2/27/2009 09:30:00 p.m.
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2/26/2009 09:45:00 p.m.
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Kimi was asked what the Spanish king Juan Carlos said to him on the podium (8.5.2008)
"He said that I drove well. Nice king.
Räikkönen slept in a hotel room next to Alonso's room near Hockenheim (24.7.2005)
"If I can't fall asleep, I will certainly wake Alonso"
Mika Häkkinen said that Räikkönen should have staid at McLaren and not go to Ferrari, Räikkönen replied (21.10.2006):
"Has he been a little mixed up when saying like that? A proper wise guy. I'm just wondering here very openly that if any f1 driver - including Mika - would be offered a deal in Ferrari, I bet every dude would go there quicker than a missile."
Räikkönen (2006)
"I read somewhere, that I drive with drunkard's luck."
Lewis Hamilton said that winning his first race felt better than having sex. Kimi said (7.9.2007):
"Maybe he has never had sex."
Räikkönen after qualification in Hockenheim (20.7.2008)
Interviewer: How did the tires feel like?
"Rolled as usual"
"He said that I drove well. Nice king.
Räikkönen slept in a hotel room next to Alonso's room near Hockenheim (24.7.2005)
"If I can't fall asleep, I will certainly wake Alonso"
Mika Häkkinen said that Räikkönen should have staid at McLaren and not go to Ferrari, Räikkönen replied (21.10.2006):
"Has he been a little mixed up when saying like that? A proper wise guy. I'm just wondering here very openly that if any f1 driver - including Mika - would be offered a deal in Ferrari, I bet every dude would go there quicker than a missile."
Räikkönen (2006)
"I read somewhere, that I drive with drunkard's luck."
Lewis Hamilton said that winning his first race felt better than having sex. Kimi said (7.9.2007):
"Maybe he has never had sex."
Räikkönen after qualification in Hockenheim (20.7.2008)
Interviewer: How did the tires feel like?
"Rolled as usual"
2/25/2009 09:38:00 p.m.
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Video: http://www.mediafire.com/?tnomldnzhnu
Far from the spotlights Kimi Raikkonen is perhaps an interesting person, but he closes himself like an hedgehog, when a microphone appears.
Q - "What is your best quality?"
A - "Don’t ask me. You have to ask someone else!"
They call him the Iceman of F1, but behind his light blue eyes could be a heart of ice or the secret of his coldness in driving. Raikkonen often protects his eyes wearing dark black glasses.
Q - "What was your best race last year?"
A - "I won once or twice ... I don’t even remember how many! However, it’s not important. I have to say you that last year in some of my best races I haven’t collected any results, so...
Once he was seen under a gorilla coat; in the Artic Rally which he has recently raced in Finland he used James Hunt’s name, the 70s cursed pilot who Kimi probably feels to have some affinity with.
Q - "Why did you choose the name James Hunt?"
A - "I don’t know, it’s a long story, it was born to joke with my friends. It would be complicated to tell you all briefly. It's just a game.”
Last year did not arrive to play the title at the last race, although in 2008 he was the driver who has earned most of all, about 30 million euro on his contract.
Q - "It was not however a good season ..."
A - "I've left behind, I hope to do better this year."
Q - "Was there a worst moment?"
A – “It’s very difficult to choose one, a single moment. The whole season was not sure how I hoped it to be. "
Q - Hamilton or Massa, is your strongest rival?"
A - "I don’t know who will be the fastest and it’s early to say which team will be stronger between Ferrari and McLaren. And maybe even there will be another team that will come out. We will see in the first race."
Since last race in Brazil he has lost a few kilos of his weight. Surprised, the Finnish newspapers headlined that he would have drank only water in public during the winter break.
Q - "Do you feel more focused than past years in winning the World Championship?"
A – “It’s always difficult to win the title, but it’s my only goal today."
D - "Have you got a wish?”
A – “Not at all. We only need to give it all to reach the result, and sometimes it succeeds."
That’s Kimi.
[via KimiRaikkonenOfficialForum]
Far from the spotlights Kimi Raikkonen is perhaps an interesting person, but he closes himself like an hedgehog, when a microphone appears.
Q - "What is your best quality?"
A - "Don’t ask me. You have to ask someone else!"
They call him the Iceman of F1, but behind his light blue eyes could be a heart of ice or the secret of his coldness in driving. Raikkonen often protects his eyes wearing dark black glasses.
Q - "What was your best race last year?"
A - "I won once or twice ... I don’t even remember how many! However, it’s not important. I have to say you that last year in some of my best races I haven’t collected any results, so...
Once he was seen under a gorilla coat; in the Artic Rally which he has recently raced in Finland he used James Hunt’s name, the 70s cursed pilot who Kimi probably feels to have some affinity with.
Q - "Why did you choose the name James Hunt?"
A - "I don’t know, it’s a long story, it was born to joke with my friends. It would be complicated to tell you all briefly. It's just a game.”
Last year did not arrive to play the title at the last race, although in 2008 he was the driver who has earned most of all, about 30 million euro on his contract.
Q - "It was not however a good season ..."
A - "I've left behind, I hope to do better this year."
Q - "Was there a worst moment?"
A – “It’s very difficult to choose one, a single moment. The whole season was not sure how I hoped it to be. "
Q - Hamilton or Massa, is your strongest rival?"
A - "I don’t know who will be the fastest and it’s early to say which team will be stronger between Ferrari and McLaren. And maybe even there will be another team that will come out. We will see in the first race."
Since last race in Brazil he has lost a few kilos of his weight. Surprised, the Finnish newspapers headlined that he would have drank only water in public during the winter break.
Q - "Do you feel more focused than past years in winning the World Championship?"
A – “It’s always difficult to win the title, but it’s my only goal today."
D - "Have you got a wish?”
A – “Not at all. We only need to give it all to reach the result, and sometimes it succeeds."
That’s Kimi.
[via KimiRaikkonenOfficialForum]
2/24/2009 10:04:00 p.m.
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Kimi: «Il passato non m'interessa. So quanto possiamo fare»
SAKHIR — Le prime impressioni sulla Ferrari, il regolamento tutto nuovo, la voglia di ricominciare, le voci sul suo cambio di vita, ma anche l'elezione di Obama, la mamma apprensiva, la musica dei Guns N'Roses. A un mese dall'inizio del campionato (29 marzo, Australia), Kimi Raikkonen si racconta.
Nei test in Bahrein ha potuto guidare per la prima volta la F60 con le gomme lisce. Com'è andata? «Molto bene. È stato un buon primo passo, tutto ha funzionato. Per quanto riguarda le slick alla fine non ho trovato molte differenze rispetto a quando, prima di Natale, le avevamo provate sulla macchina vecchia».
La Ferrari nuova si adatta meglio alle sue caratteristiche? «Ãˆ troppo presto per dirlo. Di sicuro il feeling è stato buono».
Alcuni piloti hanno lanciato l'allarme pioggia: la macchina è davvero impossibile da controllare? «Quando ho provato al Mugello c'era molto freddo e la pista era davvero scivolosa. Sarà più facile con temperature più alte».
Con le nuove regole le gare saranno più eccitanti? «Sarà sempre difficile superare, ma speriamo ci sia un miglioramento, in fondo è il motivo per cui hanno cambiato. Può darsi che, essendo tutto un po' più difficile, aumenti l'interesse sia per i piloti che per il pubblico».
