Kimi Raikkonen’s managers have revealed they only now take a back seat in the career of the 2007 world champion.
Britons David and Steve Robertson have guided the famous Finn throughout his motor racing career.

But Steve told Finland’s Turun Sanomat that they only intervene now when the 32-year-old driver requests it — such as when he needed to negotiate last winter with Williams and his ultimate 2012 employer, Lotus.

“We came to the end of the road really in late 2009,” he said.

That is when Ferrari bought out the rest of Raikkonen’s contract, and he headed to world rally.

“We can’t honestly say that we are real rally fans — it’s alien to us, while we know F1 through and through.

“When Kimi wanted to go back to F1, he turned to us for help with the agreement. After a few months Kimi got what he wanted.”

Robertson, however, explained that the father-son duo are no longer involved in the “day to day” running of Raikkonen’s career.

“I have known Kimi for 11, 12 years, and he has become really close to us. When he asks for help, he knows that we are always ready to give it,” he continued.

“I was delighted when he wanted to come back where he really belongs (in F1),” said Robertson. “There is so much nonsense about Kimi’s problems with motivation.

“The truth is that he wanted to come back for one reason only — because he is super-motivated to race in F1 again.

“By taking Kimi, it shows the (Lotus) team’s desire to succeed. I think Kimi and Romain Grosjean are a good combination.

“By changing the drivers the team has showed that it was not satisfied with the level of last year and that they want to come back to being among the big teams,” he concluded.

British F3 champion Felipe Nasr is hoping his new title, and well-connected manager Steve Robertson, open doors for him in formula one.
Brazil’s Globo Esporte reports that McLaren and Ferrari are both interested in signing up the 19-year-old from Brasilia to their young driver programmes.

“I can not say anything,” Nasr said. “I have mentioned these two teams because of Steve’s very good relationship with them.”

Robertson, who formerly managed Jenson Button, was Kimi Raikkonen’s manager throughout the 2007 world champion’s race-winning stints at McLaren and Ferrari.

Nasr continued: “I know that in time he (Robertson) can negotiate an opportunity to test. I think at the time Steve sees that I am ready, he will contact those teams.”

The report said Nasr’s most likely destinations for 2012 are the Renault World Series or GP2, but with the latter category less likely due to his shortage of sponsors.

He said he turned down an opportunity to join Red Bull’s roster of young development drivers two years ago.

“Actually I preferred to be managed by Steve Robertson, whose resume includes two champion drivers (Raikkonen and Jenson Button).

“He is 100 per cent focused on me, which is different from Red Bull who are looking at five or six drivers at a time,” added Nasr.

As in Canada, there will be two ‘DRS’ overtaking zones on the streets of Valencia this weekend, but only one ‘detection point’.

The new-in-2011 adjustable rear wing innovation contributed to a plethora of overtaking on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, ahead of this weekend’s event at Valencia where processional races have been common.

But Canada winner Jenson Button is not sure ‘DRS’ will transform the spectacle of the European grand prix.

“It’s a hard place to pass and, even though there will once again be two DRS zones, I don’t think that’s going to make it much easier during the race,” he said.

The Spanish sports newspaper AS revealed that the DRS ‘detection point’ this weekend will be 130 metres before turn 8, with the first overtaking zone set for the run between turns 10 and 12.

The second zone, also useable by drivers who were within 1 second of their prey at the detection point, is situated between turns 14 and 17.

“Some of the purists believe DRS has made the racing artificial, but the fact is that every race is now absolutely entertaining,” Steve Robertson, 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen’s manager, told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“Whoever invented this system deserves the most authentic of praise. The cars have kept their speed and at the same time are able to race. Full marks!” he added.

DRS will be deactivated at Valencia this weekend if it rains, but the weather forecast for the Spanish port city so far is for clear and sunny conditions.

With Robert Kubica facing a long recovery from his horror rally crash, the candidates to fill his Renault race seat are beginning to line up.

The Lotus-sponsored team’s boss Eric Boullier acknowledged on Monday that with the Polish regular out for several months, he is likely to look beyond contracted reserve drivers Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean.

“The difference is that it is not going to be for one race but probably all of the first half of the season,” Flavio Briatore, who visited 26-year-old Kubica in hospital on Monday, is quoted by O Estado de S.Paulo.

“So it has to be an experienced driver. The team has come forward compared to last year, so they will need someone who knows how to race at the front,” added the Italian.

The most famous name in the mix is Kimi Raikkonen.

“I’d be amazed if Kimi is still fit enough for F1,” Martin Brundle wrote on Twitter, “and (the world) rally programme trips over F1 tests.”

Numerous journalists’ attempts to contact Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson on Monday were fruitless.

“Personally I’d crowbar (Nico) Hulkenberg from FI (Force India),” continued Brundle, the British commentator and former driver and manager.

Timo Gans, a member of Hulkenberg’s management team, admitted the German would be interested in the appointment, even though he is signed up to be Force India’s Friday driver this year.

“We have a contract with Force India and we will not take the initiative to contact Renault,” Gans told the Daily Mail.

“If Renault should contact us we will start thinking about that, but we are not doing that yet. Hopefully Robert gets well soon,” he added.

Also mentioned have been Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli, Pedro de la Rosa and Christian Klien.

Axed Force India driver Vitantonio Liuzzi visited his friend Kubica on Monday and admitted to 422race.com that he would be interested in sitting in for the Pole.

“It’s obvious that when Renault should be sure that Robert won’t be able to step in the car, this chance might be open and I hope to be chosen instead of somebody else,” he said.

It might be said that Vitaly Petrov is either hoping for an experienced driver to replace Kubica so that he is not forced into a leadership position, or hoping for Renault to promote from within to enhance his status in F1.

