"I’m happier this time"
Kimi Räikkönen had a break off from what looked like a Scandinavian
race driver meeting in the paddock, with former F1 drivers, JJ Lehto
and one time Ferrari driver, Stefan Johannsson to face the media for
the first time this season.
"I think we had a good winter, and the car looks ok," said the Finn
in his usual succinct manner. "It’s hard to know where we are compared
to the others, especially because of the effect of all the new rules.
We will find out tomorrow and Saturday. I am not sure if the new car
suits my drving style better than last year’s, but I would say I am
happier this time with how our winter testing has gone."
The big talking point in the paddock today is that a protest be
lodged against some teams by others, over the legality of their
interpretation of some of the new rules. Kimi was asked for his
opinion:
"That’s always been part of racing and when there are new
rules some teams always push these to the limit. Personally, I don’t
know what the truth is. People will decide whether these elements are
legal or not. As for the Brawn being so quick, I don’t think it is so
surprising as they said they have been working on the car for a year
already. But the results in testing do not always repeat themselves
once the racing starts, so let’s wait and see."
Last year, when F1 raced at night for the first time, Räikkönen
apeeared puzzled that the media were making such a fuss about it and he
seemed equally perplexed at suggestions that Sunday’s race, which
starts at 5 in the afternoon, might end in the dark.
"I don’t know why
people are making so much fuss about this," said the Ferrari driver.
"We have raced at night under lights in Singapore and during the
winter, we often continue testing while it is getting dark at the end
of the afternoon. I don’t think it will be very dark at the end of the
race, so I’m not worried about it all."
As for all the new rules and changes, the Finn singled out the
tyres as the key element.
"The tyres have changed the most," he
maintained. "I was not a fan of the grooved tyres, especially in the
last year when there was only one tyre supplier. With the greater
difference between the two types of tyre we will have at each race, it
is a different situation and the weather could have more significant an
effect and it can also change our approach to race strategy. In
general, the balance of our car seems pretty good. Everything is
slightly different to last year, but it doesn’t really change very
much, apart from the fact we have a few more buttons to push."
Even though the season has not even started, the media were already
keen to know what the Ferrari man felt he could achieve this year and
even if he had given any thought to his long term future with the
Scuderia.
"I don’t think we will know where we stand until after the
first two Grand Prix," he said. "But I’m not here just to finish races.
I will be trying to win races and win the championships. I have a
contract for this year and next and after that it is up to me to decide
what I want to do. Of course I hope to have a good season this year,
but whatever the result at the end of it, that will not have any
influence on what I decide to do in the future. In terms of my
attitude, there is no change this year from last year, or in fact from
any other year."
What a nice day in Melbourne so far! I hope the fans who are lucky enough to be there enjoy this weekend, as F1 kicks off the most anticipated season in years probably! Kimi is as cool as ever in his answers regarding the sport’s current debates (F1-live.com seem to be pleased with his refreshingly candid views). He has put his foot down once again on the inflating rumours on his future at Ferrari and has claimed nothing affects his attitude or decisions. It’s good to hear, because as fans of Kimi we don’t want him to change! So I hope that bursts the media’s bubble!
There has been a lot of reports about the KERS and diffusers ahead of this weekend, and Ferrari’s KERS may possibly be their secret weapon. The FIA have finally made a decision of the diffuser row and have cleared all diffusers from Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota. Soon it will be officially announced that Virgin will be sponsoring team Brawn GP! It was also announced today that Hamilton has joined the GPDA and you can read today’s drivers’ press conference.
Outside the circuit, Kimi and Felipe Massa were greeted by thousands of fans to get their autographs, and they also spoke a few words on the stage during their Ferrari parade.
By the way, I have come across some pictures from the drivers portraits that Kimi’s race helmet is different to those he was using during testing! It’s not white at the back anymore, it is inversed, and there are also differences with the tribal/design work. And I also have to say, Kimi looks amazing – his body is very well toned and he is looking much fitter than ever before, so the amount he has trained the past few months is clearly visible from the pictures today. Bless him!
We’ve heard Kimi’s manager Steve Robertson sound optimistic of Kimi recently, and now Kimi’s father Matti has spoken to HelsinginSanomat about his son’s determination and preparation for this new season:
New Appearance Puts a Stop to Suspicions of Lack of Motivation
During the winter’s last Formula One tests in Barcelona, one can
clearly see the change in Kimi Räikkönen’s appearance. The man has
visibly lost weight.
When asked how much, Räikkönen replies: “I do not have a scale, so I don’t know.”
