The ‘Iceman’ he may be but Kimi Raikkonen appeared to lose patience with the press after he was repeatedly asked the same question in different ways yesterday.

Kimi Raikkonen at a media interaction before the Malaysian Grand Prix practice sessions yesterday at Sepang. PIC/Getty Images

The 2007 world champion, popular the world over for his detached demeanour and monosyllabic answers, is also known for his dislike of the press and all the other promotional activities that go hand-in-hand with being a modern Formula One driver.

That disdain for the press was on full display yesterday after the practice runs. Many expect tyres to be the deciding factor come Sunday’s race and naturally all gathered journalists wanted to know how Raikkonen — who cruised to victory at last weekend’s season-opener as his car’s ability to look after its tyres allowed him to run a two-stop strategy — thought they behaved in the Malaysian heat.

The Finn explained how he hadn’t been able to do long runs in practice due to an issue with his Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in the morning and rain in the afternoon so he had no idea how the tyres would hold up on Sunday.

But Raikkonen was immediately asked if he had been able to finish all the running the team had planned for practice to which he replied: “Of course not. Because it rained I think everybody missed the long runs. But it’s the same for all of us so we’ll see in the race what happens.”

Finally, after repeated questions about tyres and long run pace Raikkonen, now growing impatient, shot back: “I don’t know. You keep asking the same question. I have no idea. We didn’t do a long run.”

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He’s never won in Germany – whether in the European Grand Prix (held in the country some years ago) or the German Grand Prix itself – the latter of which has seen Kimi Räikkönen retire no less than six times in his career. Can this finally be the year for the Iceman to run hot at Hockenheim?




Do you have everything you need to be successful at Hockenheim?
Kimi Raikkonen: Yes. We’ve got a good car, we understand the tyres quite well, we’ve shown that we can be fast and race well… there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be fighting for another podium.
What is it about Germany that hasn’t been kind to you in the past?
KR: I don’t know, maybe I did something bad in a former life? I’ve always enjoyed driving in Germany, but the problem is that luck has never been on my side there and something has always happened to stop me winning. I’ve had four pole positions which shows my speed on German soil, but six retirements haven’t been what I wanted.

Does it set you more of a challenge having raced in Germany fifteen times but never taken a win?
KR: Not really. A race is just a race and you always try to do your best. In the past, the races I’ve contested in Germany have never gone as I had been hoping for. Obviously both circuits – Hockenheim and the Nürburgring – have not been very kind to me. I like them both and I have always been very competitive there. Maybe it will all come together this year.




Looking back to Silverstone, the E20 seemed to be going well?
KR: We were really quick on the hard tyres, especially at the end of the race. It’s just a shame we didn’t have the space on track to use it for the whole race as unfortunately I spent quite a lot of time stuck behind slower cars so we couldn’t show our full pace until we were in clear air. We were close to Felipe [Massa] at the end, but we just didn’t have enough laps left to get another position. I was really pleased with the car. It felt good all weekend and we’re definitely getting closer to finding the full speed from it.
What do you need for a fast lap at Hockenheim?
KR: The car can make all the difference here, and luckily we’ve got a good one. You need good traction out of the corners and if you’re lacking rear grip it’s hard to get the pace from the car to challenge for the top positions.




How important is it to qualify at the front?
KR: When I was last in Hockenheim in 2008 overtaking was quite difficult. Not as tricky as some circuits, but not easy at all. This year with the tyres, the KERS and the DRS it could be easier to overtake, especially if we are better on our tyres than the opposition. It’s not all about qualifying at Hockenheim, but certainly it makes life easier when you start from the front and have clean air.
So a start from the front and clean air ahead; anything else you’d like in Germany?
KR: Some hot weather would be good. Usually in Hockenheim it has been very hot and everybody has had problems with the tyres going off. Obviously, for us, the hot weather suits the car fine. Our car prefers the hot temperatures and in the long runs it’s not that hard on tyres. Let’s have some real summer weather in Hockenheim.

With Kimi Räikkönen F1 is richer of another colourful character. His car control let the fans cheer, his egocentric way the journalists, sponsors and team principles despair. The statement from Ferrari team principle Stefano Domenicali that he lives on his own planet, Räikkönen countered in his usual way. “I like living on my own planet. It’s nice here.” The opinion of others the Finn bounces off ice cold, that’s why his former McLaren team principle Ron Dennis gave him the “Iceman” nickname. On and apart form the track Räikkönen is at full throttle – not thinking about consequences. One week after he signed the contract with Lotus he contested a snowmobile race in Austria. Other drivers would have taken it slow to not risk anything – but Räikkönen isn’t any racing driver. He put the foot down but lost control and crashed into a snow wall. The consequence was a injury on his hand and negative headlines. But that the Finn, who once fell drunk from his yacht or appears as James Hunt in a gorilla costume, knows very well. Someone who knows how it looks behind the Iceman mask is his old companion from times at Sauber, Jo Leberer. He tells Motorsport-Magazin who Kimi Räikkönen really is and which moments will stay unforgettable.

