ZitatKimi Raikkonen: "I am as well prepared as a year ago"
23/02/2013, exclusive interview
Race organizers Stars "Driving" and their partners from the Russian representative did Renault motorsport fans a real gift, this year one of the special guests of the event was Kimi Raikkonen. For Finn is not the first visit to our country, and interviews F1News.Ru we decided to start with the events that took place many years ago.
Q: As far as we know, his first experience of international performances you purchased in Russia - it was a long time when your career in motor racing was just beginning, and you were in karting competitions somewhere in St. Petersburg, which was then still called Leningrad. Do you remember those days? KR: Yes, many years ago I did take part in winter kart race, and it was fun!
Q: Do you remember who else won, you or someone else? KR: I do not remember. Then conducted and team competitions, and the cup of nations and individual races, but I do not remember how I was made ...
Q: Let's go back to the events of the more recent: How long to you the difference between last year's off-season and winter tests, which take place now? Kimi Raikkonen: The difference, in fact, not so great: the same team that E21 can be compared with last year's car, is that the tires are slightly different. The only noticeable difference is that I know much better this team.
Q: But it seems that this year, you are more confident of success? KR: No, now I have no more confidence than a year ago. I still do not know how things will develop, and what we can achieve. This will become clear only when the race will begin. And while early to judge.
Q: Last year your E20 was really fast on some tracks, but with others cope worse. Now have a rough idea, waiting for a Lotus repetition of this situation, or the team was able to cope with last year's weaknesses machine? KR: I do not know. It is too early to say what will happen, because the tests do not run out. I hope everything will be fine, but if we are fast enough? This will become clear only during the races, but guess no special meaning.
Q: But you have repeatedly said that E21 produces quite a positive experience ... KR: Yeah, it's true, the machine is good and fast, but then again, the question is, will it be enough?
Q: What can you say about the new tires Pirelli? Indeed, in Spain was cold, and the race will take place at higher temperatures: whether to test any of the tires? KR: With tires about repeated situation last year, I do not think we can speak of a noticeable difference. It remains to carry out another test session, and then we go to Australia for the first race of the season, where we should expect a very different weather conditions. And we just have to go all out to achieve the best result possible.
The difficulties with the tires are at all, but if we worry about it, but will not improve the situation. You just have to keep working.
Q: Many observers and riders of other teams believe that Lotus this year, probably is one of the favorites of the season. Are you agree with this opinion? Kimi Raikkonen: I hope so. But all will become clear when the season starts, and we have a few races. Meanwhile, during the final test session to improve the reliability of the machine and try to pick up their speed.
Q: How can understand, you feel fully prepared for the start of the season? Does this mean that you are willing to fight for victory right from Melbourne? KR: I just as well prepared as a year ago. We will try to succeed immediately, but will it or not, I do not know.
Q: You are working with Mark Arnell, your physical conditioning coach? Kimi Raikkonen: Yeah.
Q: How important is it for racing in Formula 1, to prepare for the season helped him a specialist, as Arnell? KR: Some people like to work with a personal trainer, some - not. Someone has a personal trainer, someone does not have - all their preferences. Someone tries to prepare for the season and train yourself. We collaborate with Mark for many years, from the time when I played for McLaren, we have a great relationship, he knows what I want to achieve, and he knows how to do it.
Q: Periodically renewed debate about the fact that in Formula 1, unlike other sports, there are no trainers, who would prepare pilots directly to the races. Do you think that this is really the problem? KR: I have no such problem, but about others I do not know and can not speak.
Q: Last year, there was much debate about the manner of flying and fighting ethics on the track during the race, as some participants of the championship of the world were serious concerns in this respect. This season in Formula 1 again came young inexperienced drivers: you is somewhat worried about? KR: Probably not. Everyone knows that if you make a mistake, for it will have to pay a price. So it is better not to. Unfortunately, accidents do occur, and you find yourself in a difficult situation, even if your not at fault. But such are the race: on the road can happen, anything.
Question: Looking back on the experience of last season and the fact that the car has not changed too much, can we suppose, on what routes and in which races Lotus has the best chance of success? KR: I do not know! However, the new car, tires - also changed, so I'm not going to make forecasts. Will start the race - and then see what we can achieve. I also hope in the course of the season we will be able to upgrade E21 and increase its speed.
