Raikkonen: 2009 season may be my last.

Kimi may be lousy in press conferences. No one can understand his murmuring. But he's a really good driver on the tracks. He's a killer instinct only second to Schumi. So why is he retiring? Possibly, a team funded by Big Tobacco & a management team that kisses Max's posterior may not be the kind of life any Finn or driver would want.

I dont think he cares about politics, its probably more that he doesnt like being bossed around, doing pr stuff etc.

Quit F1 and go rallying.

Touring cars is so much better.

Wim, you're right. Kimi really doesn't give a flying Finn about the politics, he's far too laid back for that to concern him. He is a guy who was born to drive, loves to drive and anything that gets in the way of that or clouds the way he wants to go racing is going to dilute the thrill he craves for.
When Kimi first came to F1 as a little known rookie with Sauber, no pressures of fame, not having to commit to endless boring press and PR dates, just doing what he does best, driving, he was sublime in a race car. Without all the crap of F1, that pure driving genius would have remained.
F1 is a dying, corrupt, un-cool series. Kimi is better off out of it!!!
Yes, go rallying Kimi.

well i say good.

Nice intelligent comment trebor. Any justification for you obvious dislike of the god of F1, or is it just a playground spat?

At this level of motorsport Ferrari should tell him to go at the end of 2008. If he doesnt have the motivation to carry on he should leave now and not waste Ferrari's time just to pick up a pay check.

Watch the skies! Here comes another warm a glowing comment from Alonso about the Scuderia.

You won't get good odds on the 09 driver market now...

Kimi is a great driver, I dont support him but you cannot doubt his talent.

Shame he is not interested in it, what driver wants to retire at 30? what a joke.

Hamilton will carry on until he is about 40

I'd like to see him in a rally car. Maybe he can beat "I Always Win" Loeb.

Looking at Kimi's persona over the last 6 months or so,& he obviously is not enjoying his racing experience anymore.
I think Kimi will race upto the end of the season & then call it quits, whether he wins to campionship or not. It will be a sad day for F1, but if he feels that way about the F1 scene now, i think he is making the right choice for himself.

The way I read this was he loves to drive and race. That does not say he is "not motivated". He said its the other things he is unhappy with. I think he is like many sports figures that don't understand they are in the 'Entertainment Industry' You will not get the big bucks with out the entertainment dollars. So go race in a non professional sport. Then you can just drive and race.
just my 2cs

I have never seen such an anonymous World Champion since he clinched title last season,however i can understand his reasons & he just let's his driving to the talking.

similar talks play nothing good with Ferrari, for what I can understand, being Italian.
They might accept his decision but also work in the meantime to find an alternative as soon as possible.
Massa might not be the best choice but he would die for winning a WC. And Ferrari, though they describe themselves as a 'big family', does not like much a key figure not doing 110%, the way they intend.
Mind I consider KR maybe the best choice taken in many years besides, obviously, Michael.

I'd like to think he is going to quit F1 because it has becoming a total joke and is quickly tearing it's self to peices from the inside. Who would want to be part of it at the moment

While I'm not a fan, he's a great talent. I hope he takes up racing elsewhere.

If Kimi were to leave, Hamilton HAS to win whilst he is still there. Its the same situation as with Schumacher retiring - you have to beat the best! Beating Massa won't be the same as beating Kimi...

Well that's it then Ferrari is going to finally recognize that they need to give Massa his dues and he will take the fight to Kimi with no interferences from Ferrari.

Adrian, I wouldn't compare Shuey to Kimi. Kimi has not stood out anything like the German machine did!

If Kimi's heart is not in it he should go, let another young gun take the ferrari seat

Why not leave now instead of the sob story. A quick driver but not a great one and i dont think he would be missed that greatly. Lots of good new ones coming along.