Kimi Raikkonen is a bold driver and a worthy successor to his compatriot, fellow Finn, Mika Häkkinen.

Kimi Räikkönen surprised the world of F1 when Peter Sauber announced that he had offered Kimi a seat for 2001 on the condition that obtained his superlicense.


In his first year Raikkonen helped Sauber achieve fourth place constructors championship, the best in their history. This success eaned him a drive at McLaren.
In 2002 he maintained his blistering pace, on several occasions beating his teammate. His first F1 victory came in 2003, a year in which he fought for the title until the very last race of the season. Many thought that the 2004 title was his to lose, but as it transpired, the new MP4-19 was not up to the challenge. Räikkönen had to be satisfied with seventh place, with just a single victory, in Spa. 2005 began badly for McLaren and Kimi, but they recovered, gaining 7 important victories, enabling the team to compete with Fernando Alonso right down to the wire, but in the end he was runner-up.



So far this season has only been a reasonable one by Kimi's exacting standards, he currently (after the Hungarian Grand Prix) lies equal fourth with 49 points, 51 points behind the leader, Alonso.

Juan Pablo Montoya says he is “very comfortable” with his options for 2007 despite not having yet secured a drive to remain on the Formula 1 grid next season.


The Colombian seems unlikely to extend his two-year stay with McLaren when his contract expires at the end of 2006, and although he has been linked to a host of teams for next year, options seem to be fast running out for the 30-year-old.


The seven-time grand prix winner had been linked to drives with Toyota and Red Bull Racing, but with the Japanese manufacturer on the verge of re-signing Jarno Trulli and the one RBR seat seemingly going elsewhere, both scenarios now seem unlikely.


Speculation is growing that the 1999 Champ Car champion may have to return to racing in America in 2007 – but on the eve of the US Grand Prix, he insisted he is happy with his options.

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FORMULA 1 - RED BULL RACING: F1 WHEELS AMONG THE WINGS


Chances are that if you are reading this web site, then Red Bull means two things to you: an energy drink and Formula 1 racing. [more]


FORMULA 1: Britain’s next home race winner?


This weekend's race at Silverstone will serve to concentrate the minds of British fans on the fortunes of the two drivers for who this is the ‘home’ race - David Coulthard and Jenson Button. [more]


Stand by for another high-octane weekend as the Formula 1 season approaches the British Grand Prix.


Hold on to your seats, Silverstone will be no place for the faint-hearted, with some of the fastest corners of the year to be negotiated. [more]


Bernie reckons Schu will carry on


F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone is convinced that his biggest draw – seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher – will continue to race on in Formula 1 beyond 2006. [more]


United States Grand Prix Schedule, Support SeriesUnveiled


The United States Grand Prix Formula One race will start at 1 p.m. (local time) Sunday, July 2, the highlight of three days of on-track action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. [more]


Ferrari F1 Team: British GP-The Complicated Work of The Race Engineer


For Rob Smedley, the British Grand Prix is not only the eighth round of the world championship, it is also the opportunity to make a rare trip home, as Felipe Massa's race engineer is one of a small band of English people working for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. [more]


FORMULA 1 – MF1: Silverstone: A Home Race like No Other


Great Britain has long been regarded as the home of Grand Prix racing, and no fewer than seven of the 11 current teams are based in the country. [more]

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GP2 sensation Lewis Hamilton reckons he is ready for a shot at the big time should he be given the chance to race for McLaren in Formula 1 next season.


The 21-year-old British ace, a long-time McLaren protégé, has been linked with a seat alongside Fernando Alonso in the race team in 2007, should Kimi Raikkonen opt to join Ferrari. And while McLaren does not often sign rookies to its race squad, Hamilton says his target is to race for the team next year.

