In recent weeks; we have had the "pleasure" to hear from our champion himself that he no longer wishes to extend his services to Ferrari or any other team on the grid, past his contract expiration date at the end of the 2009 season.
Big news, indeed it is very rare for an athlete to call it a day after just one world title. Actually, it may be two if Raikkonen wins this year's championship or three (most optimistic) if he can defend his crown all the way till the end of his contract.
Although I believe the iceman has unfinished business with this sport, in the interest of fairness I will advance the argument that would explain why he could retire early and then put forward arguments that just proves his retirement schedule is just a bluff to ensure he guarantees he'll get his way at Ferrari, as in "treat me the way I want you to treat me or I'm gone!!!"
Here are some arguments for Raikkonen's departure:
"The man is no leader." These were the words of Jean Todt last year referring to the iceman, further stating that he (todt) could ask Kimi nicely to do certain things but some other things the Finn would just not do. So what does this mean?
Well, it demonstrates that Raikkonen is willing to put his life on the line on track, but off the track, i.e. promotional activities and interviews, the iceman's reputation for his mono-syllabic conversations (if that's the correct word to use) and lack of communication with the team (yes he's been blasted for this one too) demonstrates a level of self-centricness but also of self-consciousness. It is the sense that Kimi does not want to be intruded in his normal life, and respect where it is due, he has every single right not to be disturbed in all matters and aspects irrelevant to racing.
So this argument alone is enough to lead us to believe Kimi Raikkonen values his privacy over the greatness and responsibility of being an F1 champion, not to mention the money, fame and fear he inspires in the mind of his fans and competitors.
Money, fame, respect: these are the factors of success in any sports. For that matter it applies to real life as well. We all aspire to at least two of these elements.
Ok it's all debatable, but anyways the downside of all this of course is that you are forgoing those that are important to you, and without infringing upon Raikkonen's personal life I cannot help but think Jenni Raikkonen (his wife) may be the underlying reason he would want to leave the sport. Now I am only suggesting and guessing here, but it's all possible he wants to start a family away from the spotlights thus living his life the way he wants.
Furthermore, the man is famous for his bond with his next of kin. He is reknown for having invited something like nine family members or more (please leave comments if you have sources on this one) to Grand Prix. These included cousins, grandparents, etc... Yet another argument for Kimi Raikkonen to leave all that success behind him and starts something new, away from this life in the fast lane (literaly)
Lastly, I do not agree with those who believe the man's option would be limited if he was to leave F1; he has so much money behind him, and he's already invested in property anyways. Of course it could all go belly up, but with a brand name like Raikkonen you'd bounce back anyways!
11 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Ben Auty about 1 year ago
I am going to quote directly from my own quote in reply to the last article about the Kimi situation and what I think about it all ...
I dont think he will retire ... I think maybe that is clever exposure from his agent to get the media off his back ... We all know what the media is like at speculating ... Why would Kimi want that unnecessary pressure on his back of having to constantly answer stupid questions about who he wants the drive for, questions that have sourced on the back of a rumour in the rumour mill ? Get the heat off by announcing a retirement ... BUT ... I dont think he will retire ... I believe he will stay on with Ferrari ? ... I could be very wrong but thats just me knocking ideas about.
Anyway Al ... U stole my tag line ... Less of that please Mr ! Ha ha ha !
Ben, Over and Out ! (The Original)
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Alex Levy about 1 year ago
yes I did take your finisher tag line, take it as a compliment nothing more nothing less either lol
I don't know how announcing retirement now with the possibility of winning two more titles will let the steam off from the media.
to be fair I am more inclined to think the more Raikkonen threatens to quit the more ink this will spills in the papers and on bleacher as well (you can imagine)
Like I said in the article i personally believe it's more to do with the way the team treats him and how they want him to operate with them, i think there must have been some not so nice arguments on the inside regarding his mono syllabic untalktative nature
also I think in a way you right to say he does not want the media on his shoulders all the time, then again he's our champion so I guess threatening to quit is his way to cunningly get Ferrari to do something about the medias and the press but also not leak out in anyways anything that could make big headlines. cos the end of the day the iceman wants to live his life the way he wants to!!!
