F1 Raikkonen can stay at McLaren – Norbert Haug

[PanterroR]

Despite the arrival of Fernando Alonso

McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen will not necessarily switch teams at the end of 2006.

That is the insistence of Mercedes' F1 chief Norbert Haug, who played down speculation that Ferrari or Toyota are more likely future employers for the star Finn.

“Just because we have got Alonso for 2007,” Haug told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper, “it does not mean that Kimi is moving to another team.”

Even Norbert Haug, however, is stirred by the thought of an all-new driver pairing at Woking - World Champion Alonso and seven time title winner Michael Schumacher.

Ferrari's Schumacher recently left a one per cent window open that he could move teams at the end of his 2006 deal.

Haug admitted that the Schumacher-Alonso combination would be one that 'many wish for', but denied that the team was actively trying to sew up the deal.

“In this direction there are no discussions and no intentions,” he insisted.


Source: Racing-Live.com

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...wich means that if Raikkonen stays, Montoya will leave!. YES! Hell YES! Now, please BMW Sauber, please fire that jerko JV and bring Montoya back...

 

[yomomwhat]

well, if mclaren have a B team in 2007 like they want to, they could have raikkonen, alonso, montoya and schumacher, tbh i don't like alonso.......LOL

 

[PanterroR]

well, if mclaren have a B team in 2007 like they want to, they could have raikkonen, alonso, montoya and schumacher, tbh i don't like alonso.......LOL

If they want a B team, they better find someone else to be in it, i'm sure Montoya won't.

 

[yomomwhat]

well with red bull, liuzzi was expected to be coulthards partner this year but he happily went to their other team...., its not like the mclaren B team is going to be bad? lol, and he would still get a good amount of money!!

 

[LaArtist]

ofcourse he can stay.. why cant he stay him and alonso thats a gr8 team..

 

[Carbon]

well with red bull, liuzzi was expected to be coulthards partner this year but he happily went to their other team...., its not like the mclaren B team is going to be bad? lol, and he would still get a good amount of money!!

I don't know who you talked to that expected Liuzzi to be on the Red Bull Racing team. The driver lineup for Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso was predicted by many publications many months ahead of the official announcement. Klien did a pretty good job with the car that he deserved to retain his race seat on the better team.

 

[yomomwhat]

I don't know who you talked to that expected Liuzzi to be on the Red Bull Racing team. The driver lineup for Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso was predicted by many publications many months ahead of the official announcement. Klien did a pretty good job with the car that he deserved to retain his race seat on the better team.

i didnt talk to anyone, i just watched tv.....halfway through the year the commentators were saying how they expected kilen to be dropped but instead they gave him extra races in which he impressed them....and let liuzzi go to the other team, halfway through last year no one even knew about red bull buying mindardi....

 

[Carbon]

i didnt talk to anyone, i just watched tv.....halfway through the year the commentators were saying how they expected kilen to be dropped but instead they gave him extra races in which he impressed them....and let liuzzi go to the other team, halfway through last year no one even knew about red bull buying mindardi....

Oh okay before the more current stuff. I see what you're saying. The points he scored this season were pretty good, and I think we have more to come from the young driver.

 

[PanterroR]

Montoya on hunt for new team

From: Racing-Live.com

Juan Pablo Montoya says McLaren has not yet decided whether he or team-mate Kimi Raikkonen will get the boot for 2007.

The feisty Colombian, reportedly disillusioned that Ron Dennis did not take up an option on his contract to extend beyond this year, admitted that he is thus looking for a new seat.

"There has been no decision on what is going to happen," Montoya was quoted as saying by the News of the World tabloid, "but I am open to offers."

McLaren has already signed up Fernando Alonso for 2007, meaning that either Montoya or Raikkonen will make way.

But Montoya insists that he will not be left standing when the music of the next silly season stops. "I am not waiting for anybody," he replied, when asked how long he would wait for Dennis' call. "I need to find a drive if he doesn't want me. If they don't want me, I'll find a team who do."

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Hello, BMW Sauber and Mario Theissen... do you hear this???

 

[Carbon]

As I've been saying, I don't think Montoya or Raikkonen will be at McLaren next year. Possibly Montoya if Ron can make a decision, but I'm guessing another team will pick him up before Ron says anything. I don't think Kimi even wants to stay at McLaren. We could very well see an Alonso/Paffet lineup in 2007.