Raikkonen vs Alonso

[321Go]

Would it be fair to conclude that Raikkonen is well and truly getting whipped by Alonso - so far?

The expected duel between the two has failed to eventuate thus far. Shame - as it was something I was really looking forward to in 2014.

[Knowlesy]

Kimi off the pace with cosy contract, quick teammate and dire car combination shock.

[nobster]

If this continues, I'm affraid we will see the end of Kimi after this year....

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Would it be fair to conclude that Raikkonen is well and truly getting whipped by Alonso - so far?

Yep. As I expected, tbh.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Yep. As I expected, tbh.

I'm part of the 63.16% who voted the other way around. Was expecting (hoping really) that Raikkonen would take it to Alonso. There's still time for Kimi to get his act together.

Some are saying Kimi has to get used to the car blah, blah. But so does Alonso. Nothing about the 2014 car is the same as the 2013 car - so both are in a completely new car.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Some are saying Kimi has to get used to the car blah, blah. But so does Alonso. Nothing about the 2014 car is the same as the 2013 car - so both are in a completely new car.

It is safe to assume that the 2014 car was designed with Alonso's interests in mind. Kimi and Fernando have different driving styles and the car may be more favourable for Alonso since it is geared towards his driving style.

It's only been 3 races after tomorrow. Still plenty of time for Kimi to challenge Fernando.

[F1Pete]

I (as well as countless others on this forum) fully expect Kimi to destroy Alonso. He did out qualify Alonso at the previous race.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by F1Pete

I (as well as countless others on this forum) fully expect Kimi to destroy Alonso. He did out qualify Alonso at the previous race.

Yes. But why?!?

[Aysedasi]

I can see absolutely zero evidence for that conclusion at present Pete - I know your support for Kimi, but even you must be concerned. The chances of Kimi 'destroying' Alonso are pretty remote, IMO.....

[nobster]

Almost a minute behind Alonso at the finish today....

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Salamus

Kimi and Fernando have different driving styles and the car may be more favourable for Alonso since it is geared towards his driving style.

Huh?? I'm no expert, but I believe the cars have the ability to be set up to suit a particular driver and/or his driving style.

Originally Posted by Salamus

It's only been 3 races after tomorrow. Still plenty of time for Kimi to challenge Fernando.

I'm no expert, but I believe after tomorrow it's been four races, not three.

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Huh?? I'm no expert, but I believe the cars have the ability to be set up to suit a particular driver and/or his driving style.



I'm no expert, but I believe after tomorrow it's been four races, not three.

The overall design of the car was produced with Alonso's driving style in mind.

Yes, four races, not three, my mistake. Still, the point stands.

[Knowlesy]

Come on. Whatever the direction of the design, and I find that dubious, he was a minute behind.

I don't doubt there are things he has to adapt to. But he has been at Ferrari before and this generation of cars is very different.

He is simply performing woefully. So far at least. I had a bad feeling about his return.

[IceMan_PJN]

I don't remember on which board I saw most of it at, but I remember a lot of talk about how Kimi was going to challenge Alonso. I never expected it, always figuring Alonso was definitely the superior of the two and, importantly, more passionate about it. So far this season, I've been right and all that talk of Kimi giving Fernando a run for his money was a bunch of hot air. It still feels to me like Kimi got his championship win and then just didn't have it in him any longer.

[kurski]

Finnish TV raporter and Journalist Jari Porttila: Ferrari has its own closed testing tack at Maranello. Now Kimi should go there and test the parts. I know the rules but Ferrari knows how to bypass those.

[Teretonga]

I thought Alonso was the more complete driver but still thought Kimi would be closer, much closer than he has been.
He did a great job at Lotus with a team trying to fight back so what is going on at Ferrari?

I think he may be struggling with adapting to the car and getting it to work the way he wants it. Part of that may be engineering and some of that may be down to the team.
But he hasn't forgotten how to drive and we are not seeing his full potential.

At Ferrari he seemed to have fallen asleep after his title until Massa had the head injury and suddenly he stepped up.

Is he fully motivated?

[Beryl]

So far, this season supports my long held opinion that Kimi is a Massa-level driver (which is no insult, Massa is my favorite driver ATM) that has been flattered in the past by weak teammates and fast cars. I'm sure he'll be much closer to Alonso in some races, and maybe even beat him a few times, but I feel he's just not on Alonso's level when all is said and done.

[Moneyseeker]

Alonso has consistently been ahead of the car even back to his Minardi days.

[F1Pete]

Is he fully motivated?? What kind of question is that? He more motivated than ever! Too bad he didn't get the chance to run the car in P1 and lost valuable track time due to technical issues. Of course the rain hampered things in qualifying and I will admit (as much as it causes me physical pain....like losing does to Ron Dennis...to do so , Kimi is not on the top of the list when it comes to rain.

http://www.f1reader.com/#/news/raikk...tion-039-96518

[QnickFTW]

its funny how one-sided all the big TM battles are so far. Alonso, Hamilton and Riciardo are mopping the floor with their team-mates right now.

[OZ_HCR32]

When Kimi first returned to Lotus it did take him a while to get the car he needed under him. Braking anf frontbend feel seems to he something you often read Kimi is chasing.

In F1 I always find it odd that people jump to extremes when the sport is all about the smallest of margins/things making you surrender pace.

Kimi is an amazing talent...to better Alonso he is going to have to work off track to get tge results he wants on track

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

He did a great job at Lotus with a team trying to fight back so what is going on at Ferrari?

I believe at Lotus, he was yet to be paid.
I believe at Ferrari, he's already been paid.

Originally Posted by Teretonga

Is he fully motivated?

See above.

[Razzzor]

What's more disappointing is that Kimi wasn't even that held up in China. He spent the first stint in traffic, but so did Alonso. For most of the race both he and Kimi were in clean air, and Alonso was consistently a lot faster than Kimi. Ricciardo may have beaten Vettel by 24 secs, but the gap between Alonso/Kimi was double that.

Kimi was well and truly dominated by Alonso at China. I do hope this doesn't continue...

[chunterer]

Surely it's much simpler than this?

Kimi struggled to put Massa away when they were teammates and there was rarely much daylight between them pace wise. Masaa seemed the more fired up but Kimi ground out the results and was pretty consistent which is how he won the '07 title.

Alonso, however fairly annihilated Felipe although I still suspect Massa had the rough end of the strategies and freedom to do his own thing.

There will still be days this year when Kimi will be in the frame but it won't be to the same extent as Fernando. I'm even wondering if Ferrari are already throwing their development weight behinf one car.

[Inigo Montoya]

I think Kimi has more important things on his mind these days

http://f1.imgci.com/PICTURES/CMS/24200/24247.jpg