Zitat Räikkönen gets a new spark to the WDC-battle from qualification The Racing Nerd March 13, 2013
Translated by Nicole
F1 | Turun Sanomat 12:31
A year ago Lotus was predicted to be the black horse, but Kimi Räikkönen’s performance ability was a question mark. Now Kimi’s speed is known, but the car’s striking ability as well as reliability is now a question mark.
Räikkönen started last season after five testing days. Now he also has only five testing days – and considerably more shredded.
Was this the most shredded winter test from your whole career?
– In the final games I didn’t get many even testing days last year either. There weren’t many kilometers then either and we had problems. Hopefully the same happens as last year and the season begins better than the tests, Räikkönen ponders.
But last year you at least got to drive a race simulation. Are you now going to the opening race for the first time without even one race simulation in winter?
– I guess it has happened earlier also. In McLaren there were times when I didn’t drive much during any testing day, but then again they had a lot of driving days back then, Räikkönen smiles while packing his few belongings in a backpack on his way home.
A faster car gives a good feeling
But lets not paint devils on the wall because of difficulties in winter tests. Isn’t that why tests are arranged, so that all possible flaws can be located and fixed. Now the flaws were found in the gearbox and telemetry.
Singular and renewed mistakes cost half of the scheduled track-time that was meant for Räikkönen.
– As always it’s useless to draw conclusions of anyone’s speed since the first qualification reveals everything. I’ve been doing this things for such a long time that I would assume we also have quite a good pace, Räikkönen ponders.
– We knew ever since the first test that we have a better car than last year. It has a better grip in corners and a better speed on straights. But is it enough to drive for top positions, that remains to be seen until the first races, Räikkönen says.
– We can’t help that we couldn’t drive more, but I can tell you this much; every time I could drive the car it felt good. I trust that the feeling is just as good in the opening races also, especially since the weather is warmer and we get the tires to work better.
Räikkönen’s trusted engineer Mark Slade nods aside and agrees with Kimi’s evaluation of the E21.
– We are reasonably satisfied about how the car is at this stage. Of course we hoped to learn more about the car, tires and situations in tests. We drove least since we were unfortunate. It wasn’t due to the car itself, Slade says.
Then what about the qualification? Last season the slightly rusty Räikkönen had an average of 7,45 in qualification. The average was 8,8 in the first half of the season but improved to 6,3 in the other half of the season. Is your goal this year to get back in pole position?
– It would surely help. But on the other hand that is not how the WDC-battle is decided – like we saw last season, Räikkönen said.
Slade reminds that Räikkönen’s qualification speed hasn’t disappeared anywhere.
– I believe that Kimi’s speed on one lap is the same as it always has been. The question last season was how we can learn to take the best of the tires in qualification. The car wasn’t exactly designed for that. Kimi was learning it just like I was also learning it with our team. We learned a lot in the end of the season although there still was more to learn. – Now the new tire seems to be easier during one lap, Slade emphasized.
If it is from Finland...judging by the reflections in the window it could well be , its not a recent one.. h" title="hih" /> We have here about 60-80 centimeters snow and right now there is more to come " title="mad" /> . Its March for gods sake..But I think positively and make an assumptions this will be icemans year. " title="hula" />
guy who first sended this photo on instagram wrote tags "Kimi Raikkonen, Finland..." so therefore I think that it is from Finland h" title="hih" /> but I´m not sure
Zitat von AppletreeIf it is from Finland...judging by the reflections in the window it could well be , its not a recent one.. We have here about 60-80 centimeters snow and right now there is more to come . Its March for gods sake..But I think positively and make an assumptions this will be icemans year.
.But I think positively and make an assumptions this will be icemans year.
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every cell in my body hopes this! " title="holy" />
Helsingin Sanomat 15.3.2013 (paper edition) By Ari Pusa
Kimi Räikkönen wants to be in the top group immediately when the season begins. Speed in qualification decides a lot.
The CEO of Lahti Golf, Tommi Nikunen, got last summer a phone call from Kimi Räikkönen in the middle of the day on Sunday. Kimi Räikkönen asked if his helicopter could land on the golf course in Takkula.
Nikunen was afraid to give permission since he wasn't present himself.
Räikkönen found another place where his helicopter could land on, so that the passenger, a man from Lahti, got to his working place by evening
This small story tells a lot about Räikkönen. He takes care of his friends to the very end and helps them whenever they need help.
Among friends he is everything else but the Iceman.
On F1-tracks Räikkönen doesn't however get rid of his reputation as an Iceman. And there's no need for it either.
The audience likes his cool being.
When Räikkönen won the only race last season in Abu Dhabi, he asked for radio silence from his team by saying: Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing.
The slogan started to live its own life and it was seen in televisions from many countries for a long time.
The beginning season is for Räikkönen the second year of his second comeback. Räikkönen got bored with F1 and his life at Ferrari in autumn 2009.
The feeling was mutual. Ferrari was pulling Räikkönen from one PR-event to another. It was nerve wrecking for Räikkönen and it affected his motivation.
In the end Ferrari paid Räikkönen a compensation of 12,5 million euros for terminating his contract. He was replaced by the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who's southern nature sat better in the Italian team than the Finn who was fond of having his own peace.
Räikkönen wants to immediately be in top when Australia GP starts on Sunday. However a lot depends upon the qualification on Saturday.
Lotus isn't necessarily in a shape which allows Räikkönen to take the pole or the front row.
A year ago the long break was seen in Räikkönen's grips. He made rude mistakes in his first qualification and was left with 18th position in the starting grid. Räikkönen was his own self in the actual race and finished 7th, whereas his teammate Grosjean flashed in qualification but crashed and retired in the race.
Räikkönen's driving style has changed during the years. He wants to bring the car to the finish line and he doesn't take unnecessary risks.
The reason for this could be his bonus-contract, which according to Veikkaaja-magazine gives him 38 000 euros (50 000 dollars) for each point that he scores.
Räikkönen scored 207 points and at the end of the season he even surprised the team management. Lotus had difficulties in paying Räikkönen his over 10 million euros of bonuses, but due to new sponsors the financial pressures have taken off.
In a way Räikkönen himself went out to get a payer for his bonuses, because the team would have been in troubles without his points and seven podiums.
That last paragraph made me think that Kimi is to large to fit in Lotus, I hope not. I do hope Lotus gets his act together and makes the most out of their WC driver.
Also makes me want to see what Kimi could do with a Red Bull... I guess we'll never know.
That last paragraph made me think that Kimi is to large to fit in Lotus, I hope not. I do hope Lotus gets his act together and makes the most out of their WC driver.
Also makes me want to see what Kimi could do with a Red Bull... I guess we'll never know.
I wouldn't be so sure. If Vettel beats Webber again this year: I think webber will retire. And I'm not sure ricciardo or vergne are anything special. Red bull may try to lure Kimi
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Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:55 pm
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This thread has been closed. 
h" title="hih" /> We have here about 60-80 centimeters snow and right now there is more to come 
" title="mad" /> . Its March for gods sake..But I think positively and make an assumptions this will be icemans year. 
" title="hula" />
" title="hello" /> 
" title="hug" />
" title="holy" />
" title="ii" />
" title="greetings" />
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" title="dunno" />