Il pilota conterà di più? «Non è detto».
Parliamo del Kers (sistema di recupero dell'energia): farà davvero la differenza? «Aiuta decisamente nel tempo sul giro, poi, certo, la sua influenza dipende dai circuiti. Se funziona è una buona cosa da avere in macchina. E per noi fino ad ora ha funzionato abbastanza bene».
Tutti questi bottoni rendono la Formula 1 più simile a un videogame? «No! Essere bravo con i videogiochi non serve in F1».
Ha capito meglio che cosa è andato storto l'anno scorso? C'è qualcosa che non rifarebbe? «Si impara sempre dai propri errori, ma non sono particolarmente interessato a capire l'anno scorso: non possiamo cambiare le cose e non ci aiuta a fare meglio adesso. Sono felice di parlare di quello che possiamo fare quest'anno».
Cerca una rivincita? «No, cerco solo di dare il massimo. Tutti sanno cosa siamo in grado di fare e il nostro obiettivo è vincere il campionato. Poi ci sono tante cose che devono andare bene per riuscirci, e non parlo necessariamente di fortuna. Ora però non ci penso: penso a fare buoni test e a partire forte nelle prime gare».
In Finlandia hanno scritto che ha deciso di evitare l'alcol.
«Ãˆ la mia vita privata, non credo di doverne parlare».
Si aspetta delle sorprese o pensa che la lotta, alla fine, sarà sempre tra lei, Massa ed Hamilton? «Non ho nessuna idea di come gli altri team stiano lavorando. Fino ad adesso i tempi sul giro sono stati tutti molto vicini, ma durante i test si usano gomme diverse, si provano cose che, poi, possono rivelarsi azzeccate o meno. Ma non sono né interessato né preoccupato degli altri. Pensiamo a noi».
Nel 2010 le scade il contratto e lei ha detto che la Ferrari probabilmente sarà la sua ultima squadra: significa che lascerà la F1? «Vedremo se tra due anni mi starò ancora divertendo o se vorrò fare altre cose, ma è sicuro che la Ferrari sarà la mia ultima squadra. Il che non vuol dire per forza che nel 2010 mi fermerò... ».
Cosa farà dopo? I rally? «Non ho pianificato niente. Nei rally mi diverto molto, ne ho corso uno in Finlandia anche sabato. È una cosa che mi riesce, per ora è un passatempo divertente quando non ho altro da fare».
Cosa pensa delle polemiche sulla superlicenza? I piloti si lamentano per gli aumenti, Mosley dice che chi non paga non guida. «Tutti sono più o meno contenti di pagare la licenza, basta che il prezzo sia ragionevole. Non si capisce perché sia così tanto più costosa di qualsiasi altra categoria. Dovrebbe essere uguale per tutti e ragionevole. Questo è l'unico problema, nessuno vuole litigare con nessuno».
Ha detto che, prima o poi, vorrà avere un bambino. Che mondo vorrebbe che trovasse? «Be', in questo momento il nostro non è il migliore dei mondi possibile. Io sono un uomo fortunato perché sarei in grado di offrire una bella vita a mio figlio».
Cosa si augura per lui? «Che sia sempre in salute. Poi deciderà da solo della sua vita, non lo obbligherò a fare niente: sceglierà lui se correre o fare altro».
Se fosse un cittadino americano, avrebbe votato per Obama? «Sì. Non seguo molto la politica, ma mi sembra un ragazzo intelligente».
Axl Roses, il leader dei Guns N'Roses, l'ha citata nei ringraziamenti del suo ultimo album, Chinese Democracy. Perché? «Non lo so, lo chieda a lui! Però ci conosciamo piuttosto bene, ci siamo incontrati varie volte: la prima è stata anni fa, a una mia gara, poi è venuto in Finlandia e ci siamo reincontrati».
Pensa di avere un'anima rock? «Direi di no. Però mi piace la sua musica».
Città preferita? «Espoo!».
Colore. «Nero, rosso e bianco».
Cibo e bevanda. «Pasta e pesce. Non ho un drink favorito».
Animale. «Cane. Ne ho tre!».
I suoi genitori o sua moglie hanno paura quando corre? «Mia mamma sì, è di sicuro la più preoccupata di tutti».
È favorevole alle donne in Formula 1? «Se sono brave abbastanza sono le benvenute».
Cosa pensa di un Gp a Roma? «Siamo un team italiano, sarebbe bello. Sono stato solo una volta a Roma prima di Natale ed è una città meravigliosa: mi piacerebbe tornarci».
Dopo due anni in Ferrari ha capito un po' l'Italia? «Si lavora in modo diverso rispetto a un team inglese o svizzero, è una questione culturale. Gli italiani mi piacciono: trovo la gente bella e rilassata ».
Arianna Ravelli via TaniaS
2/23/2009 09:55:00 p.m.
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They have nowadays given fancy names to people's different anxieties. Kimi Räikkönen and Harri Olli (ski jumper) are like two berries. They have both stopped drinking (?) and they have a mutual anxiety called media fobia.
They wondered at the President's party in 2007 where the most expected guest is hiding. Kimi and Jenni had posed for the camera and given a few interviews but then Kimi disappeared.
Answer: he was in the toilet downstairs texting with his mobile phone until he sneaked out of the flash lights into the night. Luckily his tuxedo had enough room for the mobile phone.
In Levi world cup he didn't sit in the audience, not even in the audience where the Prime Minister and his new girlfriend sat - instead he drove up and down the slope in a cabin.
Always when you finally get Kimi hunted in front of the camera the sight is always the same. He looks like a scared deer in front of the car's lights on an empty forest road.
The reports from the wet evenings spent on the Iceman-boat tell a completely different story about Kimi. He is a social, open and funny host. Even in the upper class of Finnish-Swedish circles Kimi is slowly turning from a jerk into a good guy. One would assume that he would want to give the same picture to the big audience also.
Well, Kimi isn't alone with his disease. Another young Finnish sportsman who gets a lot of attention has the same symptoms.
He is ski jumper Harri Olli, who jumps in the snow and gives the tv-cameras a snow cleaning when winning the competition but informs a few days later to the journalist that his head is about to explode when asked a few questions.
Ilta-Sanomat 21.2.2009
2/22/2009 10:07:00 p.m.
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Another great italian coverage on Kimi's rally atempt. All thx to the wonderfull TaniaS. Click on the pic to see it larger.
2/21/2009 10:00:00 p.m.
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2/20/2009 09:34:00 p.m.
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2/19/2009 09:53:00 p.m.
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Design by Uffe Tägström & Kimi Räikkönen.
Kimi has always thought that change is refreshing. The new colouring is different and really striking, Steve Robertson says.
Kimi has been involved himself in the process of creation. He gave Uffe Tagström ideas about how he wants the helmet to look like.
Both Ferrari drivers have inherited Schumacher's freedom to get their own sponsors which logo's they can show in the helmet and the driving outfit.
The interest in getting Kimi Räikkönen is fierce in the business world.
The drivers have more freedom in Ferrari than in McLaren. We see the team working in a different way than we are used to. We have got a very positive picture of how the team relate to Kimi, who to most still is a driver for another team, Robertson said.
[via netbulvar]
I change the colouring for each season so that I can later see more clearly what I used before.The ICEMAN -logo for Kimi's helmet is written in a different style than before because Ron Dennis owns the rights to the earlier Iceman-logo.
