I wanted to post a quick excerpt from Mark Hughes column "Only Grosjean can stop Vettel"
quoteGrosjean did not get to complete a long run but team-mate Kimi Raikkonen - 0.391s adrift on one-lap pace - did a very respectable-looking long run significantly longer than any of the other top cars, during which he was comparable with the Mercedes pair Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
On current form Grosjean might be expected to be a couple of tenths ahead of that. But that would still leave him at least half a second adrift of the Red Bulls on race pace.
Grosjean a couple tenths ahead of Kimi on RACE PACE? Is this serious journalism or fanboyism?
Please point me to one example where Grosjean had a couple tenths on Kimi in a race and I'll maybe entertain the thought. The truth in the matter is Grosjean has qualified much better since the LWB and 'new spec' Pirelli tyres were introduced. But Kimi has been equally as quick, if not quicker, in race trim when both are running unimpeded by traffic.
If I had to rely on one driver in lotus to produce a victory: it would be the pilot who has delivered two victories for the team in the last two seasons. Not the one who has failed to deliver a victory in his formula 1 career.
quoteArmy Of Two – 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Friday 1st November
Kimi Räikkönen ended the first day of practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the fourth fastest time of the day at the Yas Marina Circuit; racking up the joint-highest number of laps completed in the process [65 across the two sessions].
Romain Grosjean was fastest in the first session, but had a brake and then a vibration issue in the second session to end the day twelfth fastest.
Technical Programme Notes: • Kimi ran with the team’s original, shorter wheelbase specification whilst Romain ran with the later, longer wheelbase specification. • Kimi ran trouble-free throughout both sessions enabling a variety of set-up permutations to be evaluated, whilst Romain missed track time in the second session due to an issue first with his brakes, then with vibration. • Pirelli’s medium [white] tyre was used in the first session, the medium and soft [yellow] compound in the second session [both held in the afternoon].
What We Learned Today: • The E21 demonstrated strong potential using both tyre compounds in both long and short configuration.
Kimi Räikkönen, E21-05 Free Practice 1: P6, 1:44.929, 23 laps Free Practice 2: P4, 1:41.726, 42 laps
Kimi: “The car feels okay and we had a pretty normal Friday. The shorter chassis feels okay here, but I didn’t drive it back to back with the longer one so it’s difficult to say which is better. We’re still trying to get rid of some understeer, but on this circuit it feels better so far. As always, there are some improvements we can make to the car so let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Romain Grosjean, E21-04 Free Practice 1: P1, 1:44.241, 21 laps Free Practice 2: P12, 1:42.607, 18 laps
Romain: “It’s been a pretty good day even if we missed time in the later session whilst the brakes were worked on. We also had a little vibration that needed looking at, but it wasn’t the end of the world. The car feels pretty good as we saw with the fastest time in the first session, so I’m sure we’ll get on top of everything we need to for tomorrow.”
Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director: “As always in Abu Dhabi, we saw two very different sessions on Friday; the first taking place in daylight with very high track temperatures, the second in much more representative evening temperatures which is what we’ll see for qualifying and the race. We completed limited setup work in FP1 – focusing on setting ride heights rather than car balance – then used FP2 to complete our normal evaluations of the two tyre compounds. Unfortunately Romain had a brake disc failure which lost him some track time, and there was a small vibration when he returned to the track so we cut his day short in order to fully investigate this issue. Kimi meanwhile had a good day and looks competitive. He wanted to try the short wheelbase car again as he felt its characteristics would suit this circuit. So far it all looks good and this configuration will be kept on his car for the remainder of the weekend. His long-run pace looks very encouraging on both tyres.”
for posting that Miezi. I read the same part of Permane's interview where he said Kimi will stay with the SWB car. But Kimi himself said he wanted to see the data before choosing..
quoteKimi Raikkonen willing to skip final F1 races of 2013 in Lotus row By Jonathan Noble Friday, November 1st 2013, 16:35 GMT
Kimi Raikkonen has warned Lotus that he will consider not finishing the 2013 Formula 1 season if the team does not sort out its financial problems.
As AUTOSPORT revealed on Thursday, Raikkonen's future with Lotus has been plunged into doubt following the non-payment of his salary and amid heightened emotions after a tense Indian Grand Prix radio exchange.
Speaking for the first time about the matter in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Raikkonen confirmed that he did come close to not racing this weekend, and has not ruled out skipping either of the final races in the United States or Brazil.
"I came here only because hopefully we found an understanding on the certain issues we have been having," said Raikkonen.
"Hopefully it will be fixed and we can finish the season as well as we can."
When asked by AUTOSPORT if he would contemplate not taking part in the final races if the outstanding matters are not resolved, Raikkonen said: "For sure. I enjoy racing, I enjoy driving - but a big part of it is business.
"Sometimes when that is not dealt with like it should we end up in an unfortunate situation.
"You have to put the line somewhere, and if it goes over that... it is not really my fault any more."
RADIO EXCHANGE NOT MAIN ISSUE
Raikkonen's relations with the team were strained by the radio exchange in India, when he was ordered to move aside for Romain Grosjean, but his main frustration is relating to outstanding wages - which are believed to be in excess of $15 million.
