Ferrari have been warned NOT to call time on Kimi Raikkonen’s binge drinking if they want him to win the world crown.
The Italian Formula One giants should allow Raikkonen to let his hair down when he’s not racing rather than attempt to mould him into one of their corporate clones.
And while being boozed up may have dented former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff’s career, it won’t rock Raikkonen’s chances of lifting motor sport’s richest prize.
That’s the view of ex-Grand Prix team owner Eddie Jordan who feels Raikkonen will perform better if – like the scarlet machine he powered to victory in the season’s opening Australian Grand Prix – he’s occasionally well oiled.
Irishman Jordan revealed: "It’s a well-known fact the Finns love a bevy and can consume heroic quantities of alcohol, and Kimi is just following a national tradition. The Irish get lashed on pints of Guinness but the Finns do it with enormous amounts of vodka.
"He’s been caught absolutely bladdered on several occasions but it’s to be expected. He’s 27, my kids are a similar age, and I know what a good night out means to them. And why the hell not?"
Raikkonen landed in hot water at McLaren last season when it was claimed he exposed himself in a London lap dancing club during a wild night withmates. And he angered his new Ferrari bosses before the Melbourne showdown when reports of him staggering around karaoke bars in Helsinki appeared in the Finnish press.
Jordan added: "Providing it’s not during a raceweekend or during testing I feel Kimi is entitled to get hammered every now and again.
"Fellow Finns Keke Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen both liked a drink and a smoke behind closed doors and it never did them any harm. They both won world titles.
"If you change someone’s make-up they don’t perform to their best. When you sign a driver with Raikkonen’s talent you just have to accept the way he likes to live his life.
"It’s a sad day when you are trying to force your aces to become even more corporate."
Thank goodness Kimi didn’t stay at McLaren then! (hehe) Totally agree with Eddie on that. But then again, Ron has implemented a ban on drinking from his current drivers which should do them good as well no?
Team-Mate Wars: Melbourne
From Planet F1
In an F1 team, the man you have to beat more than anyone else is your team-mate. So how did things shake out after the Australian GP?
Ferrari
Raikkonen 1 Massa 0
Though there were signs that Kimi had the edge on Felipe before Qualifying 2 on Saturday, this was a wretched way for Massa to start his campaign. And for all the talk of his "excellent drive" through the field, you can’t help thinking that if the Great One had been with us he’d have found a way past Barrichello and Button before Massa did. (Apologies: you’re going to have to put up with a season of these comparisons).
Raikkonen had it all under control. Despite the comedy moment of the weekend when Ron Dennis reckoned that BMW’s strategy had denied them victory, Ferrari looked in impressive form. We shall see in Sepang if there is an overheating problem or not.
Speaking of wars, check out Fuji TV’s F1 introduction for the Australian Grand Prix:
(Kimi Raikkonen Space)
FUCK ISRAEL 