The new world champion is enjoying his holidays, having fun, and maybe he contemplates, now and then, one of the most difficult seasons in his entire career. During the Sunday afteroon after the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, the 10th of September, he was announced as Michael Schumacher’s replacement at Ferrari and we all anticipated the 2007 season in great hope, but also in anxiety. In the end, the Finn took the finish in style – Kimi came out on top of the world. In this four-part feature, we look over his thoughts and his criticisms during his challenging Ferrari debut.
Australia GP: 1st
The Iceman – "A fantastic victory! It is great to be winning again with my new team whom I want to thank for giving me a great car…I was not flat out all the time, adapting my pace to the way the race was going…This is a great way to start the championship. We know we have a very competitive package but we still have to work to make it even better and above all, reliable."
The Ice Burns
Niki Lauda (former Ferrari world champion) – "I hope he has the discipline now which, being frustrated last year a couple of times, he certainly did not have."
"Maybe now in his new team he is so motivated as to have a nice, light celebration and then think immediately tomorrow ‘How can I get better with the team, what do I need to improve?’ Because you can never stand still in Formula One.
"I know that in the past he did not put much input into McLaren. But in Ferrari he has to do that. And if he has got that message, then he’s going to be on the up."
Martin Whitmarsh (McLaren) – "I think he’s capable of sustaining it," he said of Raikkonen’s form. "He’s a great driver and if we are going to beat him we’ve got to make a quicker car and make it bloody quickly. And that’s what we are going to try and do."
Malaysia GP: 3rd
The Iceman – "A day of mixed feelings…This weekend we had to make some compromises on the car and that meant we were unable to exploit its full potential. I repeat that I’m a bit disappointed but I am also aware this is just the beginning of the season and that these points will definitely be important for the championship as it evolves…We have to try and improve to get one hundred percent out of all the elements of the package."
"All the time we had to play on the safe side with that engine and there were also some other technical issues that we were not able to do as we would usually want to do…I am happy being with this team but there is still work to do for me to ensure I get the most out of it. We need to work on car set up and find out what is absolutely the best for me. These are small details but once we get it right I think things will be even better."
The Ice Burns
Kimi – "I always want to fight for the victory. That is why I felt a little bit disappointed and empty inside when I had to race just in a way to be able to finish it. It is like playing a football game defending a goalless draw."
"No one knows why I left McLaren. I had my reasons, but I am happy here at Ferrari. We have had a few little problems but they are just minor issues and the season is only two races old. We just need to make sure we do our best. Nothing is won or lost yet and we will have a lot of work to do during the season."
Bahrain GP: 3rd
The Iceman – "This whole weekend has been quite difficult. I think we’re missing a bit on the handling, so hopefully we will find something at the next test. I think we are going to get more parts for the next step. I am pretty positive it is going to change things a lot. I think they are closer than the first race but Australia is a special race. I think we have the edge on them but we will keep working."
The Ice Burns
Mario Almondo – "If you are not first or second you can always do a better job," said Almondo about Raikkonen’s restart. "I have to say that he has to think of a better way of managing this specific start and this part of the job.
Kimi – "I would say it can’t be denied that the main problem is in qualifying. Our race pace is good and we can go up against anyone but over the single lap we are not there yet. And if you are not up with the front runners right from the start then you can say goodbye to the chance of winning."
Spain GP: DNF
The Iceman – "Honestly, there’s little to say, except that I’m very disappointed. I lost a place to Hamilton at the start, but made the most of the fight between Felipe and Fernando to get back to third place. I was running at a good pace and could have had a good result, but suddenly the car had an electrical problem and all I could was come back to the garage. I have lost precious points but there are still thirteen races to recover. Before I was driving as the car was going best for me, but it wasn’t really what I wanted to do. So hopefully now it is better."
The Ice Burns
Sir Jackie Stewart – "The way he lives his life is contrary to the complete package; the kind that allowed Schumacher to win multiple championships, (as well as) Senna and Prost, Jim Clark or even me," Stewart is quoted as saying by British newspaper The Telegraph.
"It is an attitude, a mentality, a way of doing business. Our lifestyle, mind, make-up was different from a Raikkonen — or for that matter a Jenson Button. There are other things in Raikkonen’s life he still wishes to carry on doing. He doesn’t seem prepared to make the sacrifice of reducing the lifestyle he has chosen because he enjoys it. He is not prepared to compromise."
Claudio Paciotti (Chairman of Ferrari club ‘Gubbion Ferrari’) – "We have not yet seen the achievements from him that we were promised, did he leave his ability behind at McLaren-Mercedes?"
FUCK ISRAEL 