World champion Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen - known as the Iceman for his nerves of steel - is one of the best-known Finns on the international scene. In spite of torrents of publicity, this F1 star reveals very little, so knowledge of his private life is minimal. Written by Petri Nevalainen and published today in Finnish, The Iceman - a portrait of Kimi Räikkönen is the story of this international super-celebrity’s life and career.

”Never before has such a wide-ranging collection of material about Räikkönen been available in a single volume,” says Nevalainen. “What interested me was how he fought his way to the top by skill alone, without assistance from rich parents or wealthy supporters. Studying and analysing his personality was an exciting thing to do, in some way it felt like it was being done for the very first time.”

While researching material for his book, Nevalainen interviewed people close to Räikkönen such as Ferrari’s Jean Todt. “Those interviews with Todt and many others were very influential, because each one offered a very different view of the world champion. Todt was not only team principal when Kimi won the world championship, he was clearly a sort of benevolent father-figure who understood the workings of the Finn’s soul particularly well.”

Nevalainen dissects Räikkönen’s childhood, his family relationships and the beginning of his career, fateful moments in his F1 seasons and his extraordinary success. Even though he was swept into the global jet-set, he always goes back to his friends. Many of the interviewees portrayed Räikkönen as a fundamentally sensitive and warm individual to whom family and friends are the most important of all. “In contrast to many of the shining lights of motor sport’s ruling class, Kimi isn’t surrounded by security men and doesn’t show off by stuffing down paté and swigging champagne with his driving buddies,” says Kalle Jokinen, Räikkönen’s mechanic during his karting years.

Nevalainen also analyses Räikkönen’s media relationships and image, his relationship with money and business, and of course his skills as a driver. After starting his career in karting, Räikkönen began driving in the British Formula Renault series in 1999. Unusually successful, he took the fast track to the top and joined the Sauber Formula One team. Driving for McLaren, he took second place in the F1 world championship in 2003 and 2005. Driving for Ferrari in a ferocious battle that went right up to the wire, he became the third Finn to win the world championship in 2007.

Although disappointed by the setbacks experienced by Räikkönen in the current season, Nevalainen believes the Iceman is as strong as ever. “He’s a brilliant FI driver in spite of what’s happened this year, and still has everything required to become world champion. Hopefully, the synergy between driver and team will be enough for a couple more seasons at the top. ”

Excerpts in English will be available on this page at the Ajatus Kirjat website from the 1st of November.

PETRI NEVALAINEN
Master of Philosophy and Helsinki journalist Petri Nevalainen is 46 and has worked in both newspapers and television and for the BBC World Service. Currently editor-in-chief of Kampanja (Campaign), a weekly for marketing communication professionals, his earlier works include Siinäpä se! (That’s It!), a book on sport written with Antero Mertaranta, a Roadmap of Finnish Rock, and Bassokenraali (General Bass), a biography of the bassist and composer Pekka Pohjola. Kaikkien aikojen Tauno Palo, his biography of a popular Finnish actor, was published last year.

PETRI NEVALAINEN, THE ICEMAN – A PORTRAIT OF KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN
245 pages

Further information and interview requests
Jan Erola, Publishing Manager, tel: +358 40 506 4612 / jan.erola@ajatusrkirjat.fi
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Evaluation copies in Finnish and picture material
Mari Lääperi, Communications Assistant, tel: +358 40 561 7472, mari.laaperi@ajatuskirjat.fi
Founded in 1981, Ajatus Kirjat operates as an independent unit within Gummerus, publishing some 40 non-fiction titles each year