Speaking about the radio discussion with trackside operations director Alan Permane, Raikkonen said: "It is a part of it. It is true those things should not happen but they have happened. That is not really the issue. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, Abu Dhabi GP 2013
"It is all the other stuff, and all the things come together in the end. Like I said, it is easy to say that is the reason but it is not that."
The 2007 world champion also expressed frustration at the fact that his loyalty to the team has been questioned at a time when he has not been paid.
"Sometimes it is not very nice when you hear that you are not really a team player, and you don't have the interests of the team [at heart] - but you have been paid zero Euro the whole year," said Raikkonen.
"It doesn't put you in the best place, but that is how it goes and hopefully, like I said, we found an understanding on both sides on how we should deal with the situation right now and fix the issues, and try to finish as well as we can."
Quote: Sonny wrote in post #61I wanted to post a quick excerpt from Mark Hughes column "Only Grosjean can stop Vettel"
quoteGrosjean did not get to complete a long run but team-mate Kimi Raikkonen - 0.391s adrift on one-lap pace - did a very respectable-looking long run significantly longer than any of the other top cars, during which he was comparable with the Mercedes pair Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
On current form Grosjean might be expected to be a couple of tenths ahead of that. But that would still leave him at least half a second adrift of the Red Bulls on race pace.
Grosjean a couple tenths ahead of Kimi on RACE PACE? Is this serious journalism or fanboyism?
Please point me to one example where Grosjean had a couple tenths on Kimi in a race and I'll maybe entertain the thought. The truth in the matter is Grosjean has qualified much better since the LWB and 'new spec' Pirelli tyres were introduced. But Kimi has been equally as quick, if not quicker, in race trim when both are running unimpeded by traffic.
If I had to rely on one driver in lotus to produce a victory: it would be the pilot who has delivered two victories for the team in the last two seasons. Not the one who has failed to deliver a victory in his formula 1 career.
I have often seen Mark Hughes write questionable things when it comes to Kimi. There was a bit of a debacle about the steering last year, and Mark Hughes wrote that Lotus was really getting fed up with Kimi and his steering issues, the steering is fine for Grosjean, so Kimi is just being a diva. That is a bit of dumb thing to write as steering is about a drivers personal preferences, what works for one driver might not work for the next driver. I wrote on Autosport that it was nonsense, and Mark Hughes actually sended me a private message to say that it was right and he has sources at Lotus ext. ext. Thinking about it now he properly has the same sources as the journalists at Autsport, aka Permane.
Anyways I think Kimi was faster then the Merc, but Red Bull is just unstoppable. Even with Kimi's struggles he is still very fast in the races, as long as he doesn't get a crippling strategy.
Kimi: “The car feels okay and we had a pretty normal Friday. The shorter chassis feels okay here, but I didn’t drive it back to back with the longer one so it’s difficult to say which is better. We’re still trying to get rid of some understeer, but on this circuit it feels better so far. As always, there are some improvements we can make to the car so let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Things looked really positive, but Kimi doesn't actually sound that positive.
The way LOtus have acted is simply ridiculous, you pay someone and you constantly have snide remarks, and even screaming at the driver in public. That is really bad. I would love to see Kimi finish the season, but I would understand if he didn't finish the season.
I think Robertson being there and such a bold statement by Kimi to the press is no coincidence. I think Kimi's lawyers and management are doing everything possible to put pressure in Lopez. Remember, if Kimi doesn't get paid: neither does Robertson or the lawyers
Mr. Kulta and his thoughts ( for posting Nicole) It seems that Permane is still arguing to Kimi
quoteSpurs of zero euro Turun Sanomat 00:04 | 0
There was a mystical electric atmosphere in Lotus-team's hot premises on Friday night when the inquisitive F1-media stayed awake waiting for Kimi Räikkönen's arrival to the weekend's first interview. Is he coming come or not?
After a long tv-quiz Räikkönen finally sat at the very crowded table. The first question was how real the threat of him staying home was.
It didn't become completely clear based on the statements he gave. There was a threat - but the driver showed up. However it's clear that they have to find lasting solutions in the business department in order for Räikkönen to be in Austin and Sao Paulo.
It also became clear that it wasn't just Alan Permane's words that tore up Räikkönen's self-esteem making him think about ending the season right there. What weighed more in the scale than unpaid salaries was when Kimi was blamed to be a bad team player who doesn't think of the team's best.
– When you have been paid zero euro the whole year it really doesn't spur you to think very positive thoughts, Räikkönen said straight.
The press-media's part was short, but the comments said it all. Then a familiar figure showed up behind Räikkönen - Alan Permane – who called Räikkönen to the team meeting where they would discuss the issues from Friday practice.
They argued there also. Räikkönen prefers the shorter wheelbase and the feelings it gives, whereas Permane thought that both drivers should use the longer car on Saturday, the one Grosjean was fastest with in the morning.
The Iceman kept his mind - and without cursing....
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Fri Nov 01, 2013 5:41 pm
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for posting that Miezi. I read the same part of Permane's interview where he said Kimi will stay with the SWB car. But Kimi himself said he wanted to see the data before choosing.. 
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and anybody else 
Win one more for lotus 