Kimi has always thought that change is refreshing. The new colouring is different and really striking, Steve Robertson says.
Kimi has been involved himself in the process of creation. He gave Uffe Tagström ideas about how he wants the helmet to look like.
Both Ferrari drivers have inherited Schumacher's freedom to get their own sponsors which logo's they can show in the helmet and the driving outfit.
The interest in getting Kimi Räikkönen is fierce in the business world.
The drivers have more freedom in Ferrari than in McLaren. We see the team working in a different way than we are used to. We have got a very positive picture of how the team relate to Kimi, who to most still is a driver for another team, Robertson said.
[via netbulvar]
2/18/2009 09:49:00 p.m.
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Get the latest insight from Gazetta dello Sport. It seems Kimi likes Kers and thinks Ferrari F60 looks better then the F2008.
Many thx to Tania
2/17/2009 10:23:00 a.m.
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Yesterday morning the times were very high due to the track being damp from cleaning. For two hours the laptimes were in the 1:50's. Little by little they went down, with Raikkonen eventually setting the best time of the day: a 1:33.350.
After 15:00 there was a hydraulic problem that forced Raikkonen to be sidelined for 1,5 hours.
Translated Q&A with Raikkonen:
Q: How do you like the slick tyres ?
Raikkonen: ''They're quite good even though I had a spin in the morning, but it was the first time I tested on a dry track. We know where we are and it's a good starting point. The lost days ? I'm here to drive, there was nothing we could do to change the situation. Now I've made up for it a bit.''
Q: You've been driving with KERS...
Raikkonen: ''And it works well, sometimes it has problems (minor problem on Monday - AFCA) but today it was perfect, like it was in Mugello. It's a nice addition.''
Q: Which of the new regulations do you like most ?
Raikkonen: ''Certainly I like the slicks because they allow for a more exciting drive with respect to the grooved tyres, even though you slide about more when they're worn down. We hope we can improve the tyre (management) with the Grand Prix' in sight. In any case, for F1 it's the best choice.''
Q: Were the tyres worn down when you spun ?
Raikkonen: ''It wasn't down to the tyres: I ended up in a run-off area which was very slippery and dusty.''
Q: How do you prepare for the new season, does anything change ?
Raikkonen: ''I don't know. I hope to do well. I try to give my utmost in testing to be ready for the Grand Prix'.''
Q: Is it true that you've decided to only drink water and coca-cola in order to come back to the winning ways ?
Raikkonen: ''A Finnish paper wrote that. I don't think I have to talk about my private life.
[via netbulvar]
2/16/2009 10:29:00 p.m.
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After his successful debut at the Arctic Lapland Rally in late January Kimi Räikkönen has apparently infected himself with the Rally virus. He already will start again at an event in just one week.
Kimi's participation at the SM Vaakuna Rally on 20th and 21st February has been officially confirmed yesterday. Like at the Arctic Lapland Rally Kimi will sit behind the wheel of a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 together with his co-driver Kaj Lindström.
According to Kaj Lindström, the renewed participation at a rally event is no coincidence. Kimi has purchased the Fiat Grande Punto. And the price of the car was simply too high to use it just for one race. Even before his adventure at the Arctic Lapland Rally it was Kimi's plan to start on several rallies, if it is allowed by his diary.
Nevertheless, the rally sport remains a hobby of Kimi. His aim is to provide a clean an good race and to gain some new experiences. The re-attendance at a rally was also supported by the late start of the new Formula One season Formula 1 at the end of March.
Prior to the start of his second rally event, Kimi will have an extensive test with the new Ferrari F60 in Bahrain. He is scheduled to test the car on 12th and 13th of February as well as on the 16th and 17th of February.
[source]
Kimi's participation at the SM Vaakuna Rally on 20th and 21st February has been officially confirmed yesterday. Like at the Arctic Lapland Rally Kimi will sit behind the wheel of a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 together with his co-driver Kaj Lindström.
According to Kaj Lindström, the renewed participation at a rally event is no coincidence. Kimi has purchased the Fiat Grande Punto. And the price of the car was simply too high to use it just for one race. Even before his adventure at the Arctic Lapland Rally it was Kimi's plan to start on several rallies, if it is allowed by his diary.
Nevertheless, the rally sport remains a hobby of Kimi. His aim is to provide a clean an good race and to gain some new experiences. The re-attendance at a rally was also supported by the late start of the new Formula One season Formula 1 at the end of March.
Prior to the start of his second rally event, Kimi will have an extensive test with the new Ferrari F60 in Bahrain. He is scheduled to test the car on 12th and 13th of February as well as on the 16th and 17th of February.
[source]
2/15/2009 10:31:00 p.m.
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Kimi Raikkonen topped the timesheet for Ferrari in Bahrain on Friday, as the sand storms that have caused havoc at this week’s test finally subsided and the three teams present were able to complete a full day’s running.
A combination of high winds and the desert location of Sakhir had sent clouds of sand swirling around the 3.4-mile track earlier in the week, limiting the teams’ running to just 90 minutes on Wednesday and forcing Thursday’s session to be cancelled altogether.
Although there was some early morning fog on Friday and the wind remained strong, testing went ahead without interruptions and track conditions progressively improved.
Raikkonen set the day’s best time of 1m33.350s in what was his first run in the Ferrari F60 in dry conditions, having previously tested it in the rain at Mugello.
The Finn completed 105 laps, his only minor setback being a hydraulic problem that struck shortly after 3pm and was swiftly fixed by the Ferrari mechanics.
A combination of high winds and the desert location of Sakhir had sent clouds of sand swirling around the 3.4-mile track earlier in the week, limiting the teams’ running to just 90 minutes on Wednesday and forcing Thursday’s session to be cancelled altogether.
Although there was some early morning fog on Friday and the wind remained strong, testing went ahead without interruptions and track conditions progressively improved.
Raikkonen set the day’s best time of 1m33.350s in what was his first run in the Ferrari F60 in dry conditions, having previously tested it in the rain at Mugello.
The Finn completed 105 laps, his only minor setback being a hydraulic problem that struck shortly after 3pm and was swiftly fixed by the Ferrari mechanics.
Bahrain testing times (Friday 13 February)
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m33.350s
2. TRULLI Toyota 1m33.429s
3. KLIEN BMW 1m33.666s
2/14/2009 01:55:00 a.m.
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Don't freak out :). It's not Kimi's baby or anything like that. It's just a series of pictures I found and can't remember seeing them on other ocassion. Hope you'll like them as much as I did, cause I sure did.
2/13/2009 02:06:00 a.m.
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2. Montoya has some things to say about Kimi Raikkonen...
Juan Montoya shouts down the radio after Raikkonen brake tests him.
Warning: This video contains language some may find offensive.
[via bleacherreport]
Juan Montoya shouts down the radio after Raikkonen brake tests him.
Warning: This video contains language some may find offensive.
[via bleacherreport]
2/12/2009 10:22:00 p.m.
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There is no getting away from the fact that the Sauber-Petronas squad deeply embarrassed the likes of Benetton, Jordan, BAR and Jaguar throughout 2001. No matter how one argues the point, Sauber was paying for customer engines - it was effectively a private team like Minardi with no factory backing - no matter that the 2000 spec Ferrari V10s made available by Maranello must have seemed something of a bargain even with lease fees approaching $20m for the season.
