As Mika Hakkinen’s illustrious career was coming to an end, another Flying Finn was ready to take his place on the grid and in the McLaren F1 team. Kimi Raikkonen of Finland had completed a mere 23 races apart from go-karting before he was drafted by Peter Sauber in his Formula 1 team. The FIA reluctantly granted this unknown Finn a super license to compete in the 2001 season.

Despite being numerically outperformed by his team mate Nick Heidfeld, his cool head behind the wheel was not unnoticed. Much to the annoyance of the German, Kimi was chosen over him to replace the ‘on sabbatical’ Hakkinen in the McLaren hot seat.

McLaren


Raikkonen: The Nearly Man in McLaren
2002 was Kimi’s first season in McLaren and it was another year of Schumacher-Ferrari domination. The ‘Iceman’ almost won his first race in the French GP, only to slip on a patch of oil on the track and let Schumacher pass him for first. Someone like a Hamilton or Vettel may have wallowed at the Podium or press conference, but Kimi was poker-faced and monotonous as usual.

In his frustrating stint with the Woking team, Raikkonen mounted credible title challenges in 2003 and 2005. The first of these was a three way battle between himself, Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Schumacher. Eventually, Schumi edged the young Kimi by 2 points. Reliability cost Raikkonen the title in 2005, where he actually won the same number of races (7) as the eventual champion Alonso. On two occasions, his McLaren let him down while he was in the lead and on both occasions, Alonso took advantage to win the race.

Twice in the 2005 season, Raikkonen started the race behind the top 10 (due to engine failures in Qualifying) and finished on the podium. In one of the most memorable races of his career, Raikkonen starting from 17th place, won the Grand Prix in Suzuka Japan. He hunted down his rivals one by one, stormed past the likes of Alonso, Schumacher and passed the race leader Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap of the race! It is doubtful if the modern day punks like Hamilton and Vettel can match that.


Ferrari

Sadly, Kimi’s McLaren was much too fragile to win him World Championships and he made the switch to Scuderia Ferrari in 2007 to fill the boots of Michael Schumacher. It can be an intimadting task for anyone to replace a legend of the sport. It didn’t seem to affect Raikkonen. He was notably absent in a media event where Schumi would ‘hand over’ his place to Kimi. When asked about it, Kimi replied in his typical monotonous tone – “I had gone to take a shit”. He never gives any, that’s for sure.

In Ferrari, he won his first race and made a strong start to the season. The 2007 season was a four way tussle between Kimi, Massa, Hamilton and Alonso. Massa fell away and it came down to the other three in the last race of the season. As things stood, Hamilton had 107 points, Alonso 103 and Kimi 100. So, for Raikkonen to win the Championship, he had to win AND hope that Alonso finishes 3rd or below AND Hamilton finishes 7th or below.


World Champion 2007
Kimi qualified 3rd behind teammate Massa with Hamilton in 2nd place. In a clever opening move, Massa pulled ahead of Lewis Hamilton and slowed down, allowing Kimi to pass both of them on the first corner. Hamilton then lost his bearings and though he will never admit it, accidentally pressed the Pit Lane speed limiter button (according to reports, and McLaren never offered a convincing alternative). When he finally realized it, he was in last place. Hamilton could only finish 7th, and the Ferraris finished one-two. Thus, Kimi became World Champion in the most dramatic fashion, finishing a mere 1 point ahead of Alonso and Hamilton.

Driving Style

Kimi liked adventure in his driving. He never fussed much about the car setup with his mechanics and engineers, choosing to simply drive what he got. His only preference was to have a slight understeer, which enabled him to make a wide swinging turn out of the corners. Perhaps he got a kick out of the extra acceleration. Naturally, he enjoyed the ups, downs and twists of Belgium Spa Francorchamps the most, and was rightly called the ‘Spa Master’.

Apart from this, Kimi was a smooth driver, easy on the tires, brakes and good at overtaking (Fisichella can testify). He was as brief and monotonous on the car radio as he was in press conferences and as cool as ever. This sometimes led to criticism over his motivation levels by some commentators. But of course, he never gave a s**t.

Personality and Legacy

In 2009, Raikkonen left Ferrari and F1 itself to join rally car racing. With a solitary championship to his name, he wont be considered one of the ‘greats’, but he will never be forgotten either. Raikkonen was a man who thoroughly enjoyed racing and didnt care about the rest. While drivers like Schumacher and Hamilton obsess about rivals, car setup and so on, Raikkonen simply turned up, set the track on fire and left in the evening without a fuss.

