Poles, podiums, wins, a World Title; Kimi Räikkönen has been there, and done it all in Formula 1. Now he’s back for more, and hungrier than ever

What are your objectives on your return to Formula 1 with Lotus F1 Team?

I will try to do as well as I can and see where we end up. For the first race in Australia we want to have a good weekend without any major issues or mistakes. I don’t know where we’re going to be on the grid – nobody knows. If you look at the lap times from testing everybody is very close to each other. We don’t know what everyone was doing with fuel load and that makes a massive difference. We’ll have some idea after practice in Melbourne, then after qualifying everyone will know exactly where we are.

How do you feel with the team now you have been working with them in testing?

I feel very happy with the team. We’re still learning things, but everything is going smoothly and there are no problems at all, so it’s a good position to start the season.

Testing was interrupted, and you’re making a return after two seasons away. How prepared do you feel?

You always wish you had more days to prepare but it’s the situation we have and you just have to deal with it. In the first week in Jerez we had pretty good running and no major reliability issues with the car – which is a good thing. We only had one problem at the second test in Barcelona – and we fixed that and it won’t be an issue again. Now we just have to get everything at a level where we are happy and make sure I press the right buttons at the right times. Maybe a few more days would have done no harm but I’m very confident that we’ll get it right when the time comes.

Is there a lot to learn with a new team, new regulations and a new car?

It’s still racing and more is the same as before than has changed. With the DRS and the KERS they are just buttons to press. In testing, sometimes you press it too late or too early but it’s not going to change an awful lot. Pit stops are a bit shorter than before but nothing really different; you stop the car and then you go.

Do you have any idea where you hope to be on the grid in Australia?

We might be last and we might be first – let’s see when we get there.

What do you think of your teammate Romain Grosjean?

He’s a nice guy. I didn’t know him before, we’d raced against each other a few times but never really spoken. He’s a bit younger than me, but also for him it’s a long time since he raced in Formula 1 so we’ll see. I think he’ll be good and I’m fine with working with him.

How much are you looking forward to racing in Formula 1 again?

Everybody wants to race. If you ask the test drivers: they want to race. Racing is the thing that people like. I don’t think that anyone will tell you that testing is more fun than racing. Of course I think that racing has changed a bit since I was last in it with the overtaking, but it’s not a completely different sport. It will be exciting and whoever gets the best out of the tyres will probably be in a strong position.

Do you have personal goals for the season?

No. We’ll see where we are in the first races and go from there. We’ll do the best we can and the best with the car.

You’ve had some good races in Australia – is it good to be starting the year there?

Australia is a nice place even though it’s a long way from Europe. The circuit itself is not the most difficult on the calendar. It was good to score a point on my first time at Albert Park, and the podiums and race win in 2007 obviously made me happy. The circuit hasn’t changed at all so I’m confident I know where it goes…

Do you think Albert Park could suit the E20?

You need a car with good traction and everything from testing says that the E20 has good traction so that will help us. Strong turn-in and stable braking help too, and those areas also feel good with the car so we are well placed. The track can be a bit slippery at the beginning of the weekend and the Melbourne weather is not always very warm; the Melbourne weather can definitely be a bit tricky. This will be the first race so I don’t know how we’ll compare to the other teams. My engineers have been running simulations and looking at the test data so we have an idea of how the car should work at Albert Park, but we won’t know for sure until we get out on track. It’s very difficult to say before we’ve been out on track, but I think and hope we’ll be reasonably strong.

Kimi Raikkonen hasn't missed Formula 1 in his two-year break - and yet the Finn enjoys his comeback tour. "From current perspective, I am exactly at the right place," the 32-year-old said in an interview with German Press Agency in Monte Carlo.

But family plans the 2007 World Champion has postponed for the time being. "I would like to become a father. But at the moment it is not the right time, as long as I'm racing," said the Lotus driver.

Your team principal has said, it was a risk to sign you. Was it like that also in your view?

Raikkonen: "I had a few options. With the other teams we have not found a way to agree on a contract. Then we talked with Lotus. We got along well in many points, then it's gone very quickly. From the current perspective, I am exactly at the right place. "

What stands out at Lotus in comparison to your previous employers in F1 such as Ferrari and McLaren?

