Santander to pay for Raikkonen transfer - report

If McLaren can get a great chassis next year Ferrari will regret the move. Kimi out qualified Shummy on many occasions only to loose the motors. Reliability was not spot on for McLaren when kimi las drove for them. I would imagine with the current motor and a more refined chassis Kimi will beat Ferrari all day long. Its a shame too because I am a Ferrari fan but I also like Kimi. But sor sure can not root for him in a Mclaren since that is a major Ferrari rival. I would so rather see Kimi/Alonso at Ferrari in 2010.

My sentiments exactly

I agree as well; I have no idea why Ferrari are so keen on keeping Massa. Yes, he's quite good - but Raikkonen's better. Should Kimi go to MacLaren, I would look forward to seeing him school Lewis in identical cars (so long as no "team orders" are issued).

Kimi just isn't as popular in the Latin markets, which are huge markets that are heavy into F1 sponsorships.

I'm sure I speak for most McLaren fans when I say we'd be happy to have him back. Reliability issues were the only thing that prevented Kimi from winning the World Championship in a McLaren. I've been a Kimi supporter for a long time now, and continued to support him when he was at Ferrari, even though I'm a McLaren fan at heart. I was only a little disappointed when he took the championship from rookie Hamilton, because I felt he deserved it.

I will have to agree too. Why are they are keeping Massa? for what? he's a nervous driver as I have seen, Kimi is moving out of ferrari because there are too many orders & this year car is even bad. It would be nice if he moves in the Mclaren team but Lewis is there & again team orders, so maybe he should move in a brand new team for next year, but who knows, let see what happens.

Although I'm of Spanish descent and a supporter of Alonso's move to Ferrari, it would be a shame to see Kimi go, his personality might be unlike any other driver in F1 but he's got to be the best driver out there, he's even won a race and kept the pace with this year's horrible car which IMO next year will be the best.

I'm puzzled by the current defenders of Kimi. Really. When Kimi was young, he was a lot like Vettel or Lewis. He absolutely loved what he did. He really cared, and he gave his all. He DID deserve to win at least one title at McLaren, but the reliability DID absolutely kill him. The point is that he tried with ALL of his abilities. But about him leaving Ferrari...Kimi's leaving because he simply COULD NOT give any less of a damn about Ferrari. He couldn't give less of a damn about driving for them if he's not in the mood, regardless of the fact that he's taking over $40M from them for the privilege of not caring half the time. Last year is a prime example, but forgetting that, go watch the RECENT interview with Steve Matchett. Steve asks if Kimi wanted to drive for Ferrari when he grew up. Kimi said--SITTING THERE IN FERRARI'S FACTORY--"No. I never wanted to drive for Ferrari. I just want to drive a competitive car. Right now, that's Ferrari." What a complete fool. When asked the same question, Massa said, "Yes, I always wanted to drive for Ferrari! They are the legends, and it's a dream come true for me!" Now, let's think about this. Kimi is racing for what is EASILY THE MOST FAMOUS--and best--race team in the history of motorsports, is being paid well over $40M to race this year, and sitting in their headquarters, doing an interview in front of cameras, and he says, "NO. I DIDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO DRIVE FOR FERRARI." Add to that the fact that he won his title and did exactly ALMOST NOTHING the following year. Massa, on the other hand, gives 112%. EVERY SINGLE RACE. Period. Kimi just flaunts the fact that he doesn't give a damn. He is open about wanting to drive in World Rally. He spends his spare time racing in other leagues. He is OPENLY disrespectful to the most famous team in the world. News Flash: WHEN YOU GET PAID WELL OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS A RACE, YOU NEED TO ACT LIKE YOU CARE, YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP AND GIVE YOUR BEST EFFORT EACH WEEK, AND YOU NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL TO--AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT--YOUR TEAM. Kimi is on again, off again, and unreliable. Massa CARES. Massa gives his ALL. EVERY time. Kimi is right up front about the fact that he doesn't care, Massa flaunts the fact that he does care. THAT is why Kimi is leaving. On a slightly different note, as for Alonso, there's only TWO things I have to say about him, the second of which is why Ferrari will dump Kimi for Fernando. 1) I think Fernando is childish, spoiled, immature, IMMENSELY DISRESPECTFUL, loathsome, repugnant, odious, underhanded, and has proven he'll blackmail his team--or, presumably, any future team--if they upset him by refusing to detune his teammate's car in order to preserve his own imagined "supremacy" in the team. Lewis kicked his ass up one side and down the other, and it hurt Fernando's precious little feelings, and the team paid--LITERALLY--for it. More importantly for Ferrari, they'll take their chances with Mr. Alonso because: 2) Fernando actually TRIES. EVERY time. ALL the time. WITHOUT courting other series. WITHOUT acting like he doesn't give a damn. Truly, it's a lesser of two evils, but AT LEAST they know they'll get their money's worth from Massa and Fernando. THAT is why they're getting rid of Kimi. (p.s. Next year, Massa will be expected to play the subservient role in the team--but there's still a small chance he just might beat Fernando anyway. Kimi, on the other hand, will most likely be bested by Lewis because Lewis--like Fernando--CARES. McLaren won't know which Kimi will be showing up for each week's race. For the record, saying that being in equal machinery is an advantage for Kimi instead of Lewis...is...well-intentioned, but not backed up by logic. Remember: Lewis still loves what he's doing, and is not trying to go race somewhere else. Kimi's Ferrari was arguably the better car last year, but KIMI was NOT better than LEWIS. On equal footing, there'll be some GREAT dogfights between them, but, that said, there's every reason in the world to think that Lewis will end up with more championship points...because Lewis will show up to give 110% every single week. Kimi? Well, it depends on which of his personalities shows up each week.)