Behind his ice-cold face and monotonous voice, was a colorful personality. No wonder he entered a snowmobile race under the pseudonym “James Hunt”, a party loving F1 champion from the 70s. While many of the drivers nowadays are PR stuntmen, Kimi lived his life for himself. He celebrated his championship by getting drunk, being thrown out of the bar and sleeping on a public bench with an inflatable dolphin. He also once, fell headfirst in a yacht while being drunk.

He never apologized for any of it, he didn’t have to. Kimi never kept any pretenses, preferring to speak little, let his driving do the talking and enjoy himself off the track. With his retirement (doesn’t look like he will be back), F1 has possibly seen the end of an era.

source

Ferrari had an oiled machinery that drove their successful number one driver. Michael Schumacher earned his status with his speed and exploited it perfectly.

Then Kimi Räikkönen got into the same position completely accidentally and unfortunately too late - when Massa injured severely in Hungary qualification.

After that Räikkönen has shipped the Ferrari armada in the top three. The team focuses so that the car fits Kimi's hand and the results speaks for themselves.

After Monza Stefano Domenicali was grateful telling that this is the Kimi with whom they won the world championship two years ago. Manager Steve Robertson put it even better and says that Kimi has drove his last races even better than he did during his championship year.

Ferrari doesn't take any pressure at the moment for the threat that this is one of the worst seasons. The pressure comes elsewhere. The new sponsor Banco Santander is pushing on so that their favorite Fernando Alonso would drive in Ferrari already next year.

The power to chose Ferrari's drivers lies with Luca di Montezemolo and him only. Stefano Domenicali can only wait for the announcement which of the trio Räikkönen, Alonso and Felipe Massa are his pair next year.

Räikkönen's top form makes it even more difficult. They understand Kimi's speed even better at Ferrari when Giancarlo Fisichella stayed 0,7 seconds behind his team mate on every race lap and crossed the finish line 56 seconds after him. During the practice the difference was even bigger and in qualification it was half a second.

When Fisichella drove at Renault with Fernando Alonson their difference in speed was remarkably smaller.

If Ferrari dumps Räikkönen, then the team knows that next season they will have to compete against one really fast driver - one who is on their own mega-payroll. I guess that Ferrari can't afford it.

Monza / Heikki Kulta

http://www.ts.fi/f1/kolumnit/74123.html

Turun Sanomat 13.9 2009 23:16:00
Italian GP column 13.9. 

Formula One tradition has it that everything should kick off at next weekend's Italian Grand Prix. Monza, a dramatic enough theatre even when the ancient autodrome is empty, will reverberate with more passion than usual following Ferrari's first win of the season in Belgium last Sunday. Monza could not have asked for a more effective call to the faithful followers of what amounts to the only national team in F1 even though Ferrari has no hope of winning the title.

Monza often goes a long way towards either settling the championship or prompting the defining of status within teams fortunate enough to have had two drivers previously in a position to fight for the crown. All of that would be plausible in a normal season of racing. But, as the last race showed with dramatic clarity, 2009 is anything but normal.

The destiny of the title remains just as obscure as the identity of the favourite to succeed next Sunday. Kimi Raikkonen was the sixth different winner in six races, a statistic that would have been the subject of derision had it been predicted on 7 June after Jenson Button had won six of the first seven races. Rather than discussing diversity of success, the talk that evening in Turkey was whether the four races following Monza would be worth attending because Button would surely have become the second Englishman in successive years to be crowned world champion.

more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/sep/06/formula-one-italian-grand-prix-jenson-button

Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix continued the theme of unexpected results and giant-killing seen this season. Kimi Raikkonen became the sixth different winner (in 12 races).


Knowing the Finn enjoys a drink some joked Raikkonen's performance was inspired by the beer sponsor advert on the back of the pole position starting car of Giancarlo Fisichella.

In reality the motivation came from the Kinetic Energy Recovery system (currently in use by only the Ferrari and McLaren teams) which boosts engine power by about 15 percent for six seconds every lap. Without this it is certainly possible that Fisichella could have taken a maiden victory for Force India.

Owned by larger-than-life businessman Vijay Mallya, Force India is the latest incarnation of the team started in 1991 by Eddie Jordan. Despite rumblings about slow payments Mallya - the chairman of Kingfisher beer producer United Breweries - insists he is committed to F1 and his actions back this up. A five-year relationship with McLaren-Mercedes for provision of engines, gearboxes and technical support started this year. It includes a senior McLaren engineer being seconded to Force India as CEO.

