to suggest under-rated. Remember each point lost or gained is significant in terms of income generation for the team. I never understand why people under-estimate Nick as a driver. When teamed with Kimi, Felipe and Mark he has scored more points per race than they have. While teamed with Robert for the last three years he has collectively scored 40% more points than Robert. How many fastest laps of the race has Robert set in his career – I cannot recall any while Nick has set two during 2008. When Nick was teamed with Mark, did Mark get two second places and a pole? No but Nick did. Finally if you examine race pace consistency you will see that Nick is more consistently fast during most races than Robert (see http://f1numbers.wordpress.com/). During the British GP 2008 Nick made two double overtakes in the wet which included both Kimi and Fernando. Over the last three years Nick has scored 140 points, with only Fernando(196), Felipe(213), Kimi (223) and Lewis scoring more, all (except Fernando) have driven in the acknowledged two overall best teams during this three-year period. Add with his consistency (41 consequetive race finishes) it seems he is the perfect driver to back Lewis rather than fight Lewis for the championship next year. He is acknowledged as very good at car development (we saw how BMW Sauber’s completely new car introduced mid year improved during the last few races). I will concede qualifying is not his strength, but he can make his tyres last a good distance and is a driver with one of the highest number of overtakes over the last three years. I find little evidence to suggest a mid-fielder and a lot of evidence to suggest under-rated. Remember each point lost or gained is significant in terms of income generation for the team.

]]> By: PeterRiva http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-63207 PeterRiva Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:49:34 +0000 http://www.formula1blog.com/?p=9609#comment-63207 No. 2 driver is a two way street. One of the major problems with Hamilton is that he has no interest in helping the No. 2 driver - with tire pressures, set up, anything. The two driver's mechanics teams are set up at Macca (as you call them) to be in competition... but the No. 2 drivers details are immediately sent over to No. 1 - not visa versa. We heard complaints from Alonso all year long about this (and Kovi hinted at it several times). So, whoever Macca picks as No. 2 that driver have to be content that he will never hear or get improvements from No. 1 (remember the bolt on improvements that Hamilton got but Kovi didn't?). Does that sound like a Kimi deal to you? Not to me it doesn't. Nor Sutil either. I think Heidfeld might be the right person, and about the non-talent level Hamilton will be demanding. And there is another reason Macca will not make a clean driver's pay offer for Kimi - they cannot be seen to pay him more (a correct fee plus Ferrari's 10mil) than they pay Hamilton - that would cause a media-perceived change in No. 1 - and there is NO WAY they will allow that (Hamilton or Macca). No. 2 driver is a two way street. One of the major problems with Hamilton is that he has no interest in helping the No. 2 driver – with tire pressures, set up, anything. The two driver’s mechanics teams are set up at Macca (as you call them) to be in competition… but the No. 2 drivers details are immediately sent over to No. 1 – not visa versa. We heard complaints from Alonso all year long about this (and Kovi hinted at it several times). So, whoever Macca picks as No. 2 that driver have to be content that he will never hear or get improvements from No. 1 (remember the bolt on improvements that Hamilton got but Kovi didn’t?). Does that sound like a Kimi deal to you? Not to me it doesn’t. Nor Sutil either. I think Heidfeld might be the right person, and about the non-talent level Hamilton will be demanding.

And there is another reason Macca will not make a clean driver’s pay offer for Kimi – they cannot be seen to pay him more (a correct fee plus Ferrari’s 10mil) than they pay Hamilton – that would cause a media-perceived change in No. 1 – and there is NO WAY they will allow that (Hamilton or Macca).

]]> By: SR http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-63202 SR Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:11:00 +0000 http://www.formula1blog.com/?p=9609#comment-63202 Does anyone actually know how much he’s asking for? It's all speculative…and if I recall, Toyota was courting Kimi and not the other way around. All the reports I had seen indicated that Kimi’s people didn’t even enter into discussions with Toyota…not too mention anything about Toyota is moot at this point. Does anyone actually know how much he’s asking for? It’s all speculative…and if I recall, Toyota was courting Kimi and not the other way around. All the reports I had seen indicated that Kimi’s people didn’t even enter into discussions with Toyota…not too mention anything about Toyota is moot at this point.

]]> By: FastCars http://www.formula1blog.com/2009/11/08/raikkonens-demands-could-see-heidfeld-at-mclaren/comment-page-1/#comment-63199 FastCars Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:51:20 +0000 http://www.formula1blog.com/?p=9609#comment-63199 Luiz - granted, but as we have seen this year, two top class drivers by no means guarantees a constructors championship for the team. I'd be worried for Mclaren with Kimi there, I think Lewis will still think himself "robbed" by Kimi in 2007, and I can't see much sharing of info (car setup etc) going on with that pairing. I think he would be an expensive mistake, like Alonso was. Luiz – granted, but as we have seen this year, two top class drivers by no means guarantees a constructors championship for the team. I’d be worried for Mclaren with Kimi there, I think Lewis will still think himself “robbed” by Kimi in 2007, and I can’t see much sharing of info (car setup etc) going on with that pairing. I think he would be an expensive mistake, like Alonso was.

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