Reigning Formula One world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, roared into Abu
Dhabi this week on a day trip that included being quizzed by a group of
Emirati youngsters aspiring to become the UAE’s grand prix driving
stars of the future.
The ‘flying Finn’ was the special guest of Etihad Airways, the
national airline of the United Arab Emirates and sponsor of the famous
Ferrari F1 team for whom Raikkonen drives.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline is also the three-year title sponsor of
next year’s inaugural ‘Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand
Prix’, which will be staged in the UAE capital in November.
Addressing the media at
the Emirates Palace Hotel on Tuesday, Raikkonen said, "My performance
so far this season was not what I was hoping for. It started well but
then I had a few bad races. Since then it has not happened at all."
"However,
we have sorted out the big issues and hopefully we will finish strongly
and get the good results required for the team," said Raikkonen.
As well as hosting an F1 question and answer session with children
at the iconic Emirates Palace hotel (pictured)l, Raikkonen enjoyed a
helicopter flight over Abu Dhabi’s new Yas Marina grand prix
circuit. Later in the day, Kimi was given a more unusual aerial view of
the track from the flight deck of an Etihad Airways flight simulator,
piloted by Emirati Captain Fahmi Mohamed.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s Executive Vice President Marketing and
Product, said: "The excitement generated by ‘Kimi Day’ has been
enormous and the reigning World Champion’s visit is sure to generate
momentum as we move towards the inaugural Formula One Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in just over a year’s time.
“The growing association we are building with Ferrari and F1 is an
integral part of our international sports sponsorship strategy, to help
Etihad reach a global audience and bring Abu Dhabi to the world.”
Ferrari is already developing a close association with Abu Dhabi,
through a new US$600 million, 2,500 acre theme park being built in the
Emirate, also on the Yas Marina circuit and due to open in 2009. The
team is also sponsored by Mubadala Development Company, the investment
arm of the Abu Dhabi government. The company purchased in 2005 a 5%
stake in Ferrari.
It has been provisionally announced that the Formula One Etihad
Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on 15 November 2009, the
last race in the 19-race F1 season.
Baumgartner added: “Hosting the final race of the F1 season at our
home base of Abu Dhabi is a great honour and tremendously exciting for
Etihad as the race’s title sponsor. The race will provide a wonderful
opportunity to showcase our airline and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to the
rest of the world. Hopefully 2009 will be as exciting as last year,
when the final race of the season proved to be the successful title
decider for Kimi and the Ferrari team.”
‘Kimi Day’ also included a visit to Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall where
the Ferrari driver officially opened the latest Etihad Holidays Shop,
before taking on members of the public in a special simulated F1
driving challenge laid on by Mubadala.
Hmmm, Kimi’s sorted the big issues out with the car then – let’s hope so! I’m sick and tired of them, no doubt he has been too. Kimi was also shown in a live interview on the British news channel Sky News. Unfortunately, I had no warning of this and missed it. I think this was the first time, ever, that a British news channel exclusively held a live interview with Kimi. And I missed it! But you can watch a video of it here on YouTube. In the video, it also says that there’s been a school shooting in Finland, with a number of people killed including the gunman himself. Horrible news to hear and Kimi didn’t even know until the news anchor asked him. They also asked Kimi on whether he thinks Lewis Hamilton is a fair driver. Typically, Kimi didn’t really say yes or no but maintained the fact that opinion is as competitive as the racing itself.
Oh yeah, and Hamilton lost his appeal today in Paris. The decision means Hamilton remains just one point ahead of Ferrari
rival Felipe Massa in the drivers’ world championship with four races
to go.
FUCK ISRAEL 
Wow, the interview was really interesting. Just shows how good Kimi is
under pressure with stupid questions, I felt really sorry for him at
the end when they asked about the Finnish school shooting which he
obviously had no idea about as it was breaking news. Don’t you just
hate news people sometimes?
He was still excellent at answering the team questions, no doubt that is why Ferrari like him.
