Lotus: There won’t be a seventh version of the steering system for Raikkonen
14 June, 2012
Kimi Raikkonen in the cockpit of the Lotus E20
Jun.14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s discomfort with the steering of his pace setting Lotus E20 has gobbled up numerous column inches and now the Enstone team have reportedly admitted that they have provided six variations of the steering system for the Finn’s benefit. They will not be making another option for their star driver.
There are rumblings in the Formula One paddock that not all is well in the relationship between Raikkonen and Lotus. A big sticking point is the saga about the E20′s steering system.
“Now, it’s like with a child,” an unnamed Lotus team member is quoted by the German-language Speed Week. “We’ve laid down six lollipops and he can choose one. There won’t be a seventh version of the steering for him.”
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 world champion, described Lotus’ black and gold E20 car as “amazing”and suggested that with a top driver at the wheel, the Enstone based team might even be leading the world championship.
But what about Raikkonen? As the 2007 world champion who this season has made a widely-hailed F1 comeback, isn’t the laconic Finn a truly ‘top driver’?
Not according to Villeneuve. Indeed, whilst the 32-year-old has been on the podium twice so far in 2012 and is equal fifth in the drivers’ standings, Raikkonen has been regularly outqualified by his newcomer teammate Romain Grosjean this season.
“That he is usually behind Grosjean in pure performance makes me think he [Raikkonen] could be dropped,” Villeneuve is quoted in the latest edition of Auto Hebdo.
Finnish commentator Mika Salo acknowledged Raikkonen’s recent struggles, particularly the poor performances in Monaco and Canada. At the same time, Frenchman Grosjean almost won in Montreal last Sunday.
“But this was just one good event for him,” former Sauber and Toyota driver Salo told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.
Salo acknowledged: “Kimi has retained his natural ability to drive a car, but he and the team definitely haven’t come to terms about what he needs. But as for Jacques Villeneuve, I doubt he has even spoken a single word to Kimi about what the problem really is. He is a complete outsider.
“I still think Kimi will win a race this season when the weekend is spot on. You can see that the relationship between Kimi and the team is really good. Although there are problems, there is still a good atmosphere. Some in the media allege that they are breaking up, but the real situation is quite the opposite. The team has full respect for Kimi, and Kimi respects the team,” Salo insisted.
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Related posts:
- Villeneuve: Hamilton or Alonso or Vettel in a Lotus might have won every race
- Steering issue creating Lotus and Raikkonen rift
- Raikkonen on: steering problem, slippery Monaco and that James Hunt helmet
- Lotus: We were hampered by power steering issues
- Raikkonen takes to the track in the Lotus E20
Funny it’s coming from JV. When was his last win? Pole? 1997! He stayed for another 9 years after his title… and got nothing! Bugger off JV.
Why are they talking to Jacques Villeneuve. He is all far-t and no sh-t. Suddenly from no-wwhere he has become a pundit. Jack has been out of the lime light for so long and therefore he is making noise to gain attention.
Hahh, what a BS. This not what “Lotus” have said, it might be a a personal opinion. Funny thing – Lotus have already the seventh version available for Kimi. If someone is leaving Lotus, it might be this idiot who doesn’t understand that everybody has to work to together and they really need to develop the car for the driver – not for themselves.
I can see a lot of support for kimi and i agree and i feel that maybe because of his comeback he is feeling a bit uncomfortable in the car , otherwise he may still bring podiums in the future once he gets used to it. Kimi should stay with Lotus !!
Villeneuve is a waste of space he couldn’t win with Williams without help. He then changed to BAT and said “Jenson will have to prove to me he is good enough”. Jenson showed him his tail end as it vanished in to the distance.
Villeneuve keeps trying to get back in to F1 be it with his mouth or his hair color.
Kimi will power to victory given the right machinery from Lotus.
He is happy and they are happy with him.
now a days, its more like who’s tire will last longer wins… it’s not just Kimi but it’s everyone. that’s why there’s no repeat winner yet
OT: i dont think Jack would done better back then even if he stayed with Williams.imo
talk about come back? oh please, Kimi is by far making (or rather has made) one of the most successful F1 come backs. This is only his 7th time driving on the circuit since a 2 year absent and he had already made more points than schumi did. Villeneuve’s comeback… ? Himself is the epic failure, fail jealousy.
And let’s be honest, lotus current’s car is good, but in terms of setting it up and race strategy, they’s alot to learn yet. Their car pace fluctuates according to track temperature way too much. I believe they will do very well in hot tracks like say….Bahrain? — which they did shown how good it can be.
It’s hard to find another driver whos wheel to wheel drive was at same level as Kimi’s. His current points is result of repeated strategy miss calls by Lotus.
It feels like Kimi is enjoying the team, so only good things can come out of it.
Let me get this right. Villeneuve says Kimi is going to be dropped from Lotus because he gets beat in qualifying by his teammate. However in races Kimi rarely finishes behind Grosjean.
But the same Villeneuve says how great Schumacher is who regularly gets beat by his teammate yet he says Schumacher should come back in 2013 even though Schumacher has been beaten soundly for almost 2 1/2 years by Rosberg already?
LOL yeah right Villeneuve.
Kimi is leading Grosjean in points.
Rosberg is leading Schumacher in points for just shy of 2 1/2 years now.
LOL, keep em coming Villeneuve, I think you have found your true calling as a comedian LOL!!!
I wonder if all the comments from below come from the same person? The “Butterfly” comment sure isn’t mine.
Kimi should learn how to drive from Alonso. Alonso can drive a passenger car faster than Kimi goes in an F1 car.
Lotus F1 Team ?@Lotus_F1Team
@chan42411 I wouldn’t pay any attention to these rumours, Kimi is happy with the team and the team is happy with Kimi!
I think there is an issue between Kimi and Lotus. Kimi is a top driver and demands a top car. Lotus does not seem at present to be able to deliver. The attitude ‘shut up and drive what you have’ is not reflective of a top team. Ferrari did not give up and at great expense gave Alonso a car he can win the championship with. This is the mark of a top team. Lotus seems to have abandoned its target of producing a top car this season and I am not sure of their committment for next year. So, maybe Kimi will drop the team, not the other way around.
Kimi WILL win Spa, if he doesn’t then something went horribly wrong. He’s a king of that track.
Maybe Jacques Villeneuve could replace Kimi, I hear he’s really good at driving a milk truck, whipping around the Montreal streets with careless abandon, yeah he could be the one!! Kimi will get comfortable one of these days and really start to put some points on the board, he is close. Raikkonen and Grosjean will start to be more consistent this season, and Lotus will be close to the top at the end. It seems their biggest problem is understanding their tires and to be more knowledgeable about tire selection starting the race and during the race, like what happened to Alonso in Canada.