Luca di Montezemolo once said that it wouldn't be possible to have Kimi and Fernando racing for the same team and he was right! You can't have two problem children in the same home!

Having Kimi and Fernando on 1 team would destroy the team, i can't see those two working together, there'd be no team-work. Felipe and Fernando's a more practical combinatioo

Today's race in Singapore had a GREAT comment from David Hobbs. They mentioned that Kimi's job was in jeopardy, despite having a contract for $49 MILLION DOLLARS next year. Having said that, David Hobbs said, "I can't imagine ANYONE hurrying to sign ANY driver--even one as talented as Kimi--who is SO EASILY DE-MOTIVATED." Peter Windsor then echoed the same sentiments a couple of minutes later. When you can't be bothered to actually TRY, and you are being paid almost THREE MILLION DOLLARS A RACE, that makes you...well...ANYTHING but admirable. ANYTHING but a champion. ANYTHING but a driver worthy of respect or devotion. What a piece of...work. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Kimi.

Raikkonen is the 'cleanest' most non-controversial of all drivers around..and is a man among whining and cheating kids. His racing is the most exciting to watch - his drive at Spa was not only the best this year but one of the best of all times...whether or not he stays with Ferrari, he will continue to be respected ; and yes, whether he earns 2 millions or 3 millions and races in rallies as well should be entirely his business and not of those sitting on the sidelines

geezz..rossi46, don't cry like a baby..kimi is not like anyother driver, he doesn't give a damn about marketing bullshit and all that " soap opera " personalities...he just want to drive fast car, that is the essence of racing..

WOW. I'm SO glad you said that. You could NOT be more wrong. In fact, you made my point for me. True, Kimi doesn't want to do any marketing or PR stuff, which I'll address in a moment, but the point you made is wrong, because what you said is the problem because KIMI DOES NOT CARE ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR FAST. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WINNING OR GOING FAST. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. Kimi isn't as high up the pecking order as Alguersuari on that score, because Kimi doesn't even WANT to go fast! THAT'S THE PROBLEM! Of COURSE he could be one of the fastest if he tried, but he has lost the desire to win, which is the most basic element of racing--to RACE. He doesn't do that anymore. He shows up physically, but that's about it. Well, at least you responded. I can respect that. I sound like I'm especially chafed about it all the time, because I have a buddy who's got 8,432,177 excuses for why Kimi doesn't go fast on any given weekend. They're pathetic, pitiful, and more than a little funny. Obviously, when I see other people excusing Kimi--especially when Kimi just keeps getting worse--I'm gonna point a little bit FACT in the direction of these sympathizers. Oh, and by the way, "marketing bullshit" IS A PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION when you get paid close to THREE MILLION a WEEKEND. JUST ASK MARLBORO. When you race for a team who depends on the support of one of the top 5 richest companies in the world, the job description entails doing that "bullshit". Go look at the huge furor surrounding Casey Stoner when he disappeared. Marlboro wanted someone who would play ball, because that IS a part of it. Gripe all you like, but THEY OWN YOU when you make that much. You would HAPPILY do all that "bullshit" if they paid you that type of money. Kimi doesn't even care about winning anymore. Nothing could be more basic. Nothing could be more pathetic. He's like salt that has no flavor. It's worthless. He needs to go do something he WANTS to do. Stop making excuses for him, because there canNOT be one that actually excuses him. He's pathetic and spoiled. Period. Full stop. Fin. End of discussion.

Mind you, when he WANTS TO, he is just BLAZINGLY fast. That makes it all the easier to tell that he doesn't care. Having said that, it's just that much more PATHETIC that he claimed being hit at turn one at Spa, running way outside the track to pass other cars. He wasn't TOUCHED by anyone, let alone "HIT". Again, ALL the commentators were again disgusted by the incomprehensible and blatant pandering to Ferrari by the stewards. Spa last year was SHAMEFUL. It was a travesty, and I was embarrassed for the sport. Lewis being shoved over the curb by Kimi, Lewis then GIVING BACK the position, re-passing Kimi, then inexplicably being penalized...it was just pathetic. In the EXTREME. I'll admit that it COULD be the Ferrari mystique, but it's happened two consecutive years at the same track. Again, people make excuses for him...