Raikkonen: "Every team has its own charcter. Italian teams are different than English. Although McLaren is also an English team like Lotus, but is managed quite differently. At Lotus, people just want to go racing, the atmosphere is good. It is still a very big team, but the feeling is different. People are quite relaxed, very open. All teams are different, but in the end they want to achieve the same. There are simply many ways to it. I'm happy where I am. "

Lotus let you be more yourself?

Raikkonen: "I try to live my life the way I want. Sometimes people make it hard for you. Here I can do my own thing, live a normal life like other people too. I do my job as always. I expect a few things from the team, they expect certain things from me. 24 hours I don't have to work here. "

How important is this freedom for you?

Raikkonen: "That is important for everyone. If you get put in jail, nobody is happy. The important thing is simply that I am happy with what I do. "

Did you expect to drive at the top so soon after your comeback again?

Raikkonen: "If you go to one of the last three teams, one knows to 110 percent that it will not work. To be in a good team, it's a lot easier. Lotus is strong, they were already strong, when I raced against them. There are still the same people there. When they do everything right, you know that you will be at the front. "

Do you see yourself as a real title contender because of the tight field?

Raikkonen: "The season is still so long. We are far from being a top team. We do not have all the opportunities that have the big teams. We have some good plans. So far we have managed to improve the car. Whether I can fight at the front until the end, I do not know. If we continue like this, we might have a chance. "

How have you changed in the two years of Formula 1 break?

Raikkonen: "I do not think I've changed. Of course you get older. Things in life change. But my driving style is still the same. I do not work differently than before. Sometimes with more success, sometimes just with less. "

What would be a perfect day for you?

Raikkonen: "There's a lot. I often like to just stay home and do nothing. And sometimes that bores me and I just go out. I like things such as motocross or snowmobile, anything with a motor. The speed makes it exciting. "

Can you imagine to start a family soon?

Raikkonen: "I would like to become a father. But at the moment it is not the right time, as long as I'm racing. The children are young only once, and then I would hardly see them because I'm never at home. Formula 1 is not the place for a family. I enjoy spending time with children, my brother has some. But for me the time has not come yet. "

Do you think F1 has missed you in the past two years?

Raikkonen: "I don't know, I don't care. I have not missed it. I'm not here because I want to do someone a favor. I do that for myself "

ESSI KIMI:
 WHY DO YOU ALWAYS WEAR A CAP AND SUNGLASSES, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO SUN?
KR: I like caps and I like sunglasses. I have very sensitive eyes so I have to protect them with the sunglasses.

NOÉMI KOVÁCS: HAVE YOU EVER GOT SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM YOUR FANS?
KR: I receive a lot of gifts from fans… they can be really inventive and it makes me smile. They remember my birthday, they send their congratulations and their supporting slogans in Finnish. That’s something special, isn’t it?

PRAKASITA NINDYASWARI:
 WHY YOU DON’T HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT?
KR: Well, I don’t really like twitter... or facebook. I prefer privacy.

CINDY IDIER: 
WHAT WILL BE YOUR REVENGE AGAINST SEBASTIAN VETTEL AFTER WHAT HE DID ON THE PODIUM? DID YOU SEE THE PICTURES?
KR: Yeah I saw that, it was funny. The revenge will come soon enough, I hope! Getting on the first step of the podium would be a good start.

LISA MUNRO: 
WHO’S BETTER AT BADMINTON, YOU OR SEBASTIAN VETTEL?
KR: I keep on winning! It’s something like 100 to 0 so far...

STEVE JONES:
 WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF FORMULA 1?
KR: I like a lot of things… all kinds of sports and games where there is an element of competition. Ice Hockey is my current favourite while it’s still time for winter sports.

ANASTASIA KOZLOVA: 
WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE: A GUARANTEED 2ND PLACE (WHICH DEFINITELY BRINGS YOU A CONSTRUCTOR’S TITLE) OR A RISKY STRATEGY WITH A 10% CHANCE FOR 1ST PLACE? (LET’S SAY THE RACE IS TAKING PLACE AT SPA)
KR: I think it’s more exciting if you have to battle and take some risks to obtain the top spot. I’m here to win!

OSZTER TAMÁS
: WHAT SITUATION MAKES YOU NERVOUS ON THE RACE TRACK?
KR: If somebody is doing something really stupid. But luckily right now the grid is very talented!