…the comeback of Räikkönen
Actually I’m not surprised that Kimi’s comeback went so well. When he decides to drive then it’s clear for me that he has considered this closely. There were many opinions from so called experts about Kimi. When he decided to comeback I got many requests but I let the other say their opinion. Of course I had my opinion and I wondered about those from experts. I know Kimi from the past. He is so motivated, so strong-minded and that he can drive everybody knows. So why he should not drive at the front again? I had no fear cause he didn’t forget anything. Lotus needed someone who is quick and that is Kimi.

…motivation problems
Kimi doesn’t have motivation problems. Everybody knows that he lives his life like he thinks it is right. You know where you stand with him. Thank god we have such types in Formula 1, we don’t want retort drivers. That not all drivers are the same, work the same, that makes it so interesting. To his critics I can only say that he is great guy.

…the start at Sauber
When he started at Sauber, nobody knew him. We have trained a while together in Filzmoos, there I really got to know him well. I can only base from my own parameters but his approach, his body control, his stamina, his brilliance regarding races, his attention, his strength of will, his discipline, his will power in the sense of that he doesn’t have to accept everything, were right back then already. I knew when he is quick also in the car then he will really successful. That was proved. Shortly after that he went to McLaren – he step you normally don’t do. But Kimi made it.

…Räikkönen’s talent
When he came to us we made a list of priorities. He had done only one single seater season, 23 races and then got in F1. That was a big step, then you can’t do the normal preparation program. At Sauber he had this chance. In December he got the licence and in January/February he tested. At the same time we have physically prepared him gradually to the upcoming charges. We have felt one’s way regarding neck etc. A driver can only be at the front when he also physically top fit. In March was the first race and Kimi got with his sixth place his first points already. That you have to imagine.

…Räikkönen’s coolness
Unbelievable how Kimi appeared already at the beginning. How cool despite the pressure. I thought that some day the nervousness will have to come. Like it was the same for other drivers, even the top drivers. But it never came. Before his first race I massaged him right before and he fell asleep. Half an hour before the start I had to wake him up and he just said: “Jo, let me still sleep a bit. Give me 5 minutes.” You have to imagine, that was before his first race! That’s simply brilliant. This coolness has to be inherent. It was a pleasure to work with him.

…Räikkönen’s first world championship title
That was unbelievable as he was far back in the standings. The whole Sauber team was of course happy about his win. On Monday after the race we both flew back to Zurich and he said to me: “Hey Jo, tomorrow we meet in Zurich and celebrate – only close friends, my wife and I want you to be with us.” And that after many, many years – I was very glad. The world champion invites me personally, I couldn’t refuse that invitation. We don’t see each other often but there is a relationship. When you have him as a friend once, you have him always. Although he changed the team and therefore actually was an opponent, the contact stayed. That is nice, that speaks for his character.

MTV3 reporter Mika Salo considers Kimis actions about demanding the steering changes is completely right thing to do.

The steering of the Lotus car hasnt been quite there as Räikkönen has wished. The latest time Kimi demanded changes to his steering was at the first practise of Monaco gp.Sky Sport was stirring the pot at the beginning of this week as they claimed on their site Lotus employees are already thingking Räikkönen should just adapt to the steering Lotus has.

-Ofcourse Kimi have to demand the changes so he gets the feeling to his car he needs.You cant drive on the limit otherwise.
Its perfectly normal for driver to demand the changes to his car from the team. Big teams are capable to make a totally new car if needed even in the middle of the season but Lotus cant do it. Salo says.

Salo reminds Kimi wasnt able to influence to this years cars desing in any way because he came to the team for this season.
-Current car has been constructed by the feedback of last seasons drivers, Petrov and Senna. There hasnt been influence of Kimi what so ever. The more Kimi demands the changes the more the team understands the issue and make changes to next years car at least.Salo says.
Salo knows by the experience of his own how drivers have to drive the car the previous drivers have developed.
-When Kimi came to Sauber he had to drive the car I had developed. And when I went to Sauber , it was a dreadfull car to drive as Alesi had three pedals because he didnt want to brake with the left foot. Salo recalls.

when I heard Kimi would come to WRC at first, I thought he would struggle hard because F1 and WRC are totally different categories although it's the same motor sports. someone also said, liken to ball games, it's different like football and basketball. it's impossible that the top football player tries to become top basket ball player suddenly, isn't it? so even if he is ex F1 world champion, I thought he would have tough time. but once he came, he got 5th position and scored best time although he could not be on the podium. this is astonishing, and his fine showing was exceeded my expectations. even if you do rally for years and driving top machine, there are lots of drivers who never score the best time. I believe he could have won if he continued. as the same Finnish, I also have to work harder to become the world champion!

Kimi is a national hero in Finland. I also respect him, so I am pleased to find out he is fast from the beginning of his return to F1. I am really happy that his WRC carrier years didn't come out minus to his driving in F1. his F1 fan might have been disappointed because he didn't win, but it's not so easy to win in WRC. we rally drivers start learning how to make pace note since youth, remember the surface and characters of the road and run various course. we start carrier with slower car and try and fail, and learning slowly. but Kimi did it with short limited time in 2 years and nearly get it. how he grew up as rally driver is not usual. I can only be surprised at what he archived in such short period. so I am a bit disappointed he left WRC on the way to growth. I would like to fight for rally again in future with Kimi.