He is described as quiet, taciturn or cold, just like professional, focused, fast and cool. In addition to driving skills Räikkönen proves in the rugged world of Formula 1 also strength of character. He drives boat races in a gorilla suit, he answered reporters’ questions freezing cold and he wins Formula 1 races. This Finn cannot be bended and says what he thinks – if he says something. Many people – including Formula 1 fans and experts – think it’s even still a rumor, but it is true: Kimi Räikkönen is an entertaining man! If you did not know better, you might almost think, the Finn let out his dry patters with the intention to test, which of the journalists understands his humor and which not. The hardest statements you can read here.
Q: What do you do in the night before the race?
A: I sleep!
Q: Is it true that sometimes you’re bored in the car?
A: Only when I am in front by a country mile, like in Melbourne last year. Then you are thinking about other things or you’re playing with the buttons on the steering wheel. Then I suddenly missed a breaking point. This year unfortunately we haven’t had such race.
Formula 1 would be a paradise without the media.
Driving is the only thing I love about F1.
Q: The helmet has a special meaning for many drivers. How important is it to you?
A: It protects my head.
Q: Would you go to any other team than Ferrari?
A: Probably not.
Q: Definitely not?
A: I said probably not.
Why Kimi became a race-driver and not an icehockey-player?
I have decided to do motorsports because I don´t have to get up there so early in the morning.
Q: The most exciting moment during the race weekend?
A: I think it’s the race start, always.
Q: The most boring?
A: Now.
Ah, go and interview Mikko Leppilampi. He likes to talk.
Q: What kind of relationship do you have with Peter Sauber? Is he a father figure or godfather?
A: He is my boss.
Q: What´s about your new Tattoo? Is it permanently?
A: I don´t know.
Lewis Hamilton said that winning his first race felt better than having sex.
Kimi: Maybe he never had sex.
Q: Kimi, have you ever got angry about anything, and jumped up and down and shouted?
A: Yeah, many times but of course you’re not happy if you retire or something but I guess it mostly happens more in normal life than in racing.
Q: Can you give us examples?
A: No, not really.
Q: What are the kind of things that make you angry in normal life, as you say?
A: If you keep asking questions like those.
Kimi tells about the track conditions at the new Formula 1 circuit in Singapore:
It is narrow in some places, wide at the other – it depends on where you are.
An Italian interviewer tries to get Kimi to say something in Italian.
A: You can talk Italian if you want to.
Q: Do you have any special rituals when the helmet is concerned like many other drivers have?
A: I wipe it, so that I can see better.
Q: Gossip Media asks how have you prepared for the Saison?
A: I usually get to read from your magazines what I have done.
I’m not interested in what people think about me. I’m not Michael Schumacher.
Q: Kimi, do you have any hobbies?
A: I collect walnuts.
Q: Kimi Räikkönen doesn’t seem interested in the proceedings going on up there. Kimi, you missed the presentation by Pele.
A: Yeah.
Q: Will you get over it?
A: Yeah. I was having a shit.