The team did an excellent job, aided in no small part by the Sergio Rinland-designed C20 chassis which was quite the best chassis ever produced by the Hinwil-based team. Yet Sauber continued to reflect a somewhat introspective and isolationist stance, stranded in Switzerland away from the mainstream F1 community - although, in fairness, only an Alpine pass or two away from its engine suppliers in Maranello.
Historically the cult of the personality at Sauber has always been subjected to the team's greater good. Rinland duly left virtually before the season started and former McLaren engineer Stephen Taylor's term as chief designer hardly lasted any longer.
Thereafter the Swiss team owner relied on the proven services of his technical director Willi Rampf and a group of acolytes in the design department who always remained anonymous.
The C20 was an excellent car, although undoubtedly aided by rear-end packaging which was largely influenced by Ferrari as a supplement to its engine supply deal. The new Sauber, aided by possibly the strongest driver line-up the team had ever enjoyed, proved generally a neutral-handling and forgiving machine with few vices.
Yet, objectively, Sauber had pulled off no miracles here. They had done a good, solid job with a decent car, but their perceived status was significantly enhanced due to the very average showings from Benetton, Jaguar and the two Honda-propelled teams which might normally have been regarded as their strongest midfield rivals.
The driver line-up for this year was all new with Nick Heidfeld switching from Prost and Formula Renault prodigy Kimi Raikkonen who was propelled straight into the big time despite reservations from many on the touchlines who felt that it was too big a jump to bypass F3 and F3000. In the event, Raikkonen proved outstandingly competent and was duly snapped up by the McLaren-Mercedes squad once it became clear that Mika Hakkinen was going to put his feet up in 2002 and take a sabbatical.
Heidfeld probably had every right to be extremely disappointed by this promotion of Raikkonen over his head, while Sauber took solace in the financial compensation offered by the deal - and promptly went out to recruit another Formula Renault recruit, the Brazilian Felipe Massa, who they hope will be good enough to do the same job as Raikkonen in 2002.
[via GrandPrix]
The team did an excellent job, aided in no small part by the Sergio Rinland-designed C20 chassis which was quite the best chassis ever produced by the Hinwil-based team. Yet Sauber continued to reflect a somewhat introspective and isolationist stance, stranded in Switzerland away from the mainstream F1 community - although, in fairness, only an Alpine pass or two away from its engine suppliers in Maranello.
Historically the cult of the personality at Sauber has always been subjected to the team's greater good. Rinland duly left virtually before the season started and former McLaren engineer Stephen Taylor's term as chief designer hardly lasted any longer.
Thereafter the Swiss team owner relied on the proven services of his technical director Willi Rampf and a group of acolytes in the design department who always remained anonymous.
The C20 was an excellent car, although undoubtedly aided by rear-end packaging which was largely influenced by Ferrari as a supplement to its engine supply deal. The new Sauber, aided by possibly the strongest driver line-up the team had ever enjoyed, proved generally a neutral-handling and forgiving machine with few vices.
Yet, objectively, Sauber had pulled off no miracles here. They had done a good, solid job with a decent car, but their perceived status was significantly enhanced due to the very average showings from Benetton, Jaguar and the two Honda-propelled teams which might normally have been regarded as their strongest midfield rivals.
The driver line-up for this year was all new with Nick Heidfeld switching from Prost and Formula Renault prodigy Kimi Raikkonen who was propelled straight into the big time despite reservations from many on the touchlines who felt that it was too big a jump to bypass F3 and F3000. In the event, Raikkonen proved outstandingly competent and was duly snapped up by the McLaren-Mercedes squad once it became clear that Mika Hakkinen was going to put his feet up in 2002 and take a sabbatical.
Heidfeld probably had every right to be extremely disappointed by this promotion of Raikkonen over his head, while Sauber took solace in the financial compensation offered by the deal - and promptly went out to recruit another Formula Renault recruit, the Brazilian Felipe Massa, who they hope will be good enough to do the same job as Raikkonen in 2002.
[via GrandPrix]
2/11/2009 10:09:00 p.m.
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It seems like a finnish interview, something like Home with Kimi Raikkonen. Haven't found a cood translation but... hei, the pics are good too, no?
2/10/2009 02:20:00 a.m.
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In stark contrast the laconic Finn said:
They are not the words the tifosa -the Ferrari fanbase - wish to hear. And Raikkonen quickly added: "I always try to win - and this year we are going to do our best to be on the top positions on the podium."
Whether the 28-year-old can get back to his winning ways is something I, and many other paddock pundits, doubt very seriously.
[via GulfNews]
"I am not going to promise anything or put my hand on my heart because maybe it is not going to happen."
They are not the words the tifosa -the Ferrari fanbase - wish to hear. And Raikkonen quickly added: "I always try to win - and this year we are going to do our best to be on the top positions on the podium."
Whether the 28-year-old can get back to his winning ways is something I, and many other paddock pundits, doubt very seriously.
[via GulfNews]
2/09/2009 01:47:00 a.m.
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"I've said this before : 2 race wins, 2 pole positions, 7 other podiums and 10 fastest laps scoring 75 points and in with a chance of winning the WDC with three races to go - what a complete an utter loser hey, what a terrible season. Give the guy a break for goodness sake. Half the drivers on the grid, who are equally as fast as Kimi, would give their left nut for a season like that just once in their careers."
by alternatego
2/08/2009 11:02:00 p.m.
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[via KR Official]
2/07/2009 10:25:00 p.m.
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Legendat jäällä-hyväntekeväisyysottelu täytti Kankaanpään jäähallin perjantai-iltana. Tuhatpäinen katsojajoukko sai mitä halusi, entisiä ja nykyisiä kiekkotähtiä oli koossa kahden joukkueen verran.
Kiekkotähtien lisäksi peliin osallistui myös formulakuljettaja Kimi Räikkönen, jonka osallistuminen tapahtumaan oli julkinen salaisuus. Räikkösen saapumisesta kuiskuteltiin kaupungilla jo pitkin viikkoa, mutta tähden saapuminen varmistui vasta perjantaina.
[via kankaanpaanseutu ]
Kiekkotähtien lisäksi peliin osallistui myös formulakuljettaja Kimi Räikkönen, jonka osallistuminen tapahtumaan oli julkinen salaisuus. Räikkösen saapumisesta kuiskuteltiin kaupungilla jo pitkin viikkoa, mutta tähden saapuminen varmistui vasta perjantaina.
[via kankaanpaanseutu ]
2/06/2009 10:19:00 p.m.
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FERRARI'S Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will be sharing testing duties in Bahrain next week.
This was confirmed to the GDN last night by Ferrari public relations manager Luca Colajanni.
The Formula One world champions will be testing at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) alongside BMW and Toyota. They will be on the track in two four-day sessions - first between February 10 and 13, and then between the 16th and 19th.
"Raikkonen and Massa will be committed to drive four days each. Only one car per day, as per testing agreement," Colajanni told the GDN.
The team will be working on general development and reliability of their F60 car, as the world championship opener in Melbourne draws closer.
"We are on schedule with regards to our [development] programme," added Colajanni.
Ferrari were the first F1 team to unveil their 2009 car this pre-season. The F60 features a lower, wider front wing and a taller, narrower rear wing, in line with revisions to F1 regulations. Its name commemorates what will be the team's 60th campaign in F1.
Raikkonen and Massa will be joined by fellow Grand Prix drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld of BMW, and Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock of Toyota, in testing. BMW reserve driver Christian Klien is also set to get track time.