But Ferrari does have a scale, and for the upcoming season
everything looks just right, even if the KERS hybrid technology has
increased the car’s weight by 25 kilograms from last year.
“I have thinned down just enough for the total weight of the car
and the driver to hit the mark that we had been aiming at”, Räikkönen
admits.
Räikkönen’s being radiates a new kind of togetherness. He’s on the
ball. He seems more focused, and he reacts more quickly to questions.
In a word or two, the guy appears less sleepy and lethargic than last
year.
Last season Räikkönen was a mystery to the whole Formula One
world. The engineers from his former Sauber team were astonished that
Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa was able to take on Räikkönen and beat
him.
A rumour started spreading that the former champion would have
lost his interest in the sport and was just about ready to call it a
day.
This winter, Räikkönen’s appearance alone has been enough to shake off all the suspicions of lack of motivation.
Now the only question in the pits seems to be, what brought on the change.
Everybody already knows that Räikkönen has stopped using alcohol.
“I think that issue was widely exaggerated, for example when
people started writing that the team would have forced Kimi to stop
drinking”, Räikkönen’s father Matti Räikkönen tells Helsingin Sanomat.
Maybe the Finnish F1 driver simply realised that as a 29-year-old
one no longer recovers from celebrating as quickly as before, and that
this might hinder him from adding a second Championship trophy to his
collection.
Now, anyone can tell by Räikkönen’s disposition that the man is ready to do everything in his power to achieve this goal.
“Surely everybody can see what is happening”, says Matti
Räikkönen. “Kimi is in better shape both physically and mentally than
ever before.”
Instead of revelling, Räikkönen competed in two rally events during the off-season.
“Kimi has always been interested in rally driving. It is great
that the Ferrari team allowed him to make use of this opportunity”,
Matti Räikkönen says. “I believe Kimi has potential to develop in that
sport as well, especially when he is coached by none other than Tommi
Mäkinen”, Matti Räikkönen says, referring to the Finnish four-time
World Rally Champion.
When Kimi Räikkönen is asked in Barcelona if he has discovered a
new kind of fun to racing in Formula One, he laughs and says: “I have
had fun here before. When you perform well you have more fun, when you
fail you have less fun.”That sounds like a suitable philosophy ahead of
the upcoming F1 season.
FUCK ISRAEL 
Great words from Kimi! So he changed his helmet??? I wanna see pics!Keep flying Kimi!!!
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Ja! Some pics of the helmet are posted here in the official forum, but I’m waiting for bigger versions to come out then I’ll post them in the photo album lolhttp://www.kimiraikkonen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2547&start=20
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Wenny just explained the difference in our forum: http://krs.20.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=13992#13992So basically, it’s inversed with the black and white:During testing:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3330785560_32d5198fde_o.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3278796274_596e9aa336_o.jpgToday at Melbourne – Newhttp://www.motorsport.com/photos/f1/2009/aus/f1-2009-aus-xp-0424.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3387062591_7021921f46_o.jpgThe top – Old: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3329924903_fab44eaeff_o.jpgNew: http://www.motorsport.com/photos/f1/2009/aus/f1-2009-aus-xp-0424.jpg
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yay! kimi sounds so fired up! his answers are more brilliant, I think…one thing for sure, his new look is amazing! go kimi!
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Kimi’s so stunning!! and definately ready!So let’s go!!
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Kimi is looking gorgeous, fit and amazing – he actually also sounds even better!! Confident and so focused !!!Hopefully the 2nd iceage is here – Go my dearest Kimi get your 2nd (should be 4th) WDC )Bring it on we are all behind you !!!Gooo Kimi – Gooo Evenstar!!!!!!
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I was just going through the photos again and Kimi looked REALLY miserable during the drivers photoshoot! lol! I mean, compared to previous years at least. The only other guys who weren’t really bothered to smile are Rosberg and Kovalainen. It must be the Finn thing LOL: http://cid-a01a464bbc0e816c.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Australia%20GP%202009/F1driverportraits09.jpg BUT…I think Kimi’s just eager to get on the race track even more, that’s why he seems fed up with all the fuss! I’m the same! I can’t wait to see really how competitive it will be between Brawn GP, Ferrari and BMW and etc Now that the diffusers are given the all clear (for now) we still have to wait and see in a couple of races as Kimi has been saying. Kimi is so wise! it’s unbelievable lol
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Yeah, I thought he looked miserable as well, but it´s because he wants to get on with racing and not all this PR stuff which he hates; imagine him just wanting to get in that car and drive flat out, but he still has to do all these events and promotional things…they´re good for us fans, but tedious for him! Poor baby, don´t worry Sunday is almost here!!!Keep flying Kimi!!!
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