Kaj's interview from the same magazine t" title="hat" />
I think nobody knows real Kimi Raikkonen. He likes joke and talkative
Kaj said Kaj can't say since when he knew Kimi would return to F1, but Kimi didn't hide, but talked about the possibility to Kaj when he wanted to return to F1. and Kaj supported Kimi's decision. also, Kaj said he really think it was really good time and experience for Kimi being in Rally 2 years.
how did you see Kimi is driving F1 again?
"I saw Australian GP on TV. I was watching and thinking "damn he is really good at passing." I could not see whole Malaysia GP because I flew from Italy to Finland. I was disappointed because I could not see whole race."
what is the most impressive episode of Kimi ever you fought for Rally?
"I have lots of great memories. it was really fun to fought for Rally in high level with him. I have lots of great memories. it was really fun to fight for Rally in high level with him. I can't pick only one good memory from bunch of them. every single time of adventures which I spent with Kimi are my treasures."
after all, Kimi has ended up his Rally carrier in 5th position in highest. do you think he could do better?
"Rally is not easy. he proved it in past 2 years. even if you are the world champion in any field, you can't succeed in Rally easily. even if you can drive F1 well, you can't drive and control Rally car freely. of course Kimi drove it well. there is no doubt about it. and he tremendously evolved in this two years. but winning is a different story."
what was he the most struggling?
"a big difference between Rally and F1 is pace note. the driver has to make pace note by himself. and to push hard, you have to trust your pace note 100%. Kimi's note has really evolved. and although it was sometimes, he showed me his reckless speed. if only he continued...that I think."
we heard Raikkonen had aggressively tried to learn Rally.
"I swan Kimi was a real professional in Rally field as well. when he didn't quite satisfy his time in special stage, he kept silence in the cockpit and thought. he continued analyzing 'how I can drive faster?' Not for fun/pleasure, he addressed Rally directly and seriously. from a fragment of his attitude and the communication, I always felt it."
does Kimi change in job and in private?
"of course it's a part, but there are two different Kimi. when he works, he is as work mode, and when in private time, he is as free man mode. but I think the media doesn't know both Kimi. work mode Kimi is only in the cockpit. so I think nobody really knows about real Kimi. I think all doesn't know even 1% of Kimi."
in private time, is Kimi easy person to live with?
"he is very fun to be around. I think he is really attractive guy. he loves jokes and talkative. it was really fun to long plane ride and work with him in Rally week. he is really serious at work. the media created image and Kimi created image in front of the media are not a real Kimi. he is really normal guy in ordinary, he is not different than people around there."
does Kimi understand himself as the world super star and he is to be followed all the time?
"I guess he doesn't want to think about it. this is why he spends his most of time in Switzerland. his home is in peace and no media who follows him. he can relax from the bottom of his heart. it's really tough to be followed all the time. if he does something, immediately someone writes "Kimi went to the supermarket!"
no fuss in Switzerland?
"he isn't so highlighted in Swiss. he can have fun as he wants. he has close people in Finland, and there are places, so he also can go there. I think they are getting bored to write "Kimi came here" every time in Finland
did you visit his home in Switzerland?
"not so often. we are not too so close to spend private time together all the time. but I went there a few times. when I went to Switzerland, I always stayed Kimi's house. for example, I was there few days before going to next rally after Citroen's test. I often played ice hockey with him."
is Kimi interested in the media writing?
I can say this clearly, I don't think so. he understands what he is doing, and he isn't influence by anything. I think he let the media to write what ever they want."
why does Kimi take a distance from the media and cold to them?
"the media has been like bullying to Kimi for a long time. if Kimi says something to media, the media picked up only a part of his words and cut all the backgrounds and make 1 page article. in headline, you see "Kimi's exclusive interview!" but in the article, they don't even write why and how he said it. if it continues, you are distrustful of the media."
will Kimi come back to Rally after finishing his F1 carrier?