Before Sunday, the team had failed to score any points in 29 races and were edging towards the record held by Minardi (now Toro Rosso) on 55. Force India believe their car is now genuinely quick and second place in Belgium was not a freak performance. Certainly the Mercedes engine should be good: it has won once with McLaren and seven times in the back of a Brawn.

However, Force India operate on a budget probably a quarter of some rivals. Presumably, part of the reason for the team's name and patriotic color scheme is to generate interest in India and thus from companies wishing to sell to the world's second largest population. Currently, most of the sponsor logos on the cars are from Mallya's own companies.

In reality, the team team is as British as McLaren or Brawn despite an Indian figurehead and money. It was surprising Mallya chose not to hire the impressively talented Karun Chandhok - a winner in F1's feeder series, GP2 - at least as a reserve driver who could be prepared ahead of the race in New Delhi slated for 2011.


more at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2009-09/02/content_8648269.htm

As the chequered flag dropped in Spa, Kimi Raikkonen had driven flawlessly to his forth Spa-Francorchamps victory—his first of the 2009 season.

His recent consistency and impressive results, despite a less than perfect car, may have saved his seat at Ferrari for next year.

With an average ranking during qualifying of seventh, and an average race position of fourth, he is making the car work for him during the race, if not during qualifying.

His excellent use of his KERS button at Spa meant that he shot up to second before a crash behind caused the safety car to be brought out.

It was the restart, as the safety car headed back into the pits, that gave Kimi the chance to hit his KERS button out of La Source, staying in Fisichella's slipstream, showing some excellent driving though Eau Rouge, and pass the Force India on the straight.

But this was due to some unexpected qualifying sessions. Because of the apparent lack of grip from the McLaren's, and the distinctive Luca Badoer, in the second Ferrari, in last place.

This meant that Kimi Raikkonen was the only KERS equipped car in the top 10.

Starting from a reasonable sixth place, he looked in a comfortable position for the race win.

Although Kimi did not have the fastest car on the grid, he had made good use of his only advantage. It was clear that the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel and the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella were quicker than Raikkonen's Ferrari.

Fast forward to Monza 2009. The McLaren's may well struggle again at the fast and slow corners of the impressive, historic circuit.

And, unless Ferrari have found a suitable replacement for Badoer, Kimi may end up being the only KERS car in the top ten again. If McLaren manage to get through, then Raikkonen has almost no chance of winning.

However, if the lack of grip still plauges the McLaren's, then Kimi could have another very good chance to win.

His KERS button, being pressed at the exit of Parabolica, would send his car steaming down to the first corner, and he would be deadly in another car's slipstream, or out braking into the first chicane.

In my opinion, a win at Monza, in front of the Tifosi, at Ferrari's home circuit would seal his future as a Ferrari driver for the 2010 season.

more at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/246797-can-kimi-win-again-at-monza

Ferrari are reportedly set to dump Kimi Raikkonen at the end of this season, offering the Finn a massive pay-off to step aside for Fernando Alonso.

Rumours of Raikkonen's pending dismissal began last season when poor results and what appeared to be a lack of motivation on the 2007 World Champion's behalf grabbed headlines.

The speculation grew this year as the Finn competed in his debut World Rally Championship event, even revealing that rallying could be his future line of work when his current Ferrari deal expires at the end of 2010.

According to The Sun, a Formula One insider has revealed that the Scuderia are intent on dumping Raikkonen, offering him a massive pay-off. via http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12433_5490714,00.html


[The sun =))) =)))) is not a source :P]

I read a lot... and I usually hate what i read. I can't seem to understand why people hate Kimi so much. But sometimes it's refreshing to see someone who think the same as you are. Here's a comment i loved :D.

I completely agree, I don't think the suggestions of the article are linked into Luca's words at all.
as far as today's F1 goes, there are 3 things that annoy the $$$$ out of me.
1) Claims that FIA = Ferrari International Assistance
2) Claims that Jenson Button is a legendary driver
3) Claims that Kimi isn't performing well due to lack of motivation.
The whole Kimi motivation thing is just a crap press speculation that has become the biggest victim of a snowball effect EVER.
You can't climb into an F1 car and not be motivated! It is as simple as that. It is like climbing Mt. Everest and deciding to turn around and go back down when you are just 10 meters from the top. The amount of motivation it takes to go through the extremely boring and extensive (in relation to driving an F1 car) physical fitness routine that allows you to withstand the forces and fatigue an F1 car imposes on you is already super high, so if you have it in you to withstand that, there is NO WAY that you will lack the motivation necessary to drive as fast as possible in an F1 car (this is the FUN part of the job).
Drivers who are in F1 have a speed ADDICTION. Have you ever heard of an addict presented with a given amount of his/her drug requesting a smaller amount of it? I think not.
Massa simply put, out performs Kimi on his own merit, he has become more skilled and faster even in a car that suits Kimi's driving style more than his.