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Ben Auty about 1 year ago
Just cos its you I will let you off with the tag line ... Ha ha ha ... Dont anyone else be trying it though, or me and Big Al will be coming looking for you ! ; )
I suppose he could be doing it to hold Ferrari to ransom ... I mean why wouldnt he want another season with the prancing horse ... Its worth its weight in gold to some drivers who will probably never get that kind of opportunity and I am sure its something he dreamed about as a young boy ?
I personally wouldnt like him to retire ... But as a racer surely ending on a high would be a good thing ?
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Michael Griffin about 1 year ago
i'm not sure at the moment. he can have off weekends, he even fell asleep once!! he does hate the media, who wouldn't. i see him staying till 2010 and going after that. sayonara kimster.
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mark andrew about 1 year ago
again another 5 out of 5 , hey f1 boys everyones stories are on fire today . i do think kimi will carry on in f1 , as it goes like this , how can a man who is in a sport retire knowing he hasnt give it his best shot to beat the current record holder (schumi) , because if it was me iand i had one title to my name id keep trying until i was past coulthards age to beat michaels record . i know its easier said than done but he will regret it if he leaves after 2009 . he will sit at home thinking " did i really give it my best to beat 7 world titles " . surely any sportsman wants to retire the best . obviously he must want to start a family but he can do both at the same time , some of the other drivers are bringing up children now , the media tends to leave racers with families alone as there is no juicy gossip as they are at home with the family unlike hamilton who could be out with some blond girl that generates stories . also on the point of kimi doesnt want to do sponsors stuff and the rest of the crap that dont involve racing , i remember hearing ron dennis say that kimi was lazy and kimi admitted it too maybe thats the reason behind very few sponsor adverts for kimi .
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Julian Chan about 1 year ago
I don't think he will retire next year. There is unfinished business. Defending a driver's WC is important to seal yourself as one of the sports' greats, as Alonso has shown. Anyway, who's to say that he's guaranteed to win another driver's WC this year or next year? The challenge from Massa is most definitely intensifying, and if McLaren can up their game Hamilton can do the job considering their mistakes last season. I've heard that Kimi is slightly unmotivated this season as one reason for his recent lacklustre races (which I don't think so). Well in my opinion if there is any signs of losing interest in a support that demands 100% then I might as well quit now. If Alonso does become a Ferrari driver for 2010 and beyond then I believe we may see another Schumi era (he'd want No1 status)...
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Alex Levy about 1 year ago
Kimi is unmotivated because he knows he is that damn good.
Also I'd like to think that he may have other plan for the future i.e. extend his family (starting a family) or just spending time with those close to him, why not? since he's got the money and at least one world title in the bank.... What I do know though is that good old Fernando Alonso will be whispering in the iceman's ear to retire so he ( alonso) can take over as no1 driver at Ferrari, no way Massa could get in the way he does not have two world titles let alone one at that! And as to the new Schumi era well hopefully Mclaren and Hamilton should get in the way of that hopefully...
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Bill Billson about 1 year ago
Maybe he does not find it that interesting anymore. Perhaps, as recent studies have shown, people of that part of the north are just more content than the rest of us. He was probably content before becoming world champion; now he wants to be content with other things filling his life. You've heard the line, "Too Much Is Never Enough" with respect to entertainment stars. Who's to say that maybe for Kimi, too much is quite enough.
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Angelo B. about 1 year ago
Kimi should retire in 2009 but he should retire with the F1 world chapionship so that he leaves the sport on top. If he does not win the chapionship in 2009 then he probably will not retire. On a personal note Kimi is so boring for F1 so retiring from F1 should be good for the sport. Then Bruno Senna is gonna take over for him at Ferrari. IMAGINE
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cassius sajeni about 1 year ago
just leave the man alone boring or not, he is there to drive the scuderia car not make you laugh!if you want laughter hire a clown thats what clowns do! i hate it when people say he is boring what else do you want the man to do other than race and win?lets not forget formula one is about racing if you want to see celebrities laugh it out wine and dine watch the oscars!
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Alex Levy about 1 year ago
Hey Cassius
I'm with you on this one; Raikkonen has his own character, he's not very talkative and hell no he wouldn't do half as much posing and promoting for greedy mega sponsors; respect to that I say. there's some funny vids on youtube of the iceman drunk on a boat and not attending a ceremony for apparently laying a brown cable under water; the guy has balls and he means business!!!
What do you think?
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