"Pushing for a contract" by Heikki Kulta

Pushing for a contract 

Column 22.9. 

The last practice session in Singapore GP is approaching. In Lotus-premises you can see David and Steve Robertson and Kimi Räikkönen sitting in their own table facing each other - just like in old days.... 

Steve Robertson has visited a couple of races in Europe. Father David is now on the paddock for the first time during Räikkönen's comeback-season. 

Looks like important times have arrived in the contract-frontier. It's time to redeem options on both sides, options which will expire during September. 

Lotus is a modern team where transparent openness is in high regard. But they don't whisper a thing about contract matters to outsiders. 

Almost exactly three years ago after Singapore GP the F1-world was shocked by the news that Ferrari will break up their contract with Räikkönen for the next season. 

There had been rumours during the whole summer about Fernando Alonso taking Räikkönen's seat a year before the original plan. However they agreed upon breaking up the contract during Singapore GP and the message was sent to the world on Tuesday after the race. 

Although Räikkönen's options to continue in Lotus for year 2013 are still not redeemed, we won't be expecting similar news of withdrawal this time. Nothing indicates that Räikkönen wouldn't like it in Lotus or that Lotus wouldn't want to continue with the Finnish driver. 

There's also a buzz in Caterham. Team owner Tony Fernandes and Heikki Kovalainen sat in a private meeting for two hours on Friday evening. 

Kovalainen moved his contract matters to IMG in the beginning of the year and Fernandes said in a tv-interview that he doesn't like the manager. However it was a joke, he only wanted to generalise that no team manager doesn't especially like managers. 

I would guess that Kovalainen's contract with Caterham is only a matter of time. Hence the decision over Valtteri Bottas' racing seat next season in Williams will be made later in the fall. 

Turun Sanomat, Singapore 

HEIKKI KULTA

Fonte: Turun Sanomat / Tradução para o Inglês: Nicole

A sensação ruim que tive ao ler este texto não vou conseguir passar para as palavras. Não, não acho que acontecerá nada de errado nas negociações de Kimi com a Lotus, acredito que ele ficará por lá. E fico feliz que David e Steve estejam com o finlandês, o auxiliando, tomando conta de tudo. Eles sabem negociar contratos como poucos e mesmo não sendo oficialmente mais empresários de Kimi, vão fazer de tudo para conseguir para o amigo o melhor possível, dentro das opções que tiverem.

A sensação ruim a qual me referi é o que Cingapura me traz de lembranças. E Kulta foi direto ao ponto, foi nesta época que o anúncio da saída de Kimi da Ferrari foi feita, e eu consigo me lembrar disto até hoje. Daí a sensação ruim.

Certas coisas nem o tempo é capaz de apagar.

Beijinhos, Ludy