The three F1 teams are reportedly spending more than £300,000 (BD164,000) each in coming to Bahrain compared to what they would have been required to spend testing in Europe, according to an official.
"We've never gone to Bahrain testing because the delta between staying in Europe and going out there is well over £300,000, so it's not really conducive to saving costs," Williams technical director Sam Michael told the autosport.com website.
"Most of the time, the weather is not bad through February and March. January is normally the worst month, so we just get on with it as we are. It doesn't affect normal development rate, it just affects your normal set-up progression."
Ferrari, however, like BMW and Toyota, expect Bahrain's warmer temperatures and drier conditions will benefit them in their preparations. Their most recent tests in Mugello, Italy, held last month were occasionally disrupted by rain.
"Weather was the crucial factor which addressed our decision [to come to Bahrain]," Colajanni said.
This was confirmed to the GDN last night by Ferrari public relations manager Luca Colajanni.
The Formula One world champions will be testing at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) alongside BMW and Toyota. They will be on the track in two four-day sessions - first between February 10 and 13, and then between the 16th and 19th.
"Raikkonen and Massa will be committed to drive four days each. Only one car per day, as per testing agreement," Colajanni told the GDN.
The team will be working on general development and reliability of their F60 car, as the world championship opener in Melbourne draws closer.
"We are on schedule with regards to our [development] programme," added Colajanni.
Ferrari were the first F1 team to unveil their 2009 car this pre-season. The F60 features a lower, wider front wing and a taller, narrower rear wing, in line with revisions to F1 regulations. Its name commemorates what will be the team's 60th campaign in F1.
Raikkonen and Massa will be joined by fellow Grand Prix drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld of BMW, and Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock of Toyota, in testing. BMW reserve driver Christian Klien is also set to get track time.
The three F1 teams are reportedly spending more than £300,000 (BD164,000) each in coming to Bahrain compared to what they would have been required to spend testing in Europe, according to an official.
"We've never gone to Bahrain testing because the delta between staying in Europe and going out there is well over £300,000, so it's not really conducive to saving costs," Williams technical director Sam Michael told the autosport.com website.
"Most of the time, the weather is not bad through February and March. January is normally the worst month, so we just get on with it as we are. It doesn't affect normal development rate, it just affects your normal set-up progression."
Ferrari, however, like BMW and Toyota, expect Bahrain's warmer temperatures and drier conditions will benefit them in their preparations. Their most recent tests in Mugello, Italy, held last month were occasionally disrupted by rain.
"Weather was the crucial factor which addressed our decision [to come to Bahrain]," Colajanni said.
[via Gulf Daily]
2/05/2009 09:59:00 p.m.
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Ron Dennis doesn’t subscribe to the theory that his former driver Kimi Raikkonen suffered from a lack of motivation in 2008 and is tipping the Ferrari ace to provide stiff competition to his McLaren drivers again this season.
After finally winning the world title during his first year at Maranello following his switch from Dennis’s McLaren team, Raikkonen endured a disappointing championship defence last year and scored just two victories before playing a support role to team-mate Felipe Massa’s title bid.
Raikkonen’s form prompted some to suggest the Finn was losing interest in F1 and contemplating retirement, although he quashed this speculation by extending his Ferrari deal by a year to the end of 2010.
And now with the Finn promising a stronger 2009, his former team boss believes Raikkonen will be as competitive as ever.
Asked in an interview in the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine if he thought Raikkonen’s 2008 problems stemmed from a lack of motivation or his driving style not being suited to the F2008, Dennis said: “I’d say it was neither.
Furthermore, the Briton predicts that a dark horse will emerge to trouble the established front runners.
“There’s obviously some well-financed teams, who should have the ability to hit the ground running next year,” he said of teams other than traditional main rival Ferrari likely to compete at the front.
“It’s likely that BMW and Renault will be two of them, but there’ll also be a dark horse.
“I’m not sure who that’ll be yet, but there will be a dark horse.”
[via ITV]
After finally winning the world title during his first year at Maranello following his switch from Dennis’s McLaren team, Raikkonen endured a disappointing championship defence last year and scored just two victories before playing a support role to team-mate Felipe Massa’s title bid.
Raikkonen’s form prompted some to suggest the Finn was losing interest in F1 and contemplating retirement, although he quashed this speculation by extending his Ferrari deal by a year to the end of 2010.
And now with the Finn promising a stronger 2009, his former team boss believes Raikkonen will be as competitive as ever.
Asked in an interview in the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine if he thought Raikkonen’s 2008 problems stemmed from a lack of motivation or his driving style not being suited to the F2008, Dennis said: “I’d say it was neither.
“Despite what his detractors say about him, Kimi is always motivated.Dennis, who will step down as McLaren team principal at the start of next month, reckons there are several teams who should have the potential to challenge the recent McLaren/Ferrari duopoly at the front of the field in F1’s new era of rules in 2009.
“He’s very quiet, yes – in that uniquely Finnish way – but he’s a great driver.
“He’ll be quick in 2009 and he’ll therefore be a fierce competitor.”
Furthermore, the Briton predicts that a dark horse will emerge to trouble the established front runners.
“There’s obviously some well-financed teams, who should have the ability to hit the ground running next year,” he said of teams other than traditional main rival Ferrari likely to compete at the front.
“It’s likely that BMW and Renault will be two of them, but there’ll also be a dark horse.
“I’m not sure who that’ll be yet, but there will be a dark horse.”
[via ITV]
2/04/2009 10:17:00 p.m.
No comments
Q. Kimi, last year there were rumours about you retirement. What are your plans?
Kimi Raikkonen: There is speculation. There has always been speculation in Formula One. Of course these days it is always difficult in Formula One in every way, but I don't have pressure outside. I want to win and I give a hard time to myself and we'll see. Like I said there is a two years contract we'll see what happens after that.
Q. The new rules tend to favour a grippy front-end and produce an oversteery car. Is that a good thing for you?
KR: I think you can change the car a lot to how you like it and of course now the rules are slightly more difficult, with the weight and everything. It depends on the weight of the drivers how much we can change it, but if I can choose then definitely I prefer oversteer to understeer. I think that the tyres plays a big part of it also, I don't know exactly how the car will be, that's why we have to wait until next week when it will be slightly more easy to say. It all depends.
Q. Last year Luca di Montezemolo said that it was not you, but your brother driving, what do you think of this?
KR: I have one brother, but he definitely didn't drive the car! I read the same story, but he was joking and that's about it.
Q. Yesterday Stefano Domenicali mentioned that they tried to design the car more to suit you, can you explain what sort of input you have had into the design and how the team has worked with you in terms of how the car will be set-up?
KR: We worked all year together last year, we wanted something slightly different in some areas but of course it's difficult to make big changes during the year. We tried many things and we were talking about stuff we would like to try at least and see how it is, but for sure the whole year that we worked there is some ideas and like I said next year we will see how it worked. Definitely, everybody is pushing hard to improve.
Q. Which of the three new technologies, KERS, slicks or the aero regulations will be the most difficult to adapt to and why?
KR: Like I said, they are the biggest changes for many years in Formula One. I don't have an idea how it will be all together. We have tried the tyres, but it was last year's car. We tried to take the downforce off to get it more close to where it should be this year, but it is still not the same car so, with everything together we should know better next week. But it is interesting and hopefully it will improve the racing, and that will be much better for all of us.