ZitatThe pilots of Formula 1 race on the traditional stars "Driving"
The roar of the engine on the racetrack. In Moscow, the traditional Race Stars "at the wheel." This year, the company's best avtorallistam Russia were once two pilots of Formula 1. Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Peak. Which driver was better on the ice road, knows Ruslan Mamedov.
"Such a race, even with the king was not!". Word of the fans with the experience far from the truth. Crowded the podium at the Moscow Hippodrome are rare. Especially in winter. But the reason was. Just two combat pilots arrived at the royal racing race stars world champion Kimi Raikkonen and last year's newcomer Charles Pic. By tradition, the first press conference. As it turned out, not all drivers know the face.
Kimi Raikkonen PILOT TEAM LOTUS F1 TEAM
"I'm afraid to disappoint you, but I'm not Mike, I'm Kimi. Khakin but also a good racer. You asked about my first car. Yes, it really was a "harmony". She got me another, and worked very well. Then I gave it to one friend, but I know that it is still on the run. "
After the official part of the riders headed to the track, where they were in full-time duel to reveal the strongest.
Ruslan Mamedov CORRESPONDENT
"Confrontation Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Pick on European circuits of Formula 1 is difficult to imagine. But in Moscow, the pilots met face to face on equal machines: who would win? French or Finn? "
Raikkonen took the best start. But at the beginning of the second round ahead of rival Charles Peak, the best path entered the turn and started to build up an advantage. In the end, he managed to beat Iceman, for which the snow and ice - almost native element, two seconds
Kimi Raikkonen PILOT TEAM LOTUS F1 TEAM
"It was a very closed race. My car skidded slightly in the second turn and Charles took the lead. And it is impossible to overtake. Even my rally experience has not helped. This is a very slippery track. Nothing good on her, I did not. "
Much more is waiting for the upcoming Finnish Formula season. According to Kimi, "Lotus" can expect to fight for first place in the first Grand Prix. But so far, in contrast to his chief friend in Formula 1 Sebastian Vettel, Raikkonen on new titles is not thinking.
Kimi Raikkonen PILOT TEAM LOTUS F1 TEAM
"No, I do not have any special dreams in Formula 1. It is not my task to win five league titles or anything like that. I just want to do what I like and enjoy it. "
Chance to fight with the pilots of Formula 1 and got "three-time champion" race stars Russian Kirill Ladygin. In the first race avtorallist easily beat Peak. The duel with Raikkonen turned harder. Finn better start, but on the last lap and yawned attack Russians left behind. The following year, Raikkonen, Peak and the company will come back to Russia. Sochi Grand Prix is already included in the Formula 1 calendar.
Zitat25/02/2013 KIMI STARS ON THE ICE IN MOSCOW Kimi Räikkönen was the headline act at the ‘Race of Stars’ this weekend; a unique activity staged in Moscow, Russia where drivers take to a temporary track covered entirely with ice within Moscow’s Hippodrome
Alongside fellow 2013 Formula 1 competitor Charles Pic, Kimi competed in races using specially adapted Renault Duster and Logan cars; the all-terrain, lightweight 4x4 vehicles from the French marque.
The Race of the Stars is one of the longest-running motorsports events staged in Russia, with 23 editions to date. The concept of the race is simple; all competing drivers [selected from various motorsport disciplines in Russia and beyond] take part in qualifying before being divided into four test groups. After four 15 minute semi-finals, the grand finale takes place with a three-loop sprint around the arena. The winner of this event was then pitted against Kimi and Charles to decide the ultimate victor.
Some of the biggest names in the discipline have competed in the event, including four-times Formula 1 World champion Alain Prost, Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and Kimi’s team-mate Romain Grosjean.
Kimi already has significant experience of driving on ice and not just from his days back in Finland, having competed in the FIA World Rally Championship for two seasons with entries into the Arctic and Sweden rallies in 2010 and 2011.
Speaking after the event, Kimi said "It was good to be back on an ice track after a while away. It made a change from Barcelona and my regular Formula 1 car! You need a very different driving style on ice; you have to be very smooth on the throttle and brakes and feed the steering in, but a small drift can also be pretty fun… I enjoyed it, particularly seeing so many fans out here."
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Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:49 pm
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and Kimi really lost 
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" title="ty" /> miezi 
he matures very nicely!
arts" title="hearts" /> I love the short hair 
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