“I’m feeling more and more ready for Formula 1, that’s for sure,” he told this week’s Autosport magazine.
“I want to race for McLaren. If that opportunity comes up, I want to grab it with both hands.
“So I’m really working my arse off to make sure I have every possible opportunity.
“I think if I keep on winning and performing like I did last weekend, they will find it hard to say no to me – unless someone like [Michael] Schumacher comes along.”

Team principal Ron Dennis admitted at Monaco last weekend that he expected Hamilton to be in F1 next year, but stopped short of saying in what capacity.

“Lewis’s first step is to succeed in GP2 and then we will guide him to the next and highest level,” he told the Times.
“Will he be in Formula 1 next year? I believe he will be. With which team? I don’t know yet.”

But Hamilton says one thing he doesn’t plan on is spending a season on the sidelines as a test driver for McLaren.

“I’m a racer not a test driver,” he told Autosport.
“If you’re going to be a test driver, you need to be in a third driver role where you can get used to the tracks. If you take year off you lose something.”

Click here to read a biography of Lewis Hamilton


Source: ITV Sport

As was the case in 2005, Fernando Alonso took full honours in the GP of Bahrain after a magnificent battle with Michael Schumacher. The 24 year old Spaniard showed the world that he’s the man to beat again, this season; while Schuey let us all know why he’s the man that Ferrari must pin their hopes on as Massa finished a disappointing 11th. With a tremendous surge, Kimi Räikkönen drove hard to an unexpected third.


With four different teams in the top four, we look likely to see an exciting season and even though there were several rule changes, 2006 got off to a spectacular start. The F1 Championship is clearly wide open as, in the Constructors', Renault and McLaren lie marginally ahead of Ferrari with Honda possibly playing spoiler.


Alonso drove aggressively from start to finish and gave a faultless performance. Starting fourth behind an all-Ferrari front row, he took advantage of Jensen Button from the off and though initially blocked by Massa, passed him a few turns later. He then settled in behind Schumacher, knowing that he had more fuel and was therefore happy to ghost the great man for several laps.


On the 15th lap, Schuey’s in. By the 19th, Alonso follows, though there’s no change in the order – the true test will be the second stop. The 7-times World Champ scrambled back in on the 36th lap, giving Alonso 3 laps of daylight, of which he took full advantage. Even though he got stuck behind a few back-markers, a decent stop on the 39th and he was out in front of the Ferrari. “Although we were posting similar lap times, I knew I could hold the lead”, explained Alonso later.



Schumacher: "I have no complaints"

When you consider our position last season, if you’d told me I’d be finishing second in Bahrain, I wouldn’t have believed you. This game could have gone either way, so I’ve no complaints. At one point (on the 53rd lap) I took advantage of some back-markers to gain on Fernando but couldn’t find a place to pass. But anyway, we have a reliable and powerful car, so this will be a good season", said the Ferrari driver.

Welcome to the Big League, Nico Rosberg


In finishing fourth behind Raikkonen, Jensen Button has helped cement his status as a serious contender, if an outside one. He stayed with Raikonnen to the finish after overtaking Montoya on lap 29. He was followed by the two Williams drivers, Webber and Rosberg. Nico Rosberg (son of Keke) ran a classy race, taking the scalps of Coulthard and Klein on his way to 7th place. These 2-points are exactly what he needed to settle himself into Formula 1, pulling him out of his father’s shadow and recognizing him as a legitimate F1 driver - his father having won the title in 1982.


For Felipe Massa, it was the story of what might have been. Early on he enjoyed a good fight with Alonso, a fight he lost when his car spun off on the 8th lap and he never really regained his rhythm.


His compatriot, Barrichello had an even worse day, finishing his first race in a Honda in an anonymous (for him) 15th spot. But the biggest disappointment of the day has to be Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault. The R26 struggled for power early on and by the 21st lap he was forced to abandon the race. If the Italian isn’t happy with his role as Renault’s ‘No. 2’, he’ll need to a lot better in Malaysia, next Sunday.


For full results and drivers' comments, read more.

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