Kimi Wishes Massa To Be Main Rival

From TurunSanomat.fi
Translation: Lady Fëanor
Editing: Saima Azam

Ferrari’s Luca Colajanni is a happy man these days. He has noticed slight changes in the Finn’s behaviour, even though Kimi claims he hasn’t really changed after winning the world champion.

"Kimi speaks to the press more than before, and I was suprised to notice that he was reading sport news on Gazetta dello Sport," says Colajanni. A year ago Räikkönen was able to say hello to the Italian press. Has the champion learned more of the language by now?

"I understand what I want to," Kimi explained his reading of the Italian magazine.

At Ferrari’s Wroom event in the alps of Italy, Kimi loads his batteries for a very hard testing period in preparations to build the new F2008 more reliable and competitive for the start of the new season at 16th March.

"Of course my top wish is to us to have the winning car and the equipment reliable in every way, from the first race to the last.

Although through the seasons 2004 and 2005, Ferrari were so superior to the rest of the F1 teams that Michael Schumacher controlled the championship alone with his team mate Barrichello from the first race on. Kimi however is adamant that the competition between himself and Felipe Massa would remain healthy:

"For the team it would be best if it were me and Massa fighting over the title."

”I drove the car at Fiorna, but it’s impossible for me to say how good it is only by that. I trust completly that we have a great set, but it’s no use to start to boasting about it after testing it only once and without having had a chance to drive on dry track.”

Ferrari starts extensive testing next Monday at Jerez, and afterwards the team takes part to the Valencia testing with other teams. The most significant testing will be at Bahrain later on. Toyota and Honda will be the only teams following Ferrari to the mild eastern track, when the other teams stay in Spain.

"Bahrain is important for us. Last year it was there where we found important details for the opening GP in Australia,” Colajanni says.

Räikkönen was curious to hear about McLaren’s testing schedule. He’s convinced that the silver team will be Ferrari’s main competitor again, after such a close and dramatic 2007 season. Kimi is confident in his compatriot, Heikki Kovalainen who joins Lewis Hamilton for the 2008 season, that he may also be a championship candidate. 

"Of course it’s yet too early to make conclusions but it took me so long to win the championship that I know it’s usually desided between Ferrari and McLaren.”

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The Iceman Tattoo

There’s a little information about Kimi’s new tattoo, from Heikki Kulta, which was first revealed at the FIA Gala ceremony in December. He informs us that Kimi has indeed taken a new visible black tattoo on his left forearm.

Known to the the Beckham of Finland, Kulta believes that Kimi isn’t going to go all the way like the famous footballer who took a tattoo on his neck. This is Kimi’s 3rd tattoo, with the first being the smiling sun during his years at McLaren. Then the tribal pattern arrived on his left wrist after he won on his Ferrari debut in Australia last year.

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Video – Fun Interview by Tamara Ecclestone with Kimi & Felipe
Credit and Hosting: Tania_S
Download: Sharebee (includes multiple download servers)

Q: Tell me your name.
F: Felipe Massa.
K: Kimi.

Your nickname.
F: Massino, Felipino.
K: Iceman.

Your hero at the beginning of your career.
F: Ayrton Senna, then Michael Schumacher.
K: I don’t have one.

Your best skill as a driver.
F: I’m aggressive.
K: You have to ask to the people.

Your best quality as a person.
F: I’m a good boy.
K: Good boy.

And your worst quality?
F: My memory. I often forget things, names…
R: I speak little.

What you can’t do without
F: Driving the car.
K: Fun.

Do you prefer sea or mountain?
F: Sea.
K: Sea.

The question more often asked to you
F: Everybody always asks me about Schumacher.
K: What I will do this year.

Do you prefer meat or fish?
F: Meat.
K: Nothing.

Your favourite food
F: I love brazilian beef steak and pasta.
K: Pasta.

Sushi or pizza?
F: Both.
K: Both, I like sushi and I like pizza too.

The first thing you make when you go in a restaurant.
F: I order something to drink.
K: Eat.

Ice of fire?
F: Ice.
K: Ice.

Fun or relax?
F: Both.
K: Both.

City or country?
F: City.
K: Country.

The first word you have learned in italian.
F: Ciao come sta? (Hello, how do you do?)
K: Better no say.

What Ferrari means for you.
F: It means a lot, for sure, it’s a part of my life, the dreams become true.
K: A great car and a big family.

Wow, Kimi’s answers are quite funny: "You have to ask the people," he says, about his driving! And Ice doesn’t really suit Felipe. We all know Kimi loves pasta, but when it comes to meat and fish, nothing? You’re supposed to like meat Kimi, it’s a good source of iron!