" title="hmm" /> In Germany we name people like this, who always do, what they want " title="oi" /> I thought it fit to Kimi " title="red" /> h" title="hih" />
It opens a door inside the caravan that Lotus is installed in the paddock of the Hungaroring circuit and the ladder appears Kimi Raikkonen (Finland, 33 years), sitting on a table to devour a plate of macaroni with pesto Steve Robertson, his agent and in charge of negotiating the immediate future of Iceman. From the third in the standings, 41 points from Sebastian Vettel, pure speed has always exhibited Raikkonen now blend beautifully with the consistency of Lotus, team that last year the rallies repescó him and which acknowledges feel comfy . This is one of the strong arguments that his current team handles to try to prevent fiche by Red Bull. Most grill sign by the energy structure with closed eyes, but Kimi is different. This is demonstrated most things he does.
Question. What do you prefer to spend a weekend: to ride motocross, out on his boat with friends or play a Grand Prix F-1?
Answer. Buff! They are completely different things. I love racing, are of F-1 or anything else, the motocross is my great hobby, my passion, the discipline in which I started before deserting to the car. It is something completely different from the F-1, I'm doing well to relax and get ready physically. On the boat, I must admit that I also enjoy it.
Q. Your team motocross (Iceone) receive Husqvarna factory support next academic year. That seems more than a hobby, right?
A. This year many things have changed, there has been movement of people and I have tried the way you work more closely resembles how it is done here in the F-1. That allowed me to turn it into a factory team.
Q. After winning World Cup start in Melbourne has undergone a period of ups and downs. Are you satisfied with your season so far?
A. I'm not a hundred percent happy because we went through difficult times in some races we could only try to minimize the damage. The good thing is we're still there, fighting, and now we have to keep going up.
Q. What should you do to persuade Lotus and Red Bull fiche no?
A. There is no single specific factor, I have not made a decision.
Q. What has this team so that you have acknowledged many times that is so comfortable in it?
A. It is true that I am happy here, but not for anything special. When you have decided what to do I'll say, I am the first stop responding interested in always the same.
Q. What has to make a team for you to be happy?
A. I am happy and want a good car that is as fast as possible.
Q. What role does money play in this?
R. matter what you do, the money will not be a determining factor.
Q. And how many promotional events undertaken during the year?
R. People talk a lot of shit, but I think it really would keep if they knew what I do for equipment. I guarantee that if you have all that I do during and after the weekend grand prize, my dedication in number of hours is not very different from any of the other pilots of the top teams. No one has any idea what I do away from the track. Do not know where these things come out. It makes no sense to think that in this or that structure should go to 150 acts, and in another only 10. And I tell you that I've been to a few. In any of the powerful, the total hours and days are very similar promotion.
Q. Worst thing about the F-1 for you is having to face interviews like this?
A. press meetings are part of this story, but also had when I left. I'm not here for interviews but they are an element of this business and I know it. It's no secret that I'm in love with them, but it is what it is.
Q. Several team officials say that you must be left alone. Do you consider someone easy to handle?
A. I'm a very easy-going pilot. We return to before: there is also a lot of talk about it but almost no one knows the truth about me. People who work with me will make life very easy. If something happens we talked and we seek a solution.
P. All seems ready for Austria to be integrated into the next calendar and you are one of the few drivers to have raced there. What's it like?
A. I was there a couple of years and the circuit has hardly changed since then. It's a good place to go, I'm excited. Although the plot is not complicated, it has long straights where you surely can advance with some comfort.
Q. What is the main shortcoming of Lotus at the moment?
R. Lately we have lost some speed over which show to start. In any case, if we would quote somewhat easier to optimize the car.
Q. Do you think that is feasible for Lotus reach the level of development of Red Bull or Ferrari?
R. That's the plan. Last year was not expecting too much from us and after some testing things started to go well and so we continue to the end. If we stay on the podium places we finish options above.
