21 October 2007, Interlagos. The Brazilian GP, which ends the World Championship, has just finished. There on the podium, while confetti is raining from the sky, Kimi Räikkönen celebrates the conquest of his first (and only) championship title in the first season with the Cavallino. It’s the last signature in the Formula One World Championship Hall of fame by a Ferrari driver. Stefano Domenicali was the sporting director of the Prancing Horse on that day twelve years ago and he still has certain scenes in front of his eyes and also forever imprinted like tattoos on his skin. The current president of Lamborghini tells us: “As you can well imagine, back then (that time too) the celebrations at Ferrari were very intense. I don’t remember his phrases in particular, but I can never forget his way of doing and his tone in saying things on occasions such as these, which only those who know and appreciate him can fully understand. As a result, his hugs when he lets himself go are very particular. From this point of view, I have to say that Kimi Räikkönen doesn’t let the people who have been closest to him lack anything from every point of view. So he is absolutely transparent and I think this is one of the best characteristics that sets him apart even among today’s drivers”.
I understand that in your long experience in Maranello also Kimi Räikkönen has really remained in your heart. Or am I wrong?
“Kimi Räikkönen is currently the F1 veteran and has always had one great characteristic: to be what you see. In short, not a person used to doing politics: all he does is what he feels, without further filters and no kind of behaviour related to an unknown objective. And so the transparency and correctness that has always distinguished him, especially in personal relationships, is a great characteristic. A guy who, beyond the fact that he has been nicknamed Iceman, has a great sensitivity like all people who have this kind of attitude that when seen from the outside seems very cold, or rather detached. Kimi is a very sensitive person, with a big heart, but you can only discover the intensity in the relationship if you are someone he considers a friend. It should be stressed that entering into a relationship with him is not easy because he has a tendency to have a barrier, not because, as they say in slang, he pulls it. No, that’s just the way he is. But when you enter his personal sphere I must say that you get to know a very, very helpful, generous person who is obviously different from what public opinion has always made of him.”
What’s your assessment of the driver?
“As a driver Räikkönen has always been very fast and in his career he could have collected also a lot more but from the point of view of his characteristics I have to say that his sensitivity in tyre management, especially in the race, I think you can position him as one of the best from this point of view because his ability to manage the durability of the tyres as long as possible has always been known. Kimi has a very clean driving style, very conservative as far as the rear tyres are concerned. He is very good at retaining the rear of the car even in really difficult conditions.”
Tell us about his relationship with his team mates…
“Again, very direct relationships. Zero politics. He has always suffered from unclear situations and when he felt that on the other side there wasn’t the same fairness that was reciprocated. But Kimi has always been like that in general also with other colleagues in Formula One. His way of being transparent and direct in my opinion is the best feature of the Finn. In this respect he is the driver who stands out most of all…”
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