Happened in September 2000: Peter Sauber called me in the office.
- We are going to test a young Finn in Mugello, Sauber said.

Then he started spelling out the driver's name: Ki-mi Räi-kkö-nen. I couldn't believe my ears. I had to ask Peter if he was trying to trick me.
- I know that experience matters but one carpet salesman has described this Finn driver to be so sensational that I gave in, Peter said.

Carpet salesman? Sauber really used to call managers who approached him trying to sell their protegés carpet salesmen. This time the carpet salesman was David Robertson.

Even though Kimi had only driven 23 races with a formula car, Peter spread the red carpet in front of him. Why?

- Because Michael Schumacher recommended me to make a contract with the Finn driver. Michael couldn't even spell Kimi's name but said that his laptimes are sensational, Sauber tells.

Schumacher had noticed Kimi's talent while driving behind him for several laps. But 3 months later Kimi still didn't have the super license you need for the F1-serie.

FIA prepared to decide in Monaco whether they should grant the inexperienced Räikkönen the super license or not. Before the meeting Kimi's manager David Robertson called me a few times. He was very nervous and asked for my help. He wanted me to talk about Kimi's license in a positive tone to Bernie Ecclestone.

This helped. Ecclestone, Jean Todt and Ron Dennis were all thinking that Räikkönen would deserve a super license.

There wasn't many races driven in season 2001 when Ron Dennis promised to Kimi that he would make him a WDC with McLaren's car. After that it's understandable that Kimi had nothing else in mind than jumping fast into a top team. Dennis put constant pressure on Peter Sauber.
- It wasn't nice. It really wasn't nice, Sauber says and doesn't want to talk more about the events that lead to Kimi moving over to McLaren.

Kimi drove for McLaren for 5 years but didn't get the WDC Dennis had promised him. The young driver I had interviewed for the first time 8 years ago in a pizzeria changed during his McLaren-years into a more quiet, careful and doubting.

Moving over to Ferrari did good to Kimi.
- I've become like a new person in Ferrari. There we are one big family, Kimi said.

During last times we haven't heard that kind of praisal from Kimi's mouth very often. All of a sudden there has been pressure flooding in from every direction. He is standing in the crossfire of critics. He is in a bewitched circle from where you don't get out with only talent.

This year Kimi needs a little luck, an excellent car and a very patient surrounding. If the WDC fails again the Spanish media will be overjoyed, especially the media who wants Alonso to Ferrari.
- Kimi is living in a different world on a different planet, Domenicali described his nature in Mugello. Maybe he is right. Maybe Kimi's home village isn't in this world on Zürich lake, maybe it's somewhere else.

It might feel like that for Kimi. In a country like Switzerland the wildest stories of Kimi's marriage and adventures on his free time doesn't really interest anybody even if they were true.

The Swiss media doesn't pay for hints or use paparazzi-photos. Maybe that's why Kimi can feel that living in Switzerland is like being a space man living on another planet.

via KROF