As far as Fernando and Massa on the same team goes, I'm all for it, both drivers will push each other hard and it will be interesting to watch them push the envelopes of their own talent.

By I3odacious from bleacherreport. Good on ya sport! It shows you know what this sport is all about! Note that the comment is not pro-Raikkonen but it reflects reality as it is.

The former F1-driver and replacment for Michael Schumacher for six races in 1999, Mika Salo, knows from experience that going to replace someone in the middle of the season isn't easy for any driver.

He himself left Arrows-team after 1998 and got some jobs for both BAR Honda and Ferrari for the next season.
- It's not an easy thing to go to a big team when you have first been in small teams. It's really difficult.

Before Salo's first Ferrari-start in 1999 Salo got to test the F399-car for only one day.
- I had the test in Fiorano (Ferrari's own testing track) where there's only slow corners. It's a Mickey Mouse -track that never really contributed in preparing for the race, Salo says

Thanks to Nicole

Stefano Domenicali assures that Kimi Räikkönen will continue according to his contract with Ferrari next season.

- We have a contract, Domenicali confirmed to MTV3.

The Spanish reporters have been busy spreading the rumour of Alonso going to Ferrari.

- We have heard this kind of speculation already for four or maybe five years. It's something that belongs to the spirit of the F1-game. In every sport they try to mix up the others balance. The most important is that we keep our focus in our work as a team. Kimi is part of our team, Domenicali said.

MTV3 - Erkki Mustakari ja Jani Merimaa

Kimi Räikkönen's manager Steve Robertson rejects the stubborn rumour that Ferrari would replace Kimi with Alonso after this season.

- Those talks are pure BS, Robertson said to MTV3 on the telephone.

- These rumours have been going on for a while. Some quarters seem to have a habit of coming up with unjustified rumours and the magazines again want to write. A lot of the rumours come from Spanish reporters but as I said, there's no truth in them, Robertson continued.

Robertson didn't want to speculate if the group backing up Alonso could be behind the rumours.

- I don't know who is behind them but I can only assure that Kimi has a contract for the next season. Kimi is happy at Ferrari and he wants to drive for Ferrari.

Robertson says that Räikkönen is committed 110 % to continue his career in F1 and Ferrari.

- He has a contract with Ferrari and he will drive there, Robertson assured.

MTV3 - Lauri Ouvinen

The cold ride in the rumours about Kimi Räikkönen being smoked out from Ferrari already next season will probably grow even bigger in the Spanish and Italian media when the 2007 WDC is now in his sixth pointless race during the season.

Räikkönen stopped the German GP after 34 laps.

The reason was a stone on lap 14 that left a big hole in the cooler because it pierced the side pontoon's safety net. That again caused a leakage of fluid which again lead to weakening engine powers.

Räiikönen stopped the race before the engine broke down.

According to the rumours Ferrari will publish that Alonso will come to Ferrari in Monza on September 11th?

– Don't believe in rumours like that, Domenicali says and pats me on my shoulder.

Can you clarify Kimi's situation?

– There is nothing new. I'm sure everybody remembers last year. Back then this rumour was exactly the same, Domenicali explained.

Then why does so many seem to have definite information about Alonso's contract with Ferrari?

– Believe the team and the facts, not the rumours, Domenicali said.

Domenicali is a team principal but the driver contracts are made by Luca di Montezemolo. He is known to appreciate Alonso highly while Jean Todt again didn't want the Spaniard to Ferrari.

In the press conference Domenicali was asked if Räikkönen's performance so far had been sufficient.

– One has to be careful while analysing the performance of our drivers. One has to take into consideration the car's situation and the tyres' situation. Our approach is that you never hear the team complain about one single engineer or driver. We only talk about our team's performance and the drivers are part of the team, Domenicali said.

– The most critical element this season is to understand what happens to the car on different tracks in different temperatures and with different tyres. The situation seems to be the same in every team. Now we did a good job but our competitors aren't sleeping either like the rise of Renault, McLaren and Force India proved. Lewis Hamilton lost the race because of a tyre puncture and Renault made a spectacular laptime in the end of the race, Domenicali summed up.

