Thursday in Singapore; Kimi meets the media ( & videos posted)

Mark WEBBER:
I think it is great coming here. It is a brilliant change for us to
race at night. I think it worked very well last year in terms of the
atmosphere. I think it was pretty good whether you were a journalist,
photographer, spectator, driver, mechanic. I think it was just a unique
one and I think all sporting events at night have a little bit of a
different feel to them, an atmosphere. I think they have learned a
little bit with the track. They have changed a little bit this year
with the bumps here and there, a little bit of kerbing, the pit lane
entry and exit, there are a few little tweaks. It was a good event and
I like coming to this part of the world. It is not far from home for
me, so it is good.

Nico ROSBERG: I think it is a
fantastic event and it works really well. There is a bit of a question
mark if it rains, what the visibility is going to be like then with the
floodlights and everything but I guess it should be alright. Although
maybe with the spray and everything I don’t know. We will have to wait
and see. But it looks a bit unlikely that it will rain this weekend for
now but we will see.

Lewis HAMILTON: Petty much the same. It is a great track and a great show we put on last year and I am sure we can do the same this year.

Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN: Last
year was a nice race. We will see what we can do this year but
hopefully for us it should be a little better than last year but we
will see how it goes.

Q: Kimi, you have spoken about not having any more modifications on the Ferrari. What are your expectations for this race?

LH: It’s
not our job, really, to comment on it. Our job is to focus on our race
weekend and go out and try and put on a great show for everyone, that’s
what we’re here to do.

KR: It’s not our team…
Of course it’s not a nice thing but I don’t want to get involved in the
whole situation. There’s nothing that I can change there. You say some
things and then people write it sometimes wrongly and you end up
suddenly being part of it in the wrong way. We try to work in our team.
It’s not a nice thing for the sport but unfortunately some kind of
scandal seems to happen every year. Hopefully it stops at some point
and there’s more about racing.

Q: (Paulo Ianieri – La
Gazzetta dello Sport) Since you’re out there risking your lives, would
you feel comfortable to be racing close to another guy who you knew has
done something on purpose? He put himself in danger but he could also
put you in danger.

KR:
It’s the same story still. I have a contract and I guess they want to
talk about it, but it hasn’t really changed anything since the last
race or the race before.

Ferrari.com: Raikkonen: Night Driving – "Fit a dark visor!" – Kimi Raikkonen took part in the FIA press
conference this evening, as darkness fell on the Singapore track, and
the first question related to driving at night. In his usual laid-back
way, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver didn’t think it was a
problem. “It’s fine driving under floodlights at night, not much
different to any other circuit and it’s just like driving in daytime
really,” he said. “And if you feel it’s too bright, you can always fit
a dark visor!” …

Kimi Exclusive: Fully committed to Ferrari for 2010
From Formula1.com

Q: Kimi, towards the end of the season Ferrari are enjoying a
successful streak. Why did it take so long and how frustrating was it
to see the Brawns and Red Bulls win races, while you were sidelined in
an uncompetitive car?
Kimi Raikkonen: Well, we weren’t in the
right position at the beginning of the year, and we still don’t have
the fastest car, but I think we’ve got the maximum out of the car. The
people who are in front probably haven’t made any mistakes. What we
need to improve? More downforce. Otherwise the car is pretty good.
Downforce is what’s missing. When we achieve that, the car will be very
fast.

Q: After taking victory in Belgium, at Monza you seemed to have your old fire back. How important was your win in Spa to you?
KR: One
win doesn’t change my life. Does it make life easier when you win? I
don’t think so. But it is always nice to win, even though the next race
is the same old challenge again. If you win that’s nice, but people
will forget that very fast. Many times it only takes one race and then
people don’t remember that you’ve won. It was a good result for me and
it was much welcomed in the team after the season so far.

Q: But didn’t winning help remind you that you haven’t lost it?
KR: No,
I’ve never had doubts in that respect. You never lose that certain
touch of how to drive a car. It was just a difficult 2009 season. But
now we’ve proved that we can win. I think all these questions are more
in the head of the people outside. It’s not about me or anybody in the
team. And if you found me a bit more happy in Monza, believe me, there
are many other reasons to feel happy than a race win.

Q:
For a while you gave the impression that you could imagine more
exciting places to be than a paddock on a race weekend. Are you friends
again with Formula One racing?
KR: I think there are still
more exciting places. Racing is the nicest thing in the paddock, and I
am pretty sure that you wouldn’t see many drivers in the paddock if it
wasn’t for racing. Take the racing out and I doubt that you would find
any driver here. Racing is the main thing.

Q: You worked hard at the rally in Finland over the summer break. Could rallying be your future?
KR: I
like it and I think it is a great sport, and good fun also. It is
completely different to Formula One even though it is still driving. It
might happen in the future, or it might not. But for sure I want to do
more rallying, at least for fun. I will try to do it whenever I have
the chance and it does not conflict with my other things. I think it is
a great practice for Formula One and it gives me a good feeling.

Q:
Ferrari have had their share of unlucky moments this season with a
difficult car, a driver accident and now with a second reserve driver.
How much has that upset the routine of the team?
KR: For sure
it hasn’t been the easiest year for us, and it’s unfortunate that it’s
happened, but we are getting back to where we should be. Sometimes
times are difficult but then you have to make sure that you put all
strength into getting back to where you belong. Sometimes in hard times
you see what people are made off. That’s the good thing, as we are
improving with every race.

Q: It’s common knowledge that
you have a contract with Ferrari for 2010, but it seems the team have
three drivers and only two cockpits. Are you interested in a drive?
Will Ferrari have to make a decision by getting you all to play a round
of musical chairs?
KR: I always can only repeat that I have a
contract – and that has not changed. If they want to talk with me, we
need to sit down to talk. I am fully committed, as otherwise I would
not have signed the contract in the first place. Musical chairs… that
would be a funny idea!

Q: The FIA found Renault guilty of
deliberately causing an accident at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
What do you make of that? Are drivers that vulnerable to the influence
of their management?
KR: Well, it doesn’t matter what you do, some
people are easier to be manoeuvred into something than others. That has
nothing to do with Formula One. And a person with little experience is
always more vulnerable than somebody who has seen it all. I would say
that what happened is part of life and can happen everywhere.

Q: Ferrari were a bit unlucky at last year’s night race. Are you ready for another go, with a better result?
KR: Ha,
it shouldn’t be too difficult to have a better result than last year.
Hopefully we manage to do it. There should be some points in it for us.
A podium would be great but we will only know that tomorrow after
hitting the track.

Q: Who is your favourite for the title, and why?
KR: I
don’t really care who wins. We cannot win, so for me whoever wins
deserves it. For me Jenson (Button) is in the strongest position and I
think it would be difficult for him to lose it.