While we wait for Kimi’s final column on the last race at Brazil and his thoughts on the year 2008 itself, let’s reflect on what this year truly meant about Kimi; his attitude, approach, passion, strife, all part of not only a racing driver, but a real man. This message was sent to me today from a fan named Paula and as it includes a poem that she feels reflects Kimi as a person, I thought it would be great to share this message. And above all, it is pointing out that Kimi has shown true character in such an overburdened and emotional year, and that it is worth more than a world championship and something to be proud of as a fan. I’ll hand it over to Paula now:
So many people have been talking about Kimi’s "bad" year. It has not been a bad year.
What I want to say is that it is during the bad times that the true
character of a person shows and, for me, more important than Kimi being
world champion, more important than F1, Kimi showed the type of person
and human being he is and I think that he, and all of us fans, should
be more proud of this than his being world champion, because he is
truly a wonderful example of how a man/person should strive for and be.
Throughout this year, he never complained, never acted as a
"champion", never demanded to be treated as the champion, and when the
team needed him, at the risk that the team would consider Massa as more
important than him, he never hesitated to help, never thought of
himself, and put aside all personal aspirations to be there for his
team and his teammate. That in itself makes me more proud of him than
if he had won the world championship again.
I chose this poem by Rudyard Kipling because it reflects all Kimi
has shown us of his person especially this year when "the chips were
down".
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream, and not make dreams your master,
If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And, which is more, you’ll be a Man, my son!
– Rudyard Kipling
FUCK ISRAEL 
Simply beautiful! Those words are perfect….I´m so proud of Kimi and all his fans around the world.
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That is perfect !! It sums Kimi up so well as if it had been written about him. Be proud of Kimi and all his amazing fans !!!
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Beautiful poem and perfect to describe Kimi.
He’s a TRUE CHAMPION, not only by the numbers!
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Wow… that was awesome. Thanks Evenstar for Paula’s beautiful words and poem. And obviously, thank you Paula for your kind words and for this beautiful poem. It’s perfect and only the true fans can appreciate Kimi for who he is as a person – not for someone the others expect him to be. And we all know he’s a great human being and has only grown as a person, which makes us all love and appreciate him even more. He’s not perfect, as neither of us all is. But he’s remarkable, both as a driver and as a person, and we can only feel blessed to have such a beautiful person to look up to and to support. Because there is no other like him. He is such a breath of fresh air in this world full of arrogance, hatred and self-destruction. I feel very proud to say I’m a fan and I can only hope Kimi knows he is not alone in all of this. There are many people like us who will support him no matter what, just for the greatness of character he has shown. 🙂
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Oh so absolutely true. This year Kimi has shown what being a true champion is all about, it is not the hype wanted by BE and Co., it is real and deep. Indeed a great champion worthy of the title. Paula’s words are beautiful, I do hope that Kimi gets to read them and realise that there are so many of us who are proud to think the same.
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EXCELLENT ! EXCELLENT ! EXCELLENT !! Thanks for sharing such poignant words with us, Saima / Paula. It’s a reflection of why we support Kimi in the first place. He is a truly dignified champion racing driver in my books and will always remain so.
I often wonder (although I’ve never bothered to find out…) if any other current drivers have the privilege of such a comprehensive website dedicated just for them alone ??
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I never had read the poem before, therefore I’m so glad Paula contacted me. It’s a superb piece of writing and the meanings are perfect with Kimi in mind, as I read it.@Trixie: I don’t know, there are plenty of fansites for the F1 drivers but I haven’t come across any as ‘dedicated’ as mine, to be honest…and proud! lol
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Just when we thought that we couldn’t love Kimi more, a poem like this comes along that just… makes our hearts grow even bigger for him. It’s perfect! It’s almost like Kipling had Kimi, and his F1 career, in mind when he wrote this poem, haha.Aww. 🙂 And yeah, even if Kimi didn’t win the championship, he showed us the strength of his character. 🙂
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What a beautiful poem and so true, especially in Kimi’s case! I wish he would read this! Actually, I wish he would read all of our comments of support! I wonder if any of the other drivers have the support that Kimi has? Like Sol, I’m proud to be a Kimi Raikkonen fan!
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Hey Saima…. that poem was beautiful..used to love it… had just forgotten about it…but heres another exceptionally good one in respect to Kimi…have a look!
Carry On-Robert W. Service
It’s easy to fight when everything’s right,And you’re mad with the thrill and the glory;It’s easy to cheer when victory’s near,And wallow in fields that are gory.It’s a different song when everything’s wrong,When you’re feeling infernally mortal;When it’s ten against one, and hope there is none,Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:Carry on! Carry on!There isn’t much punch in your blow.You’re glaring and staring and hitting out blind;You’re muddy and bloody, but never you mind.Carry on! Carry on!You haven’t the ghost of a show.It’s looking like death, but while you’ve a breath,Carry on, my son! Carry on!And so in the strife of the battle of lifeIt’s easy to fight when you’re winning;It’s easy to slave, and starve and be brave,When the dawn of success is beginning.But the man who can meet despair and defeatWith a cheer, there’s the man of God’s choosing;The man who can fight to Heaven’s own heightIs the man who can fight when he’s losing.Carry on! Carry on!Things never were looming so black.But show that you haven’t a cowardly streak,And though you’re unlucky you never are weak.Carry on! Carry on!Brace up for another attack.It’s looking like hell, but — you never can tell:Carry on,my boy! Carry on!
Carry on! Carry on!Fight the good fight and true;Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;There’s big work to do, and that’s why you are here.Carry on! Carry on!Let the world be the better for you;And at last when you die, let this be your cry:Carry on, my soul! Carry on!
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That was beautiful.
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