Petri Nevalainen: The Iceman – A Portrait of Kimi Räikkönen
(Jäämies - Kimi Räikkösen henkilökuva)
Ajatus Kirjat 2008
224 pages
Cover design: Jenni Noponen
ISBN 978-951-20-7805-9

Excerpts from the book translated by Raymond Carter

…)
Finland’s 2007 midsummer celebrations were just around the corner, and the Formula One drivers’ season was approaching its half-way point. The second part of the American section of the tour, the seventh race in the series, would take place at Indianapolis. Even though many distracting thoughts must have been running through Kimi Räikkönen’s mind in a location so far from home, he showed no external signs of this. But the wish to speak to his old friend Kalle Jokinen just wouldn’t go away. According to Jokinen, his mobile phone rang on that Indianapolis weekend while he was in a karaoke bar with friends. The caller was Räikkönen, who said that the team had a lot of work to do to build a car that would see off McLaren. Then Kimi obviously recognised from the background noise that his friend was not at work.
”Could you go and sing ‘Truck driver’ for me,” he said. “And leave the line open while you’re singing. It helps, because sometimes it’s a little lonely out here.” Jokinen did as he’d been asked and went off to perform Matti Esko’s version of Räikkönen’s favourite song at the top of his voice. Another of Kimi’s karaoke favourites is Kari Tapio’s ”Pole position” - for obvious reasons. Thanking his friend, Räikkönen said he’d get in touch later.

(…)

Räikkönen’s fans had to cope with an extra ration of nervousness as they followed the last laps and the battle between Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld for 4th, 5th and 6th place. Even though they were only driving to beat each other, their final positions would have an effect on the struggle for the championship. Quite unexpectedly, they had been given the decider’s role in the bigger battle. While everyone was concentrating on Räikkönen and Hamilton, the fierce tussle between these three turned into the heart of the competition. On several occasions, it looked as if they would force each other off the circuit. Tyres were smoking and brakes were locking up, but the trio kept going. On this occasion, luck was at last on Räikkönen’s side. He won the race, and Hamilton was unable to do better than seventh position. After this incredible phase, this meant that Räikkönen became only the third Finn to win the world championship!

“It’s difficult to find any words,” he said after the victory. “My feelings are so strong.“

(…)
(Comment by Jean Todt)
”Kimi’s focus on the job he’s doing is absolute. He wants to succeed and has all the necessary motivation. He’s also normal in the sense that he’s not always happy with the way things are at any point in time. The team supports him in every way, and the results have been good, says Todt. According to him, Räikkönen did not make a single unnecessary complaint during the whole of the 2007 season.
“That’s how he’s made. He’ll open his mouth when it’s the right thing to do, and he doesn’t speak without good reason.
“He’s an easy guy to work with. He gets straight to the point and concentrates on the essence. He’s able to say “Yes” or “No” as the situation demands. For the team this is good, because his answers are always clear and they don’t have to wonder what the question might have been.