Raikkonen: I need a miracle

Eurosport - Wed, 17 Sep 18:40:00 2008

Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen said he needed a miracle to retain his title following a disappointing Italian Grand Prix.

FOOTBALL Raikkonen - 0

With four races left, the Ferrari driver is fourth and 21 points behind McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton after trailing in ninth at a rainswept Monza on Sunday.

The Finn, who won the title last year after making up a 17-point deficit in the final two races, still refused to give up his championship hopes despite three grands prix in a row without a point.

"You don't have to be [Albert] Einstein to understand that this is not the right way to fight for the title," he told Ferrari's website.

"It's not over yet, but now it will take a miracle, like one that makes lightning strike twice."

Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa, who finished sixth at Monza and a place ahead of McLaren's Hamilton, is now just a point behind the Briton overall.

Raikkonen, who signed a new deal with Ferrari until 2010 last week, was still reluctant to commit to helping his team-mate.

"Things are definitely not going my way," he said. "Sometimes it happens, but that won't lower my spirit or my determination.

"I want to try and win again this season. You never know what will happen in a race and you can't make any programs.

"Obviously the team has two goals to reach (the constructors' and drivers' championships) and they will give their best.

"I will give my best... as usual."

Raikkonen hopes the Singapore GP on September 28, F1's first night race, will suit him better after blaming the lack of grip from his tyres in the wet for his problems in Italy.

"It seems as if it is going to rain at every remaining race. We had enough water at Monza already...the atmosphere [at Singapore] will be very exciting and the hot and humid weather might work to our advantage," he added.

Reuters

Comment 7 - 26 of 86

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Mr. T, what's up fool?

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 17 Sep 9:14PM
  2. Sorry Jeff, but I disagree with you. Ferrari is not making a mockery of the system, the FIA is. Also, be honest, how many incidents like Massa's "pit incident" do we see on a regular basis without any sanction whatsoever? It even happened at Spa (can't remember the cars involved). If Massa had hit Sutil, it would be a different story.

    The fact is that every time that something goes wrong for McLaren, Ferrari is blamed for it. It's getting kind of old. Besides, just because a Ferrari employee OFFERED the data to a McLaren employee, it does not make it right for the latter to accept it, does it? No one forced him to.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 17 Sep 9:13PM
  3. Mr T says. Dont worry jeff the T man is here to give you backup you dont have to face the evil ferrari fans alone!

    From MR T, on Wed 17 Sep 9:12PM
  4. McLaren fan or not, I don't think JEFF F is a proper racing fan. I only hope all McLaren fans, blinded by Hamilton's greatness as they are, are not such a$$holes

    From arshad_iceman2, on Wed 17 Sep 9:05PM
  5. Tifosi bandits are not the fans.. i do respect you all but i dislike the team and its orders and everything about it, come on we all have our friendly banter but ferrari well if there is something to moan or complain about Mclaren its always ferrari? Why is that do you suppose eh? maybe because they are the team to beat or their main rivals,or whatever why is it always ferrari? And bandits well because your team have stole what is rightfully ours...spa win and last years constructors points! It was after all ferrari who OFFERED Mclaren the data and no penalty imposed on ferrari.. Massa races in the pit lane, rule book States 25 sec drive through or ten place grid penalty if after race decision... no fine....yet massa gets a 10000 euro fine which ferrari pay...and not obeyed the rulebook.. Lewis gets 25 sec penalty and demoted race win,which has never happened in f1 race history...Again Ferrari making a mockery of the system.

    From JEFF F, on Wed 17 Sep 9:04PM
  6. Macca @#$%s. Nice one, Forza!

    From arshad_iceman2, on Wed 17 Sep 9:03PM
  7. Who says the last 4 tracks are McLaren tracks? As Kimi says hot and humid conditions, like in Singapore, usually means Ferrari will be on top. China is more suited to the Ferrari while Fuji may favour McLaren. As for the Interlagos, it is a Ferrari track to the last inch while the hot conditions there will only add to Ferrari's advantage

    From arshad_iceman2, on Wed 17 Sep 9:02PM
  8. Lewis will lose his appeal. If the FIA overturns the decision, it will set a precedent that will create havoc in the future. The only thing that I agree with McLaren on is the fact that they were allegedly told by Race Control that things were OK. Other than that, the incident itself is fairly clear. He gained the advantage and did not give it back. No, no, don't bother arguing the point. That's just my opinion, and I don't want to force it on anyone!