As for the Paris result…wooo hooo!!!View the blog entry: http://darkmaiden.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!A01A464BBC0
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Yeah totally, he’s very sensible and careful with his words. It’s a gift, I think. People see it as being boring and dull but really, when you actually listen to what he says and how he answers tricky questions, he’s brilliant. I wish I can be like that sometimes…actually all the time. lol! I guess he’ll head to Singapore now. He’ll be tired, and he’s got to get used to the time difference there. But he’s more hyper in the evenings, shouldn’t be a problem! Can’t wait to see him race this weekend 🙂
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Hiya! Can he get any cuter??? He loves kids, he must have enjoyed spending time with them and answering their little, innocent questions."We have sorted out the big issues" – pleeeaaaseee! He has to finish on the podium in Singapore! What I know for sure is that he´ll enjoy himself, as this is a new track and he loves learning new tracks, the challenge of it all (though it´s not much of a challenge for him, he´s the best, unlike others who claim to be the best racers, wonder who that is….:p)I read about the school shooting in Finland, so sad, my deepest sympathies to everyone affected. I was going to post the news on the forum, but thought it was too sad and didn´t want to make anyone sad.Keep flying Kimi – Keep flying Evenstar!!!
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oh, i feel happy, it’s a nice day! (except for those poor finnish students, that’s too awful…)
a great day for our Kimi, with those children and great time, flying, etc… He’s the "flying finn" so this day could be only for him!
and a great day to see Hamster lose his appeal! it couldn’t be different! Bouuuh!! you’re a little bad boy so come back at Mom’s home!
Or some driver will send you!
I have seen Kimi’s interview but unfortunately my english is really bad and understand Kimi’s english is really difficult! (it’s easier to read ! lol!) but i understood few things, that he will try to win races until he can do nothing than help his team-mate, that i wish it will not happen, of course!
i felt him good and that he was at his good place, he’s the reigning world champion, that’s the most important!
i’m so proud to support a man like him!
Keep flying Kimi and keep flying Evenstar!!
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Hey guys! Ya… when I first watched the video I thought Kimi looked a bit serious than usual… with the typical "Finnish expression" (expressionless :-|…) then later I realized that’s the best way to handle those stupid questions. And Kimi really did well…
Regarding the Singapore circuit, I hope it will be a bit better than Valencia. I saw a short video with Webber and Vettel had lots of fun on the Singapore circuit. Base on my knowledge of Singapore (lived there for a while few years back) I think I agree with Webber that there are few places possible for overtake (Raffles Boulevard, St. Andrew’s Road and Marina Bay toward Esplanade Park). So, let’s hope for nice weather with bright moon and stars!!!
Keep Flying Kimi!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep Flying Evenstar!!!!!!!
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Oooppps Lewis did not win the appeal !!! What a shame LOL . Kimi has a small chance – lets hope he can run with it be faster and better – LH and FM a few mistakes would be welcome – KEEP FLYING KIMI AND KEEP FLYING EVENSTAR!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. Thanks for your efforts I totally understand why you need some time out – hey lets have a great dream he will win (if not we will all be here 2 support him next year) Go Kimi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I managed to watch the Sky news interview just now, man am I pissed at that interviewer, he just kept asking him questions about Lewis, the Spa controversy and so on, what´s funny is that Kimi never answered the questions directly, he sort of got round them, and that guy insisted on asking about Hamster "do you think he´s a fair driver?", "do you think the penalty was fair?", "is he in your opinion the favourite to win WDC?", aaarhhhgggg, I bet Kimi just wanted to tell the guy, "I don´t give a damn about Hamster or anything you´re asking me for that matter", but he´s polite and answered anyway.But the one time a British channel decides to do an interview with Kimi, all they do is ask him questions about other things, not about him, how the tests went, how he´s feeling, or anything else, just about Hamster, Spa and if he´ll play second fiddle to Felipe. Ahhh, makes me angry, but in the end, this is another proof of how sincere and polite Kimi is, he doesn´t bash anyone, not Hamster, not McLaren and certainly not Ferrari.Keep flying Kimi – Keep flying Evenstar!!!
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Exactly Sol, I knew it was too good to be true (an interview with Kimi from British tv that’s not really about him LOL)@Karen: Thanks 🙂
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