Should Raikkonen Drive a Ariete Battle Tank?
To be honest I have serious doubts whether an Italian Ariete main battle tank would conform to the rules set forth by the FIA.
Or for that matter, whether a tank would be aerodynamically efficient enough to battle the likes of Renault and the Mercs. But one former former Mercedes-McLaren engine expert thinks Ferrari’s F2007 won’t withstand the pressure of Kimi’s right foot.
“No one drives the machine harder, no one bangs it so hard lap after lap into the kerb,” said Mario Illien, who left Formula One in 2005 and now has an Ilmor MotoGP team.
“Ferrari will have to build Kimi a tank if they want to win the title with him.”
On the plus side is the obvious Ferrari connection (We all know about Italians and “family”), the Ariete is built by Fiat and there would be a definite horsepower advantage. The Ariete dynos at a robust 1,247 hp!
Kimi’s time at McLaren, a non winner last year for the first time in a decade, was punctuated by a series of engine failures and 10 spot penalties on the starting grid. So maybe Mario Illien has a valid point.
On the other hand R
No one drives the machine harder, no one bangs it so hard lap after lap into the kerb,
I thought 2 meter rollers crashing on the beach was your Zen moment Peter?
But, I’m glad this post provided a moment to flush out the troubles of a hard work week.
Anyway, obviously my point was to poke a stick at the idea of a tank on the starting grid more than whether his point… had a point.
But I will take issue with one small point you make. I don’t buy the idea driving “smoother” or less “hard” always equates to driving slow.
I hear drivers remark all the time about how “going slow” or “smooth” is the fastest way thru certain corners or one particular tracks.
Never making to that level in my aborted career I’ll take there word for it.
Say…hows the surf?
The latest is that Illien has denied making the comment. According to Mario, he hasn’t talked to anyone in the press for weeks.
As for “Kimi the Kar Killer” it is not unreasonable to claim his style of driving is hard on cars. More to the point, it is most noticeable on the tires. All drivers crash the kerbs, it’s necessary to make fast laps. But the manor and timing of turn ins may impact tire wear and grip. Not mention late braking and flat spotting.
Jenson is supposedly one of the smoothest drivers, but he only has one W to show for it. I’ll take the Kimster’s rough and tumble technique any time, and build a car that will hold up to whatever he dishes out.