For sure it will be difficult for the teams to get everything working well together - we don't have much testing before the season, and no testing during the season. So it is up to the teams, and it will be whoever gets everything working and gets the best out of the package. But I don't know what it feels like because I haven't driven the car. We will have to wait and see.
Q. There have been changes to the team structure, including Chris Dyer moving to a new job. So you have a new race engineer, how is that relationship developing?
KR: I have been working with him for two years, like I have with Chris. It's nothing strange, but need new challenges. We had a good time with Chris, of course we won in the first and year and didn't last year, but it is nothing to do with that we couldn't have worked, like people have said. We have a very good relationship, but unfortunately sometimes people want to try something different.
I know Andrea (Stella) very well. I have been working with him as long as I have with Chris. We did the test together and it seems to be okay and I'm expecting to have a good year with him. And Chris is there doing different things but he is still pushing for the whole team to improve and get better so, it is not a big change in the end.
Q. You are not anymore the world champion, has that changed your life and approach to racing?
KR: I am still (a world champion), just not last year, but no it hasn't. It didn't changed my life at all even when I won the previous year. People always expect you to do well, win races and win championships so, in that way it doesn't really change anything. Hopefully this year we can improve it again and be up there and at least fight for it and we will go from there.
Q. You won in your first season, when you approached your second did you not consider Massa as a great competitor, but now that Massa has developed a lot, how do you approach the season that you have a teammate that was much stronger than before?
KR: I wouldn't say that I didn't expect him to be strong. I mean we were fighting the first year all the time. We were similar points, it was very late in the (2007) season when it went my way, and it was a similar situation last year. It went one way then it turned around and went this way, so it has really been more-or-less similar both years, so it was nice to see him have a very good season. So I have no reason to change my way of doing things this year than in the past, he has always been a strong, fast guy so we will see what happens this year.
Q. Do you think you were fairly represented by the press coverage last year, or do you think you were just unlucky?
KR: No for sure, I made some mistakes and the team made some mistakes at some points, but that is part of racing. Everybody makes mistakes and we go through the bad and the good times together. Sometimes there is luck involved but also the luck comes from how you work, sometimes it is with you and sometimes against you. It is up to me and the guys around me to get the best out of it. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not, but it doesn't change anything anymore so if it is something to do with luck, then hopefully this year we will have it.
Q. What can you promise the Ferrari fans for this year, and secondly what was the turning point that lost you the championship last year?
KR: First of all, we made some wrong choices and some mistakes. And then it took too long to recover from those. But there is no point to talk about last year, that is past, and we can't change it anymore. And the other question... I always try to win and hopefully we can win championships this year, but I'm not going to promise anything and put my hand on my heart because maybe it won't happen. We are just going to try and do the best weekend and be back on the top podium position. Like I said it is still early days so we need to do the work and hopefully it will work out.
Q. Kimi, do you have any reservations about KERS safety?
KR: You hear a lot of things and one guy got an electric shock at BMW, but I think the team for sure knows what is safe and what isn't, and if it wasn't safe we wouldn't put it in the car risk anybody getting hurt. For me it is okay, if we get more horsepower out of it and we get everything working well, I think it is a good thing.
Q. Would gold medals motivate you more for race wins, or do you feel motivated enough?
KR: Whether they are medals or trophies doesn't make any difference, if you win, you win. That's what is everybody wants and everybody likes so if you get a gold medal out of it or a big trophy it makes no difference. You want the maximum points and the feeling from the win so I don't think it changes anything at all.
Q. What's your feeling about the in-season testing ban, you'll have more time for your life, but less time to develop the car?
KR: It's the same for everybody, these are the new rules in Formula One. It's a big change for everyone and it is to try and save money. If the car is quick straight away then I have no issues at all, it's a good thing. But if the team's have problems then it is going to be very difficult to fix them because you won't have any testing or time on the circuit to try things. We will see how it goes, for sure the team will come it with some things, so we will not have so much time off. We will still be developing the car and putting new things on the car on Fridays. Of course there will be less driving than this year, but a lot will have to do with how quick the car is straight away.
Q. So how will you approach your weekends, taking into account the fact that you will do development testing on Fridays?
KR: I don't know how we are going to work the whole weekend through, but I think it is going to be slightly different than the last few years, because of the rule changes. For sure we have time enough to fix the set-up and try different things. That's how it has been last year and the year before, the Friday's more trying things and try to find better set-ups, but also we have been bringing in new parts and trying them. Probably Fridays will be more like a test day now, but we will see how it goes. For sure the team has an idea how we are going to run our weekends through, but I don't know we haven't gone through it yet.
Q. You recently met the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, what can you tell us about this meeting?
KR: I was asked to go there and meet him and we had some talks together. It was nice to meet him, he seems to be a very open and nice guy. That's about it.
Q. What do you think about having your salary capped?
KR: There has always been a lot of talk but I don't think it is going to happen.
Q. But in a world where we have serious economic problems and people losing their jobs, do you think it's justified that you are paid the kind of money you get paid?
KR: I don't really want to get involved in the whole thing so…
Q. You will probably have to use the car simulator more this year because of the testing ban, but we know that you don't like this tool. Will this be a problem for you this year?
KR: We are going to get a new one this year and at some point this will improve the situation. Some areas maybe you learn something out it, some not. I don't know, I've no plans to be there every second day so we'll see how it works.
Q. Does it help you to have a teammate that is up there pushing at the front, does it help and encourage you? And as a former world champion, do you think that Lewis Hamilton will be under more pressure this year having won the title?
KR: I don't think it is going to affect him. He's always been strong so I expect him to be strong this year also. People always say that if you have a strong teammate it helps you to go faster, but I think you always try to go as fast as you can and there other people that you need to beat also so you cannot just drive slow if you have a slow teammate.
The team expect you to win races so that is my aim, and I have never really felt that if you have a strong teammate you go even faster, you always try to go as fast as you can.
Q. With regards to your salary, you say you don't want to get involved in that. But that could be viewed by the outside world as slightly arrogant way of viewing that when there are thousands of people losing their jobs and you are paid millions. How can you say it is right that you earn all that money in this sort of climate that we are in?
KR: That's why I said I don't want to get involved in this talk with you because I know that you will try to find some bad out of it. I have always said that I am not interested in getting involved in this type of conversation.
Q. There will be no French Grand Prix this year or next year, do you regret that and what do you think about the Magny-Cours circuit?
KR: For me it was quite a nice place and the circuit was nice to race. Of course I think for some people it was in the middle of nowhere but for us it was quite a relaxing. So I actually quite liked the place so it is a shame that we don't have the race anymore but hopefully it will come back some time.
Q. Kimi, you've said you'll carry on in F1 as long as you enjoy it. How much are you enjoying it at the moment with all the appearances you have to make and the stuff you have to do away from the car?
KR: Like I said before I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the motivation or the hunger to be here anymore in F1. Even the last year wasn't exactly what we wanted, it doesn't change how much I like F1. I enjoy it. I have great team behind me and they let me go quite easily with the other things and they make everything as easy for everybody as they can.
I'm in a very good position in that way and I'm very happy to work with the team so. I mean I am now in a contract for this year and next year and then I will see how I feel, how how the Formula One is going and then decide about the future.
Q. Do you think Fernando Alonso can be a title contender this year and also Stefano Domenicali says you live on your own planet, how is the life on your planet?