"the possibility is not zero. he likes Rally like that, he will do it as hobby in any way. Rally is the same as moto cross and snow mobile to him. he really loves engine controll machines. but at this point, he does not talk about Rally."
how do you think Kimi can do in F1 this year?
"I think Kimi proves people wrong who are informed source of GP. he didn't have good result yet, but showing impressive drive. if he runs distance and fill in 2 years blank, he can be much faster. I strongly believe Kimi is the man who will be on the podium after rehab, no...who shows wining."
Kaj, you are right, Kimi is already on the podium " title="ii" />
Zitat von Kingaawwww what Petter did say about Kimi? Could you tell, please?
sure! but it's a normal comment
"I talked to Kimi a lot in 2011 because we are both privater of citroen. Kimi didn't have his hospitality for his team, so he always came to my team's hospitality and stayed relaxed. he make coffee, eat snack and really relaxed. even if the guests come, even if the media comes and taking pictures of him, he really didn't care about it but spent his time in his space. we often joked and laughing so hard. Kimi was not a guy who was said difficult/moody guy or weird guy. He is just a normal guy next door. of course his talent of driver was not usual, and his attitude to Rally was really serious. I think if he continued, he could fight for win in near future. I welcome him back to WRC if he is away from F1."
Zitat von KingaI don't understand this. Did Kimi say that or you say that it was a tough decision not to come back in RB?
this is what Kimi answered in the interview. I translated that part.
"it was a difficult/tough decision. if you see the race, you can know RB is doing good. but I just started my Rally carrier at that time. in addition, I wasn't ready to come back to F1. honestly, I was strongly feeling and wanting to know rally more. I wanted to challenge to WRC and to know how I could do and how difficult rally is."
according to the article, a half year past after Kimi started his rally carrier in 2010, RB offered RB seat in 2011 to Kimi. this was before they spoke to Webber to extend his contract. but Kimi decided not to come back to F1. and it mentioned reason is unknown, but Kimi and RB sponsorship ended. " title="hmm" />
Kimi also answered he doesn't want to move to US, so NASCAR couldn't be his option. that's why Kimi became missing F1 more and more. Kimi didn't take long time to return to F1 after receiving call from Ropez. He went to the factory and talked and made the contract. the important negotiation was not money, but to know what the team is aiming and what kind of machine they are making. "saw the factory and felt the atmosphere, I thought Lotus is ideal team for me considering all the condition. I knew Renault was 5th, so people don't expect me to win, so I thought I can have time for rehab." too honest Kimi
Thank you so much luviceman " title="ty" /> " title="ty" /> Great read " title="ii" />
I think I know exactly what Petter talk about... don't know how many times I saw Kimi stayed in Petter's hospitality tent - eating, drinking and talking... h" title="hih" />
Thank you so so much, Luviceman! That was a fantastic read! " title="ii" /> " title="ty" />
Zitat von YiNing I think I know exactly what Petter talk about... don't know how many times I saw Kimi stayed in Petter's hospitality tent - eating, drinking and talking...
Oh yeah! It was heaven for me!!! I won't forget those days. When I wanted to see Kimi I just had to stare at Petter's tent which was a pleasure because I like Petter very much too.
To be honest, I miss those days so much! " title="" />
Zitat von KingaThank you so so much, Luviceman! That was a fantastic read!
Zitat von YiNing I think I know exactly what Petter talk about... don't know how many times I saw Kimi stayed in Petter's hospitality tent - eating, drinking and talking...
Oh yeah! It was heaven for me!!! I won't forget those days. When I wanted to see Kimi I just had to stare at Petter's tent which was a pleasure because I like Petter very much too.
To be honest, I miss those days so much!
I thought the same! there are lots of evidence (pictures) we have
here is Latvala's comment
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.
here is from Mikko
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!
oh yes, I also miss Kimi in WRC sometimes " title="oi" /> but I am more happier to see him in F1 though " title="ii" />
I want to share some more Kimi's interview with you because it can be new information for some people! I will translate it this weekend, so please wait " title="holy" />