“I believe it is senseless to discuss Vitaly’s status because there is no such thing as first pilot and second pilot,” his spokeswoman told Ria Novosti agency.

Kimi Raikkonen’s plans for 2011 are still not secure, but the Finn appears unlikely to be returning to formula one any time soon.

The 2007 world champion looks set to either stay with Red Bull-sponsored Citroen next year or switch to another world rally championship team, despite earlier speculation suggesting he might go back to F1.

“Of course you always want to decide your next plans sooner rather than later, but sometimes it’s just not possible,” Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“I hope we will know what direction we are going by the end of November,” he added.

Robertson said the 31-year-old driver is likely to stay in rallying for now.

“We have not talked with anyone in F1,” he insisted. “Kimi hasn’t closed the door on it; you never say never in case the right offer comes along.”

He said Raikkonen, who cleared the way at Ferrari last year for the arrival of sponsor Santander and Fernando Alonso, would have done well this year at the wheel of the F10.

“I think he would have done pretty much the same as Fernando did,” said Robertson. “Fernando drove a great season and I don’t want to take anything away from him.

“I don’t want to be misunderstood, but I think Kimi would have done a good job in that car,” he insisted.

Kimi Raikkonen’s manager has admitted the Finn is no longer interested in returning to formula one in 2011.

The 2007 world champion had been linked with a comeback next year with the Renault team, but reports this week revealed that talks about extending his deal with the world rally team Citroen are well advanced.

“We are no longer looking out for opportunities for formula one,” manager Steve Robertson told Finnish television MTV3.

“Kimi seems to be focused on rallying at the moment,” he added.

It has been rumoured that an alternative rally team in 2011 for Raikkonen, who currently drives for Citroen with Red Bull sponsorship, is the Monster energy drink-backed Ford team.

“We are having discussions with several different teams and I cannot say more,” said Robertson.

Kimi Raikkonen’s manager has confirmed he contacted Renault about the 2007 world champion returning to formula one next season.

Earlier this week, the reports did not reveal whether it was his management team or the Finn himself who approached team boss Eric Boullier about being Robert Kubica’s 2011 teammate.

“It’s true, I spoke with Boullier,” Steve Robertson told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Raikkonen, 30, switched from Ferrari to world rallying for 2010, and it had been expected that he would continue his new challenge for at least another year.

But according to the well-respected Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio, Raikkonen is aiming to maintain his high income for 2011, given that his Ferrari contract finally runs out soon.

Said Robertson: “We want to explore all the possible options for next year. Kimi and I asked Renault what is the situation.”

Turun Sanomat reporter Heikki Kulta insists the most possible outcome for Raikkonen in 2011 is a continuation of his rallying foray.

“There are all sorts of rumours,” Robertson continued. “I’ve even heard that Kimi could go to NASCAR, but that is definitely not an option.”

In the event that Mark Webber or Sebastian Vettel win the 2010 championship, Raikkonen’s return to F1 could push the number of world champions on the 2011 grid to an impressive six.

Kimi Raikkonen could be asked to test formula one tyres for the sport’s new exclusive supplier Pirelli.

It has emerged that the Italian company will supply two sets of tyres to each team at a special Abu Dhabi test immediately after November’s season finale.

But Pirelli is also keen to do some testing before then, and – after initially running with a GP2 car – is considering using either an old BMW or Toyota car.

As for the driver, Nick Heidfeld had been touted, but this might have handed an unfair advantage to Mercedes.

According to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Pirelli’s racing boss Paul Hembery proposed in Valencia that Finn Raikkonen could be an option.

The 2007 world champion left Ferrari at the end of last year and currently drives full-time in the Pirelli-shod world rally championship.

“I don’t know whether Kimi Raikkonen would be interested,” Hembery is quoted as saying.

The 18 grand prix winner’s manager Steve Robertson said: “Currently, Kimi is totally focused on what he is doing.

“But if Pirelli approaches us, of course we will discuss it.  Then, it would depend on whether Kimi is interested in this sort of challenge, and how it would fit into his schedule,” he added.

(GMM)

Renault could be set to push for Kimi Raikkonen to become Robert Kubica’s future teammate.

It is now widely expected that the Finn, who left his Ferrari contract one year early to race in the world rally championship this year, is not keen to return to formula one as early as 2011.

But according to Finland’s Turun Sanomat, Renault might be courting as a possible sponsor the American credit card multinational MasterCard.

Citing paddock rumours, the report said MasterCard would be interested in the deal “if Raikkonen would drive as Robert Kubica’s teammate”.

But 30-year-old Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson reportedly denied that even exploratory talks with Renault have been held.

MasterCard sponsored Lotus’ stillborn F1 effort in 1997, and the Jordan team in 1998-2001.

(GMM)

Kimi Raikkonen’s manager has refused to rule out the prospect of the 2007 world champion returning to formula one.

When Ferrari ended its contract with the 30-year-old Finn one year early, Raikkonen signed up with Red Bull sponsorship to race a Citroen full-time in the 2010 world rally championship.

It had been rumoured that a return to F1 with Red Bull Racing in 2011 was a possibility, but the energy drinks-owned team is now expected to renew on-form Mark Webber’s contract for another season.

“Kimi has committed himself to rallying and he seems to be enjoying that environment,” team boss Christian Horner said in Turkey last weekend.

However, Finland’s Turun Sanomat reports that it was Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko most interested in replacing Australian Webber with Raikkonen.

Manager Steve Robertson said he is not sure what Raikkonen is going to do in 2011.

“We have not had any discussions in any direction for next season,” he said.

“There will be a time when Kimi will think about what he wants to do.”

When asked if Raikkonen’s F1 career is over, Robertson answered: “Never say never.”

(GMM)