Kimi out for last 2 races - back operation
Discussion
Sets him up nicely for a new set of fresh, F1 driver excuses for next season.
And yes, I'm only kidding, before the Kimi club wades in
Actually I wonder, in all seriousness, if there are any fitness related clauses in his Ferrari contract? I still think the Reds should have picked Hulkenberg.
And yes, I'm only kidding, before the Kimi club wades in
Actually I wonder, in all seriousness, if there are any fitness related clauses in his Ferrari contract? I still think the Reds should have picked Hulkenberg.
McClure said:
That explains why they were suddenly so keen to get payment sorted out before Austin.
It's possible that he feels the deal with Quantum is never going to complete, and therefore he is never going to paid. In which case he might as well duck out of the last 2 races, and get his back sorted so he is ready for next year when he knows that Ferrari have the money to pay him.I suspect it might be a win win for Lotus as I expect they have insurance on him that pays out in the event he can't race. So that will pay out even though they havent paid Kimi (assuming they have paid the premium!)
I wonder who will race in his place, Jérôme D’Ambrosio is reserve I think, but I wonder if they'll try and poach whoever is lined up for the seat in 2014.
Edit: To answer my own question, it's going to be Davide Valsecchi according to http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/valsecch...
Edit: To answer my own question, it's going to be Davide Valsecchi according to http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/valsecch...
Edited by bishbash on Sunday 10th November 11:46
Valsecchi has to be top of the list to replace him, but I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see someone totally talentless but with a massive bag of cash jump in to take the drive, maybe Rodolfo Gonzalez?
At the other end of the scale I wonder if a deal could be struck with Caterham to put Kovalainen in the car - he's the best driver with recent F1 experience available who isn't in a race seat and is the most likely to score points which is important for the constructors championship. I expect Valsecchi will struggle to finish in the top 10 given his lack of experience.
At the other end of the scale I wonder if a deal could be struck with Caterham to put Kovalainen in the car - he's the best driver with recent F1 experience available who isn't in a race seat and is the most likely to score points which is important for the constructors championship. I expect Valsecchi will struggle to finish in the top 10 given his lack of experience.
Shame as he could have won again probably gave them an ultimatum to get paid and they still couldn't pay he decided to drop them.
Lotus should get an experienced driver in that car for the last 2 races points means big money for the team, there's a German bloke who might be more than happy to keep Mercedes behind Lotus in the constructors championship .
Lotus should get an experienced driver in that car for the last 2 races points means big money for the team, there's a German bloke who might be more than happy to keep Mercedes behind Lotus in the constructors championship .
Hmm, well this is worrying if true. Back operations are not always straight forward and do not always fix the problem either....... could be an issue given his age and the big regulation changes that are coming up next year.
OR... this could all be PR management from Lotus/Kimi..... maybe he has stuck two fingers up to them and doesn't see why he should race without being paid.
Shame as this kills off possibly the most interesting story in F1 at moment! I wonder who they will get in that car to race it for the last 2?
OR... this could all be PR management from Lotus/Kimi..... maybe he has stuck two fingers up to them and doesn't see why he should race without being paid.
Shame as this kills off possibly the most interesting story in F1 at moment! I wonder who they will get in that car to race it for the last 2?
fatbutt said:
Kimi and Alonso, both with back injuries. Surely someone should be questioning why? It's not crashing as there don't seem, to have been any of much significance this season. Kerbing? Tyres?
Kimi has an old injury from years back that he has aggravated IIRC.Alonso's little trip across the kerbs in Abu Dhabi set off the crash monitor in the car, meaning at some point he experienced 25g, which is rather a lot.
fatbutt said:
Kimi and Alonso, both with back injuries. Surely someone should be questioning why? It's not crashing as there don't seem, to have been any of much significance this season. Kerbing? Tyres?
Wasn't Alonso's from the hairy side by side pit exit with Vergne at Abu Dhabi, bailing out across the kerbs?fatbutt said:
Kimi and Alonso, both with back injuries. Surely someone should be questioning why? It's not crashing as there don't seem, to have been any of much significance this season. Kerbing? Tyres?
Many years in high g racing with lots of accidents. Most retired drivers carry some kind of injury.Chrisgr31 said:
It's possible that he feels the deal with Quantum is never going to complete, and therefore he is never going to paid. In which case he might as well duck out of the last 2 races, and get his back sorted so he is ready for next year when he knows that Ferrari have the money to pay him.
I suspect it might be a win win for Lotus as I expect they have insurance on him that pays out in the event he can't race. So that will pay out even though they havent paid Kimi (assuming they have paid the premium!)
It's more probable that the back injury doesn't put him in contract breach which means he is still owed his money to date, even if he isn't racing. I suspect it might be a win win for Lotus as I expect they have insurance on him that pays out in the event he can't race. So that will pay out even though they havent paid Kimi (assuming they have paid the premium!)
Whereas if he had just stopped turning up he would be been in material breach and they could probably have withheld a lot of it...
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