Mildh: Team seat might turn into a business partnership for Kimi

Mildh: Team seat might turn into a business partnership for Kimi 

Jukka Mildh goes through the driver-situation in F1 in his latest column. Kimi Räikkönen's next contract might be much more than just a F1-contract. 

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Without Kimi Räikkönen's and Sebastian Vettel's battle during the final laps, Hungary GP would had turned into one of the season's most boring races. Lewis Hamilton was so superb that nobody could had really challenged him. Räikkönen complained that failing in qualification got expensive in the race, still I can't believe that even he could have challenged Hamilton. 

The end result Hamilton, Räikkönen, Vettel changed the shape of the WDC-battle. Vettel is still 40 points away, but Red Bull doesn't have a car at the moment that is as superior as earlier.. The evenness in performance level can be explained with the tires. I don't mean that the recent changes in tire -structure and -compounds would be this decisive. It's just that those driving in the lead understand the tires better than earlier. 

It's ironic that Mercedes GP's cars have started to work well especially after the secret test. Apparently they found the root to the problem which consumed the rear tires in race setups when they could test in peace. What is crucial though is how fast that possible test result was applied in practice to racing conditions. 

Now Mercedes can already start to fight for the title just like Lotus also can. Ferrari is in quite a still water, but Fernando Alonso's race performances are of such a class that the Italian camp can't be excluded. 

There are still nine races left. Vettel seems to drive to victory in every other race, but the title is not sure at all any longer. Before Hungary there were three candidates. Now there are four. Räikkönen, Alonso and Hamilton will be even stronger in the battle after the summer break. 

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The discussion on Hungary paddock between Christian Horner and Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abadi started rumours about Alonso being a candidate for Vettel's new teammate next season. 

Red Bull wants the best driver duo. They can also afford it. There is a small chaos in Ferrari but Alonso isn't going anywhere. If the situation would arise, then sky is the limit for the means to keep Alonso in Ferrari. No matter how much money they would have, I don't see Red Bull paying astronomical sums for an Alonso-switch and before all taking part in such a complicated contract bundle. 

Horner pulled off a splendid strategical move by having secret discussions with Alonso's manager so that they conveniently leaked out in public. This way they sent the message to the markets that Red Bull has the opportunity to get anyone they want and give proper signals about contract conditions in Räikkönen's direction for example. At the same time they got to feed the media mill, so that the team's new driver will be surrounded with the best possible glow. 

Alonso fit in the picture now that the big wheel is spinning. 

*** 

A week before Hungary I was in Austria following future F1-drivers performances in Formula Renault 3.5 –serie's race. The F1-markets were more visible than in a long time. 

McLaren's protégé Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull junior Antonio Felix da Costa and a few other got a lot of attention after well driven F1-tests. Toro Rosso's Jean Eric Vergne drove show performances with a F1-car and he was running back and forth on the paddock just like Helmut Marko also. 

However the talks were all about Räikkönen. As far as I understand Lotus has just sealed a new sponsor contract, which should help to keep Räikkönen in the team. Still they think inside the team that the situation is difficult. They talk about an arrangement between Red Bull and Räikkönen, which will be hard to match. 

My conclusion is that Räikkönen is negotiating a very long contract with Red Bull, a contract which would cover the next ten years at best. Räikkönen will surely get a decent salary for himself, but for him the most important thing is to make a partnership deal where Red Bull would be involved in everything Räikkönen does from now on. 

Räikkönen would in the long run be a convenient PR-face for Red Bull, the same way Mika Häkkinen is for Mercedes-Benz. He would also have work in the Finnish motocross-team, which is in need of a famous partner's banners. Besides, knowing Räikkönen he can come up with almost anything which might interest Red Bull. 

As one of the most talented racing driver of all times Räikkönen deserves at least one more WDC in Formula One. In Red Bull he would have all the possibilities for that. 

But in the bigger picture he now has all the keys to get himself a winning car and instead of just an employer a long-term business partner. 

Can there be a more smart and compatible arrangement than that?

Fonte: YLE.fi / Tradução para o Inglês: Nicole

Antes de comentar, traduzi o trecho abaixo...

"Minha conclusão é que Räikkönen está negociando um contrato muito longo com a Red Bull, um contrato que cobriria os próximos dez anos na melhor das hipóteses. Räikkönen com certeza conseguiria um bom salário para ele, mas para a coisa mais importante para ele é fazer uma parceria onde a Red Bull estaria envolvida em tudo o que Räikkönen fizesse de agora em diante.

Räikkönen seria a longo prazo um rosto para publicidade muito conveniente para a Red Bull, da mesma forma que Mika Häkkinen é para a Mercedes-Benz. Ele também teria trabalho na equipe finlandesa de motocross, que precisa de um parceiro famoso. Além disto, conhecendo Räikkönen ele pode surgir com quase tudo que pode interessar a Red Bull."

Como se compete com isto? Não se compete!

Nunca tinha pensado por este lado da moeda. Mas se a análise de Mildh estiver certa, é óbvio que Kimi não ficará na Lotus.

Só acho estranho o finlandês ter a intenção de fechar um acordo tão longo. Acho estranho mesmo! Sei não...

Enfim, é a opinião Mildh, se ele vai acertar, só esperando para ver.

Beijinhos, Ludy

Comentários

Eric Oliveira disse…
Em alguns dias saberemos a verdade, se não estou enganado ambas as partes disseram que decidiram seu destino depois de Budapeste, enfim esse momento chegou. Espero que independente do que seja, seja o certo.
Anônimo disse…
Pra mim o problema é que a Red Bull vai pensar no Kimi apenas como um rosto famoso que vai atrair muita publicidade, não como pessoa em si.Acho melhor eu suportar logo essa ideia que ele vai pra outra equipe da mesma forma que eu suportei aquele corte rídiculo que ele fez no cabelo.
Micael disse…
Interessante...

Micael disse…
"As one of the most talented racing driver of all times Räikkönen deserves at least one more WDC in Formula One"


Não tem o que acrescentar, é isto que faz valer a pena torcer pro Gelo.
Depois de Budapeste para mim significa antes de Spa, isto sim... rsrsrsrs

bjs, Ludy

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