    Also, Jeff, good for you that you're a McLaren fan. No problem there. But try showing some class, please!

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 17 Sep 9:01PM
  9. Its ok Forza, he hates us because he is jealous that our team has won 6 of the last 8 titles whilst in those 8 years his team has won none!

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 17 Sep 8:57PM
  10. To add to my previous comments; Kimi acts like boxer who has been hammered in, and lost all, the previous 11 rounds. But in round 12, he comes out, all guns blazing trying for the knockout punch. He seems to use the initial 40 odd laps like a tourist on a sightseeing tour. The question is, Why?

    From USA 1, on Wed 17 Sep 8:57PM
  11. I agree 1 point behind.... until the 22nd of september when it will be revoked his spa win and drop back points with the data Mclaren have and the evidence the ferrari international assistance opps i mean the fia will have no choice but to play fair and give back the money ohh huh i mean the points!

    From JEFF F, on Wed 17 Sep 8:52PM
  12. Jeff, why do you insist on calling us Ferrari fans "tifosi bandits"? Last I heard, Ferrari has not been accusing of "stealing" anything. You don't see me calling McLaren fans "Macca @#$%s", do you?

    I respect the fact that you support your team and your driver, but there's no need to insult everyone else. By the way, I would not be too proud of Lewis right now given the way that he's been acting lately. Great driver - Yes, no doubt. But he's starting to become a major "egomaniac", to use a polite term.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 17 Sep 8:49PM
  13. Kimi has a lot of drivers to beat and until the final 5 laps or so in recent races, he has not been beating too many of them. I still think that the contract extension is just a heavily negotiated increase to his "Golden Parachute" wich he will get when he quits at the end of this season to make way for Alonso. The reality right now is that the odds on favourites for the title are Massa and Hamilton with Kubica in there with a slight chance. On recent form, Kimi has only a slightly better chance than me and I'm not in the race....

    From USA 1, on Wed 17 Sep 8:47PM
  14. JEFF F, I guess your memory must not serve you right because Brasil is Ferrari terrotory, they destroyed mclaren there last year, as for singapore, Massa did will in the other street circuits and won te only new race this year. Finally china, 3 words, pitlane gravel trap! Will have hamilton in tears the second he sees it, realising that mistake cost him the title!

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 17 Sep 8:46PM
  15. If Kimi wants the Title he will need Massa's help, and he isn't going to get it. Mathmatically speaking HK could still win but that is as likely as Massa moving over for Kimi. There is also still the possibility that LH will get his points back.

    From Biggles, on Wed 17 Sep 8:37PM
  16. JEFF F, you said, "both Ferrari drivers are going to have a hard time getting close to Lewis." Last time I looked Massa was one point back. How close does he need to be?

    From sky, on Wed 17 Sep 8:35PM
  17. tifosi4eva has it right. Kimi has 3 drivers to beat, not just Lewis. Let's all hope we have some exciting races to finish the season.

    From sky, on Wed 17 Sep 8:33PM
  18. And if memory serves me.... all the remaining tracks are Mclaren tracks...Fast and require good stable chassis...like Mclaren have...
    What ya gonna do now the championship are slipping away from you Tifosi Bandits??

    From JEFF F, on Wed 17 Sep 8:28PM
  19. Hard time...both ferrari drivers are going to have a hard time getting close to Lewis let alone beat him! Iceman is melting,should have stayed with Mclaren and trust the team that they would come up with a winning car as they always do! Theres a new boy in town ....new .....improved....rainmaster.... Lewis Hamilton with Mclaren Mercedes.
    What ya gonna do when Lewis comes for you ! ! !

    From JEFF F, on Wed 17 Sep 8:24PM
  20. ginger,
    It's all well and good to want and work for a championship, but when it is out of reach, a person has to put aside his ego and work for the team. You know, the one that pays that huge salary.

    From sdcharger717, on Wed 17 Sep 8:21PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account