formula 1 IN foCuS

56 NOVEMBER 2008

He could be 104 years old and completely washed out, but Kimi Raikonnen would still knock the socks

off his 20-year-old rivals. No one dares bet against him. Because what Kimi wants, more often than not, Kimi gets. But the question on everyone’s mind is: does he still really want it?

The reigning champion signed a contract extension with Ferrari till 2010, which is positive. Even though his form has evaded him, his speed hasn’t let up. So common sense and our powers of deduction say no. But let’s look at it practically.

PROFESSIONALFirst things first, the results: the start of the season saw him headed in the right direction and towards a repeat of last year, except this time he wanted to do it the right way. He had his best start to a season ever this year and raced away to 35 points off the first five races. At the half way mark, he was only four points short of last year’s mark and still on course for a second consecutive title.

What Kimi wants, Kimi gets. But the question on everyone’s mind is: does the reigning champion still really want it?BY RAHUL RAVINDRAN

KIMI RAIKONNEN

NOVEMBER 2008 57

NOTDONEYET!

Then Ferrari lost their way and Kimi was faced with a challenge believed to be his greatest weakness: the ability to work with a team that’s underperforming and still win races. A hapless Kimi was quoted on the official Formula One Website as saying, “I can’t explain this dark period and there’s nothing I can do to change what happened. It’s difficult to find the right words. Racing at night or during the day, this is definitely not my year. It seems as if the more we try to improve the situation the less we get in the end.”

There is truth in what he says as Ferrari have struggled this season, especially with Kimi. It has been the uncanny driving errors and reliability issues that have cost them dearly, which ended up acting as confidence boosters for the rest of the pack. While his start was commendable, the second half of the season was disastrous. Kimi has scored a miserly 21 points off the last eight races when last year he scored a whopping 58 of the last eight.

Then why sign him for two more years over a double world champion only waiting to be asked? Other than Kimi’s immense talent, what might have persuaded Ferrari to extend his almost-one-million-dollars-a-week salary was the fact that, in spite of having a dreadful tail end of the season, he hasn’t

I can’t explaIn thIs dark perIod and there’s

nothIng I can do to

change what happened

lost his pace. His race speed is still by far the best and most consistent and the table exemplifies it.

This is remarkable considering that he has been “short on confidence”, “losing faith in his abilities” and “doubting himself for the first time” according to a large portion of the media. This just shows that he is still capable of putting in stunning performances consistently. His effectiveness might have been found wanting this season but not his class.

But there is also some truth in what has been said and Kimi is well aware of it. He has had his share of bad luck, but he hasn’t helped matters by making mistakes like the one in Singapore while in a good position. “Once again we had the right speed, but not when it was really necessary. The fastest race laps aren’t worth anything, if you don’t combine them with the situation when they really count,” said the frustrated Finn after the first Singapore Grand Prix.

PERSONALIt’s quite obvious that he would have got a dressing down from the Italians as they lost the constructors’ lead for the first time since being on top this season. Immediately he was found making statements about him now working only for the team and instead of chasing a then mathematically

possible driver’s championship. He has responded well with a

composed and safe podium finish in Japan while his team-mate battled to get into point scoring position. This is the basic difference between Massa and Raikkonen. Massa is fast and can be really aggressive but there is a thin line between being an aggressive driver and winning a world championship, and being just plain stupid.

Both Massa and Hamilton have choked going into the last few races. This just proves that though it was to an extent handed to him last year, Kimi was right there grabbing every point given away. Massa and Hamilton both have had their share of chances to run away with the title but have just not been able to finish off each other, even allowing Kubica to catch up and have a long shot at the title.

But what has been missing this year is the show of character and class of last season. While the two McLaren brats yelped and tugged at each others egos, Kimi kept his cool. He did what was required of him until the two front runners eventually slipped.

This season he hasn’t had that opportunity after a string of no point races bugged him out of the title race. The things that made him Kimi the iceman, who cared about nothing and just went about his business like a nine-to-five job, are now looked at very differently.

It’s true that anything goes while you’re on top. His partying habits which made him cool are now seen as blatant signs of him losing interest in the sport. His ‘body language’, it seems, is of a man not burning with a desire to win. But seriously, when has Kimi ever looked like he wanted anything but to sail into the sea and sunbathe with a nice cool one?

Since Bernie Ecclestone has sheltered his prized possessions behind an impenetrable shell of those helmets, one can only speculate about the mood of a driver from as little evidence as a raised eyebrow. That’s the reason why we have to rely on the numbers and the timings and forget about body language and the likes. But it’s up to Kimi really. And if he’s still there in Formula One, you can bet your house that he’ll be up there with the best of them.

58 NOVEMBER 2008 NOVEMBER 2008 59

formula 1 IN foCuS

KIMI’S SEASON COMPARISON 2007 Position Pts 2008 Position Pts

1 AUS 1 10 AUS 8 1

2 MAL 3 16 MAL 1 11

3 BHR 3 22 BHR 2 19

4 ESP - 22 ESP 1 29

5 MON 8 23 TUR 3 35

6 CAN 5 27 MON 9 35

7 USA 4 32 CAN - 35

8 FRA 1 42 FRA 2 43

9 GBR 1 52 GBR 4 48

10 EUR - 52 GER 6 51

11 HUN 2 60 HUN 3 57

12 TUR 2 68 EUR - 57

13 ITA 3 74 BEL 18 57

14 BEL 1 84 ITA 9 57

15 JPN 3 90 SIN 15 57

16 CHN 1 100 JPN 3 63

17 BRA 1 110 CHN 3 69

BRA

KIMI’S RACE SPEED Fastest Lap Kimi’s Fastest Difference Rank

AUS 1:27.418 1:27.903 +.485 4

MAL 1:35.366 1:35.405 +.039 2

BHR 1:33.193 1:33.709 +.516 4

ESP 1:21.670 1:21.670 0 1

TUR 1:26.506 1:26.506 0 1

MON 1:16.689 1:16.689 0 1

CAN 1:17.387 1:17.387 0 1

FRA 1:16.630 1:16.630 0 1

GBR 1:32.150 1:32.150 0 1

GER 1:15.987 1:16.342 +.355 3

HUN 1:21.195 1:21.195 0 1

EUR 1:38.708 1:39.424 +.716 5

BEL 1:47.930 1:47.930 0 1

ITA 1:28.047 1:28.047 0 1

SIN 1:45.599 1:45.599 0 1

JPN 1:18.426 1:18.995 +.569 2

CHN 1:36.325 1:36.483 +.158 2

BRA