Do You Think That Kimi Will Leave Mclaren At The End Of The Year?

[Frank_White]

I definately think that Kimi lacks the patience to deal with the Mclaren situation. He might very well go to Toyota, Williams or even Ferrari for 2005.

That leaves the interesting question as to who might take his place.

[garcon]

Kimi will certainly be less than impressed right now, but there are too many factors to consider. McLaren will surely improve as the season progresses, I think he'll see the prospect of being team mates with JPM as a big plus, and there is the small matter of a contract.

Still, I'm sure the others will be sounding him out while he's down...

[fiona]

it wouldnt surprise me if he was considered getting out the situation cant be doing him any good

[Raven]

Well, no team is currently in a position to beat Ferrari, whether you're driving for McLaren, Williams, Renault, BAR or Toyota. McLaren have as much potential as any of these teams, even if they're not the closest challengers at the moment.

[Gt_R]

Considering that Kimi may well make a switch to Ferrari after MS leaves?

It's bad enough to drive for Mclaren who's facing huge problems... and it'd be worse next year if they can't settle the problem and there would be a JPM to scrap with.

[DriverT]

It all depends, I think, on whether McLaren can improve. This years' car looks like a stinker on wheels, but with the money they have I'm sure they'll improve.

[Dick Spanner]

Surely the only teams he would move to would be Ferrari or William's. If TGF carries on for another year (he's contracted to 2006 and still enjoying himself) there will be no seat at Ferrari. I don't think Williams will outbid McLaren if money is any kind of deciding factor but it would be refreshing to see a driver take a drop in salary to be able to compete at the "sharp end".

[Poddy]

I'm not sure he'll leave. Stay with Mclaren long enough and you'll get a car capable of winning championships under you at some point, and he's got that special relationship with Dennis, and what he's putting up with at the moment really isn't that much worse than what Hakkinen had to put up with in the mid-90 - and noone doubts that Hakkinen staying there was a good decission.

[fiona]

Originally posted by Poddy
I'm not sure he'll leave. Stay with Mclaren long enough and you'll get a car capable of winning championships under you at some point, and he's got that special relationship with Dennis, and what he's putting up with at the moment really isn't that much worse than what Hakkinen had to put up with in the mid-90 - and noone doubts that Hakkinen staying there was a good decission.

but is Kimi willing to wait, he's eager and has seen what he can do in last years mclaren and would be hoping that this years would be an improvement but its turned out to be a disappointment to not only him but the team as well
they are obv lacking something but so are williams, ferrari at the moment are so far ahead we do need to wonder if mclaren and williams will catch enough to mount a serious challenege
and kimi will be thinking, i hope its not going to be like this all season, and i think his motivation may drop iof the results dont come in
but like i said above i can see Kimi wanting out if it doesnt get much better

[steve_r]

He would be mad to move to any team other that Ferrari or Williams. McLaren WILL bounce back - not sure of the timescale, but it's a matter of when, not if.

[Bononi]

He could swicth places with JPM... that would be a good move.

[DriverT]

So he becomes second driver and JPM becomes the first?

[Hugh Jarce]

Probably not in his interests to even though his current car resembles a kebab van in fry up mode.

Seriously wonder what Montoya must be feeling right now.

Still he will have access to a nice aluminium shower to cool his bum down after lap 5.

Just a thought - if Kimi did lose heart - who would bid for him - Ferrari is not beyond the realms of possibility. Rubens seems to almost be resigned to test mode getting 8 points and not racing MS. Who knows.

I guess at the end of the day it will be down to what his contract with Uncle Ron says - because we all know that F1 teams honour those religiously.

[F1Pete]

KR was quoted that someday he will win the championship but it may be with another F1 team! His contract is due in 05 and Ferrari has expressed interest. I don't want to see him in a Ferrari.

[JohnSSC]

You prefer to see him in a Mac grilling sausages on his rear wing??

Sorry! Couldn't resist!

But if Ferrari presents itself as an option for him to be WDC, why not? He has the talent. If Mac can't get it done then he should go for it.

[freud]

Do You Think That Kimi Will Leave Mclaren At The End Of The Year?

NO.. because he cant be bought out of his contract unless the other team pays a huge sum. Williams will never be willing.

[Kicking-back]

I see Kimi being a career McLaren man in much the same way Mika was.

Ron will move heaven and earth to stop him going anywhere else.

[BootsOntheSide]

Do we know for sure that he is signed for 2005? I can't remember for sure. Also, we don't know if there are any performance release clauses in there, that might allow him to leave if the team finishes below a certain position (a risky thing for a team owner to include, because it runs the risk of him intentionally racing badly so as to get a dream move).

I don't think he'll choose to move on anytime soon. Mika had a year as test driver and 3 years of cars which weren't really competitive for wins before his patience paid off, and whose to say the same thing won't happen for Kimi? He appears to have a good relationship with the people around him in the team as well.

[climb]

I think that a prime factor will be his relationships qith Mercedes: how are them now?

[Kicking-back]

His relationship with Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh is excellent.

[Gt_R]

The main reasons why Kimi signed for Mclaren was that he is immediately offered a race seat at a top team (at that time) and Mika played a huge role in recommending and talking with Kimi.

With the situation at Ferrari changing soon, Kimi could find himself in the leading seat of the most desired team, with a great deal of benefits and a huge paycheck. It's all very attractive a deal and Ferrari seem prepared to do it...so it's really up to Mclaren to convince him otherwise.

[Kicking-back]

But Ferrari post-Schumacher won't necessarily be that attractive as the "dream team" of Todt, Brawn, Byrne etc are likely to go at the same time as Michael.

[Gt_R]

It couldn't go worse than the current Mclaren could it?

But seriously, Ferrari isn't going to let their new built and re-established status as the top F1 team slip easily once MS/Brawn/Byrne/Todt leave. Ferrari is currently digging deep into their own people to nurture replacements for Bryne/Brawn and key department personnels, while constantly seeking out potential MS replacements, hiring new key personnels which excelled in other teams, and fostering even greater ties with their technical partners. The foundation of Ferrari is safe...even if it means that MS's eventual retirement would rock the boat a little.

[EERO]

Given the disaster that the season has been for so long and the prospect of sharing the team with JPM next year has to be unnerving, I'd guess that he'd like to be looking elsewhere. Quite simply, he isn't leaving if Ron doesn't want him to.

[Frank_White]

I don't know why people are so quick to discount Toyota. With MG there, in 2005 toyota is going to be even better relatively than B.A.R. is this year.