P. Lotus has acknowledged several times that has made strategic mistakes you on track. Do you feel especially penalized for them?
R. It is clear that there has been poor decisions but that happens everywhere, and it is clear that it is very easy to identify blunders in retrospect.
Q. What do you expect from this latest change in the compounds that Pirelli has introduced here?
R. The new tires are not as consistent as those we used so far and that hurts us. Our performance has been disastrous but it is not what we want. In any case, I'm much happier than on Friday.
Q. Do you still ever thinks back to rallying?
A. I love to run but unfortunately I have some time. Although later again, for sure.
A figure who defies all logic and expectation by merely not caring about how people perceive him. In an age where corporate responsibility and vying for sponsors is so important, there is one who simply gets the job done on the track instead. Kimi-Matias Räikkönen is certainly one of the last few left.
Born in Espoo, Finland, 17th October 1979, he is now one of the sport’s elder statesmen. However, he is by no means the example for aspiring racing drivers to follow. If anything, he goes against the ‘model driver’ template.
Way back when…
There was a time not so long ago in Formula One, where being a corporate machine, who gave all the correct answers to the media, turned up to all the promotional events and made an effort with the sponsors, was not so important. The sport has undergone such an overhaul following the global recession, as sponsors are now expecting drivers to work hard for their investment.
‘The Ice Man’ has had two careers, at very different times. His first F1 career finished at a time of transition into the time we are now familiar with, where drivers are marketing tools as much as they are racers.
Some have attributed this as to why he lost his Ferrari seat at the end of 2008. Considering he had won the WDC the previous year in 2007, and equaled the record for fastest laps in a season in 2008, it was certainly not down to his race craft. Ferrari had become tired of his media unfriendly personality and disregard for Ferrari commitments. This coupled with the fact that Alonso brought with him Santander money, meant Räikkönen was shown the exit.
So the question this begs is will this attitude cost Kimi the seat at the triple (and potentially quadruple) World Champions, Infinity Red Bull Racing in 2014? For that, I’m sure we will have an answer sooner rather than later, but signs at the moment would suggest no. If he is not given the seat, it will be because Dr Helmut Marko (right hand man to Red Bull owner, Dietrich Mateschitz) has shouted loudest and would prefer to see someone promoted from the young drivers programme, ie Daniel Ricciardo. A person who it will be much easier to market as well.
A dying breed
So what about if Kimi were an aspiring young driver now? There are no drivers who could take the same stance that the Finn does, and be able to gain a race seat. Unless there is a complete restructuring of the sponsorship in Formula One, whereby the sponsors are affiliated with the teams and not the drivers; Kimi Räikkönen is an endangered species. With years of his career left now into single digits, fans should appreciate the time they have left to view him before his kind becomes extinct.
Perhaps there should be an appeal for this kind of driver. For just £3 a month, you could sponsor a driver…..to ensure he (or she) gets the drive that they deserve.
Unique?
There seems to be few equals in other sports like this that spring to mind. Claire Williams, in an interview with F1 Racing, made reference to how hard to handle Ralf Schumacher was, in her time as Williams F1 communications officer.
One professional that has recently felt the pressure of sponsors is Papiss Cisse, of Newcastle United FC. Torn between religious beliefs over lending and the need to wear the clubs sponsor on his shirt, he has missed a pre-season training camp with the team in Portugal due to an argument over the issue. Cisse has since agreed to wear the shirt and in an interview with the Daily Mail said, “After a huge amount of thought and reflection I have made the decision to follow my teammates and wear the kit.” Ultimately, commercial and corporate responsibilities won the battle. It is indeed true; ‘money makes the world go round.’
Print view
Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:13 pm
This thread has been closed. 
arts" title="hearts" />
" title="oi" /> 
s" title="reds" />
" title="hmm" /> where 
" title="huh" /> I only see beautiful head 
h" title="hih" />
y" title="wink" /> 
" title="ha" /> 
" title="red" /> 