KR: It's good! I have nothing to complain about. About Fernando, everybody knows that he is a good driver, but it depends a lot how good a car (Renault) make, last year they made it stronger than it was at the beginning. So if they have improved in the same way, they will be there up front fighting for the races, but I think we need to wait and see how all the teams compare against each other then it is more easy to see who is the favourite for the championship.
Q. You are doing the Arctic Rally. Would you do more of that if you were able to?
KR: I don't know really. It's no secret that I like the rally and it is something I always wanted to do, since I was a kid. I am happy to have a chance to do it, we will see what happens. I have no experience of it so hopefully I don't need to make too much snow work when I get there. We will see what happens in the future.
Q. Does the team mind you doing it?
KR: The team is quite open to what I can do, there are a lot of hobbies that I like that are maybe not the most safest things, but I always try not to take any risks and I am happy that they allow me to do it. I think it helps in every way, everybody is happy and it is good practice if you drive anything, go-kart, rally, any kind of driving. It is always going to help you in your own work so it's not a bad thing.
Q. For two years there have been rumours about Alonso and Ferrari, but there are never rumours about Raikkonen and another team, is this because you have ruled out the possibility of switching teams again or not?
KR: I said already that this is probably my last team that I am going to race with in Formula One. I am very happy and I have no reason to go anywhere else. I mean everybody knows that I have a contract for this year and next year and for sure people will not talk about you going somewhere else if they know you have a contract so… I don't mind, I am very happy here and it is an easy thing to say that I want to stay here.
Q. Maybe this is a crazy question, but can you describe to the people outside how it looks on your planet?
KR: I think people take that a different way from what Stefano meant. I am still here so. I just like to keep my things private and I don't really want to show it to people so probably he meant that more.
Q. In a time of economic gloom, is it positive to have a new Grand Prix coming up in Abu Dhabi, and what are views for the championship?
KR: It is definitely not easy for Formula One with the economic crisis, but it is also not easy for anybody in normal life. I think when Abu Dhabi decided to come to F1 this kind of thing wasn't happening. So I hope that they can finish everything and make a nice race for us. I have seen the plan and what they have built so far and it looks very nice. I am very happy to go there and have a race there, but for sure it is not the easiest time for them either, or for F1 to go there. But I am looking forward to go there anyway.
Q. Michael Schumacher will now continue with the team for a third year as an advisor, do you think his presence in the team has been positive?
KR: Definitely nothing negative. He has a lot of experience as we've seen, and I think he is going to play a similar part as the last two years, and I think he still has a contract with the team for this year. You really need to ask him and the team what exactly his part is, but he is not going to harm the team so for sure it is a good thing.
[via Autosport]
Kimi Raikkonen: There is speculation. There has always been speculation in Formula One. Of course these days it is always difficult in Formula One in every way, but I don't have pressure outside. I want to win and I give a hard time to myself and we'll see. Like I said there is a two years contract we'll see what happens after that.
Q. The new rules tend to favour a grippy front-end and produce an oversteery car. Is that a good thing for you?
KR: I think you can change the car a lot to how you like it and of course now the rules are slightly more difficult, with the weight and everything. It depends on the weight of the drivers how much we can change it, but if I can choose then definitely I prefer oversteer to understeer. I think that the tyres plays a big part of it also, I don't know exactly how the car will be, that's why we have to wait until next week when it will be slightly more easy to say. It all depends.
Q. Last year Luca di Montezemolo said that it was not you, but your brother driving, what do you think of this?
KR: I have one brother, but he definitely didn't drive the car! I read the same story, but he was joking and that's about it.
Q. Yesterday Stefano Domenicali mentioned that they tried to design the car more to suit you, can you explain what sort of input you have had into the design and how the team has worked with you in terms of how the car will be set-up?
KR: We worked all year together last year, we wanted something slightly different in some areas but of course it's difficult to make big changes during the year. We tried many things and we were talking about stuff we would like to try at least and see how it is, but for sure the whole year that we worked there is some ideas and like I said next year we will see how it worked. Definitely, everybody is pushing hard to improve.
Q. Which of the three new technologies, KERS, slicks or the aero regulations will be the most difficult to adapt to and why?
KR: Like I said, they are the biggest changes for many years in Formula One. I don't have an idea how it will be all together. We have tried the tyres, but it was last year's car. We tried to take the downforce off to get it more close to where it should be this year, but it is still not the same car so, with everything together we should know better next week. But it is interesting and hopefully it will improve the racing, and that will be much better for all of us.
For sure it will be difficult for the teams to get everything working well together - we don't have much testing before the season, and no testing during the season. So it is up to the teams, and it will be whoever gets everything working and gets the best out of the package. But I don't know what it feels like because I haven't driven the car. We will have to wait and see.
Q. There have been changes to the team structure, including Chris Dyer moving to a new job. So you have a new race engineer, how is that relationship developing?
KR: I have been working with him for two years, like I have with Chris. It's nothing strange, but need new challenges. We had a good time with Chris, of course we won in the first and year and didn't last year, but it is nothing to do with that we couldn't have worked, like people have said. We have a very good relationship, but unfortunately sometimes people want to try something different.
I know Andrea (Stella) very well. I have been working with him as long as I have with Chris. We did the test together and it seems to be okay and I'm expecting to have a good year with him. And Chris is there doing different things but he is still pushing for the whole team to improve and get better so, it is not a big change in the end.
Q. You are not anymore the world champion, has that changed your life and approach to racing?
KR: I am still (a world champion), just not last year, but no it hasn't. It didn't changed my life at all even when I won the previous year. People always expect you to do well, win races and win championships so, in that way it doesn't really change anything. Hopefully this year we can improve it again and be up there and at least fight for it and we will go from there.
Q. You won in your first season, when you approached your second did you not consider Massa as a great competitor, but now that Massa has developed a lot, how do you approach the season that you have a teammate that was much stronger than before?
KR: I wouldn't say that I didn't expect him to be strong. I mean we were fighting the first year all the time. We were similar points, it was very late in the (2007) season when it went my way, and it was a similar situation last year. It went one way then it turned around and went this way, so it has really been more-or-less similar both years, so it was nice to see him have a very good season. So I have no reason to change my way of doing things this year than in the past, he has always been a strong, fast guy so we will see what happens this year.
Q. Do you think you were fairly represented by the press coverage last year, or do you think you were just unlucky?
KR: No for sure, I made some mistakes and the team made some mistakes at some points, but that is part of racing. Everybody makes mistakes and we go through the bad and the good times together. Sometimes there is luck involved but also the luck comes from how you work, sometimes it is with you and sometimes against you. It is up to me and the guys around me to get the best out of it. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not, but it doesn't change anything anymore so if it is something to do with luck, then hopefully this year we will have it.
Q. What can you promise the Ferrari fans for this year, and secondly what was the turning point that lost you the championship last year?
KR: First of all, we made some wrong choices and some mistakes. And then it took too long to recover from those. But there is no point to talk about last year, that is past, and we can't change it anymore. And the other question... I always try to win and hopefully we can win championships this year, but I'm not going to promise anything and put my hand on my heart because maybe it won't happen. We are just going to try and do the best weekend and be back on the top podium position. Like I said it is still early days so we need to do the work and hopefully it will work out.
Q. Kimi, do you have any reservations about KERS safety?
KR: You hear a lot of things and one guy got an electric shock at BMW, but I think the team for sure knows what is safe and what isn't, and if it wasn't safe we wouldn't put it in the car risk anybody getting hurt. For me it is okay, if we get more horsepower out of it and we get everything working well, I think it is a good thing.