DIVINE Y. LOPEZ: YOU’RE ALWAYS SO CALM AND COLLECTED. HOW DO YOU DO MANAGE THAT BEING INVOLVED IN A SPORTS THAT’S, TO MY MIND, FREQUENTLY TENSION-FILLED AND HIGHLY STRESSFUL?
KR: I just focus on racing and don’t let other things bother me. I have been in racing for two thirds of my life now; you just get used to being in this environment.

SARAH MOREAU: CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU ALWAYS PERFORM SO WELL AT SPA?
KR: I really like the track so I guess that helps. I’m looking forward to racing there again and hopefully come home with a good result for the team.

Over the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Lotus F1 Team invited fans to ask their questions to Kimi via the official team website. Part 1 sees the Finn answer the first half of the best queries we received, including his thoughts on driving styles, team-mates, first cars, helmets and of course… ice-cream!

IRATI FUJIMOTO:
 WHAT ICE CREAM FLAVOUR DO YOU LIKE MOST?
KR: [smiles] There is no specific flavour… vanilla, chocolate, strawberry the traditional Finnish ice cream flavour – whatever is available.

HUBERT BOROŃ:
 HOW DO YOU RELAX AFTER A RACE?
KR: I like to chill out with my close friends. Sometimes, I have a couple of my Finnish mates with me in the paddock and I like it a lot. It’s just nice to chat with them in Finnish, to think about something else than racing.

MICHAEL KEARNS: 
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE GARAGE THESE DAYS? HAVE YOU STILL GOT THE ENZO?
KR: It was a Lada, a used one. I had good fun with it. I haven’t got the Enzo anymore but I have a nice Lotus Evoras S, which is a really good compromise.

TANIA DHALIWAL: 
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO AND WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE SINGER / BAND?
KR: Most of all I like the music the Finns play. I also like Linkin Park, I think they’re cool.

MAKI FUJITA:
 DO YOU THINK A HAT TRICK (POLE + WIN + FASTEST LAP) COULD BE POSSIBLE IN THE E20? IF SO, AT WHICH CIRCUIT WILL IT BE?
KR: That would be nice! After our performance in Bahrain, I know that we can do even better. The win was very, very close. We’ll have to see at which circuit that will be… but keep in mind, you don’t gain any extra points for poles and fastest lap times!

VINAY POTHNIS: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE A PERFECT LAP?
KR: There is not a perfect lap, only in dreams. You can get a great lap without any mistakes, but you can always improve it, believe me!

VINAY POTHNIS: HOW DO YOU IMPROVE ON A LAP BY LAP BASIS IN A RACE?
KR: With brand new tyres, you always go faster compared to used ones. Also, the car gets lighter and lighter in the race. While the new tyre drops off, there is no way you can improve your times after a few laps. Normally, you improve the time with the right timing of pits stops and then burning the fuel so the car gets lighter all the time to the Finish.

RENE SPEKSNIJDER:
 WE LEARNED THAT YOU ARE A BIT MORE HARSH ON THE ENGINE THEN ROMAIN. IN WHICH WAY DOES THAT AFFECT THE CAR? FURTHERMORE, HOW DO YOU LIKE THE ENGINE TO PICK-UP REGARDING YOUR USE OF THE THROTTLE?
KR: I have driven the car and used the throttle in the same way all my career. Every driver has his own style of going fast. This is mine. It is maybe a bit harsh, but it remains within the scope of what the Renault engine can take.

HORVÁTH LEVENTE: 
WHAT’S THE RED MOTIF ON YOUR HELMET AND WHAT DOES IT SYMBOLIZE?
KR: There is the number 9 in red as that’s my number in the championship. But the helmet design is just a design, it is not trying to symbolize anything special. I like to change the design each year. So it’s easy to remember afterwards which season relates to which helmet.

HORVÁTH LEVENTE: WHO HAS BEEN THE STRONGEST TEAM-MATE IN YOUR F1 CAREER?
KR: Almost of all of them have been very competitive! But I never focus on them, I just concentrate on my own doings with my crew. That’s the only way to beat them and the rest of the field.

“Everyone has emotions, but each has a different way to deal with. When I am driving, I am highly focused, emotions are out of place, to this that I’m not a guy who likes to show what goes on in myself”

- Kimi Raikkonen

Q: Is there a question you have never been asked that you would like to talk about?
Kimi Raikkonen: No. I like to be quiet.