Turun Sanomat, Nürburgring/HEIKKI KULTA [translated by Nicole]

The Finnish formula ace has a secret admirer in the top of the world's music scene.

To Britney, 27, formula 1 is not an unfamiliar sport. She reveals in Iltalehti's interview that she has followed F1-races few years ago.

At that time a certain blond Finnish viking stayed in her mind.

- I noticed that Finns dominate motorsport. Kimi Räikkönen is a true fighter and moreover really cute, Britney compliments.

http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/viihde/f1_backstage/taustaa_uutiset?913329 

I get more and more fellow reporters whispering in my ear in Nürburgring's press room that there's some driver-news to be expected from Ferrari this year. If you take them seriously it feels like Fernando Alonso is going to take Kimi's place in Ferrari - and already next season.

When I had a private interview with Kimi on Thursday I asked for the truth and got the assurance that nobody from Ferrari has even hinted to him that his seat might be threathened.

Kimi signed a granite-hard contract for 2010 with Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo on Friday September 12th 2008 at 12.10 in Ferrari's garage in Monza. The team confirmed it the same afternoon.

After that Ferrari has been grinding their sponsor contract with the Spanish Banco Santander to begin from year 2010. In order to honour this event Ferrari is for the first time arranging their Ferrari-day on November 15th outside Italy on Valencia's track in Spain.

Even though the Ferrari-fans – the tifoso – are mostly Italian and the Ferrari-day is meant for them. However Luca Colajanni assured that there are Ferrari-fans all over the world and the event could as well be held in for example Helsinki.

The atmosphere within the team isn't of course the highest at the moment when Ferrari is for the first time in 16 years facing no victories at all. But Räikkönen isn't treated like some outsider there. Nothing implies that the countdown would have started.

If Kimi's contract would be broken it would mean that the 2007 WDC would still get a huge salary - according to estimates about 30 million euros.

As a matter of fact it would be taken away from Santander's millions. In a way Ferrari would save Kimi's salary if Santander would first pay the Finn out and then also stand for Alonso's salary.

Räikkönen would not fall on nothing in that case. There are still several teams who now closely follow the possible release of the Finnish driver to the drivers market. A year ago many thought Jenson Button was an ex-driver - and now the man is leading the championship serie.

Toyota, Brawn, Williams... He could have his pick - because he still has the same urge to race as he had before.

Nürburgring/Heikki Kulta

The rumours have for a long time been putting Kimi aside from Ferrari. Even if they were to become true, the WDC would probably have no problems in getting a job.

Räikkönen has already proved his speed not only in F1 but also with a snow mobile and a rally car and the WRC would not mind at all if Räikkönen would in the future decide to take a more serious jump into rally. On the contrary, Räikkönen would be especially for the serie's marketing men a real dream come true.
- Our serie is alive due to heros and legends and there is nothing more greater than Kimi Räikkönen, Aftonbladet told the man marketing the WRC-rally, Simon Long, had told Autosport.

The union between Räikkönen and WRC isn't taken out of thin air. Räikkönen has already taken part in a few rallies.
- It's no secret that I like rally. I've liked it ever since I was a little boy, Räikkönen has told earlier.

In Long's papers the future of Räikkönen is quite obvious. He would like to see the Finn in a WRC-rally car more than anyone else.
- My pulse reacted immediately when I just heard his name. I would like to discuss with his people and give him the best opportunities to drive WRC-rally.

Kalle Takala translated by Nicole at kimiraikkonen.com/forum :).

The Formula 1 -season ended last weekend but the driver's work continues with media and sponsors. Ferrari's publicist Luca Colajanni is satisfied with the work Kimi Räikkönen does outside the GP's.
- Kimi is extremely professional. He always obeys the schedules set with the media and the sponsors, Colajanni said to MTV3.

Espacially in Italy they have wondered about Kimi's taciturn.
- It is true that he isn't the most voluble guy in the world. It has good sides too. When he has got something to say, he says it and doesn't play with words. I like working with Kimi. He is a nice guy, Colajanni said.

Kimi's racing performances were often criticised in the Italian press. This didn't come as a surprise to Ferrari.
- This season was really difficult for him and the ciriticism only grew bigger. We could expect it because it has always been like this, Colajanni said.

Ferrari's publicist spoke really highly of Kimi's honesty and genuinity.
- The picture you get from Kimi is real. He doesn't act. He doesn't pull a special act for the media or when he is friendly to people. Even though he would be in a bad mood he would act professionally. There is nothing to improve, Colajanni assured.

[from last year; posted by Nicole]