Q. Would gold medals motivate you more for race wins, or do you feel motivated enough?
KR: Whether they are medals or trophies doesn't make any difference, if you win, you win. That's what is everybody wants and everybody likes so if you get a gold medal out of it or a big trophy it makes no difference. You want the maximum points and the feeling from the win so I don't think it changes anything at all.
Q. What's your feeling about the in-season testing ban, you'll have more time for your life, but less time to develop the car?
KR: It's the same for everybody, these are the new rules in Formula One. It's a big change for everyone and it is to try and save money. If the car is quick straight away then I have no issues at all, it's a good thing. But if the team's have problems then it is going to be very difficult to fix them because you won't have any testing or time on the circuit to try things. We will see how it goes, for sure the team will come it with some things, so we will not have so much time off. We will still be developing the car and putting new things on the car on Fridays. Of course there will be less driving than this year, but a lot will have to do with how quick the car is straight away.
Q. So how will you approach your weekends, taking into account the fact that you will do development testing on Fridays?
KR: I don't know how we are going to work the whole weekend through, but I think it is going to be slightly different than the last few years, because of the rule changes. For sure we have time enough to fix the set-up and try different things. That's how it has been last year and the year before, the Friday's more trying things and try to find better set-ups, but also we have been bringing in new parts and trying them. Probably Fridays will be more like a test day now, but we will see how it goes. For sure the team has an idea how we are going to run our weekends through, but I don't know we haven't gone through it yet.
Q. You recently met the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, what can you tell us about this meeting?
KR: I was asked to go there and meet him and we had some talks together. It was nice to meet him, he seems to be a very open and nice guy. That's about it.
Q. What do you think about having your salary capped?
KR: There has always been a lot of talk but I don't think it is going to happen.
Q. But in a world where we have serious economic problems and people losing their jobs, do you think it's justified that you are paid the kind of money you get paid?
KR: I don't really want to get involved in the whole thing so…
Q. You will probably have to use the car simulator more this year because of the testing ban, but we know that you don't like this tool. Will this be a problem for you this year?
KR: We are going to get a new one this year and at some point this will improve the situation. Some areas maybe you learn something out it, some not. I don't know, I've no plans to be there every second day so we'll see how it works.
Q. Does it help you to have a teammate that is up there pushing at the front, does it help and encourage you? And as a former world champion, do you think that Lewis Hamilton will be under more pressure this year having won the title?
KR: I don't think it is going to affect him. He's always been strong so I expect him to be strong this year also. People always say that if you have a strong teammate it helps you to go faster, but I think you always try to go as fast as you can and there other people that you need to beat also so you cannot just drive slow if you have a slow teammate.
The team expect you to win races so that is my aim, and I have never really felt that if you have a strong teammate you go even faster, you always try to go as fast as you can.
Q. With regards to your salary, you say you don't want to get involved in that. But that could be viewed by the outside world as slightly arrogant way of viewing that when there are thousands of people losing their jobs and you are paid millions. How can you say it is right that you earn all that money in this sort of climate that we are in?
KR: That's why I said I don't want to get involved in this talk with you because I know that you will try to find some bad out of it. I have always said that I am not interested in getting involved in this type of conversation.
Q. There will be no French Grand Prix this year or next year, do you regret that and what do you think about the Magny-Cours circuit?
KR: For me it was quite a nice place and the circuit was nice to race. Of course I think for some people it was in the middle of nowhere but for us it was quite a relaxing. So I actually quite liked the place so it is a shame that we don't have the race anymore but hopefully it will come back some time.
Q. Kimi, you've said you'll carry on in F1 as long as you enjoy it. How much are you enjoying it at the moment with all the appearances you have to make and the stuff you have to do away from the car?
KR: Like I said before I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the motivation or the hunger to be here anymore in F1. Even the last year wasn't exactly what we wanted, it doesn't change how much I like F1. I enjoy it. I have great team behind me and they let me go quite easily with the other things and they make everything as easy for everybody as they can.
I'm in a very good position in that way and I'm very happy to work with the team so. I mean I am now in a contract for this year and next year and then I will see how I feel, how how the Formula One is going and then decide about the future.
Q. Do you think Fernando Alonso can be a title contender this year and also Stefano Domenicali says you live on your own planet, how is the life on your planet?
KR: It's good! I have nothing to complain about. About Fernando, everybody knows that he is a good driver, but it depends a lot how good a car (Renault) make, last year they made it stronger than it was at the beginning. So if they have improved in the same way, they will be there up front fighting for the races, but I think we need to wait and see how all the teams compare against each other then it is more easy to see who is the favourite for the championship.
Q. You are doing the Arctic Rally. Would you do more of that if you were able to?
KR: I don't know really. It's no secret that I like the rally and it is something I always wanted to do, since I was a kid. I am happy to have a chance to do it, we will see what happens. I have no experience of it so hopefully I don't need to make too much snow work when I get there. We will see what happens in the future.
Q. Does the team mind you doing it?
KR: The team is quite open to what I can do, there are a lot of hobbies that I like that are maybe not the most safest things, but I always try not to take any risks and I am happy that they allow me to do it. I think it helps in every way, everybody is happy and it is good practice if you drive anything, go-kart, rally, any kind of driving. It is always going to help you in your own work so it's not a bad thing.
Q. For two years there have been rumours about Alonso and Ferrari, but there are never rumours about Raikkonen and another team, is this because you have ruled out the possibility of switching teams again or not?
KR: I said already that this is probably my last team that I am going to race with in Formula One. I am very happy and I have no reason to go anywhere else. I mean everybody knows that I have a contract for this year and next year and for sure people will not talk about you going somewhere else if they know you have a contract so… I don't mind, I am very happy here and it is an easy thing to say that I want to stay here.
Q. Maybe this is a crazy question, but can you describe to the people outside how it looks on your planet?
KR: I think people take that a different way from what Stefano meant. I am still here so. I just like to keep my things private and I don't really want to show it to people so probably he meant that more.
Q. In a time of economic gloom, is it positive to have a new Grand Prix coming up in Abu Dhabi, and what are views for the championship?
KR: It is definitely not easy for Formula One with the economic crisis, but it is also not easy for anybody in normal life. I think when Abu Dhabi decided to come to F1 this kind of thing wasn't happening. So I hope that they can finish everything and make a nice race for us. I have seen the plan and what they have built so far and it looks very nice. I am very happy to go there and have a race there, but for sure it is not the easiest time for them either, or for F1 to go there. But I am looking forward to go there anyway.
Q. Michael Schumacher will now continue with the team for a third year as an advisor, do you think his presence in the team has been positive?
KR: Definitely nothing negative. He has a lot of experience as we've seen, and I think he is going to play a similar part as the last two years, and I think he still has a contract with the team for this year. You really need to ask him and the team what exactly his part is, but he is not going to harm the team so for sure it is a good thing.
[via Autosport]
2/03/2009 02:14:00 a.m.
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2/02/2009 10:02:00 p.m.
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... with KERS systems weighing between 25 and 40kg, heavy drivers now have even less scope to distribute ballast around the car, to achieve an ideal weight distribution.
So far, it has emerged that, in preparation for 2009, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso have deliberately lost weight.
[via wheels]
2/01/2009 11:15:00 p.m.
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