In Singapore this week for his 307th start, Räikkönen also took time out to launch a new timepiece in collaboration with Alfa Romeo team sponsor Richard Mille: the RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen. The extremely technical calibre is made of Grade 5 titanium and carbon TPT movement that weighs a total of just seven grams and comes in a limited edition of 30. STYLE caught up with the fan favourite driver to talk F1 racing, watches, and what success means to him today.
What excites you most about this F1 race in Singapore?
Kimi: To me they are all similar, just in different places and in different countries. It’s very similar how it works for us, it’s an evening race here. It’s going to be a long, long race on Sunday so it’s always a big challenge here. It’s hot and humid here so it’s different to, say, Europe, but we’ve been like this for awhile so it’s interesting.
You’ve started with a new team at Alfa Romeo this year. Have the changes been as you expected? Were there any particular challenges?
Kimi: I don’t think there was any big challenge. A lot of people think it’s a challenge, you work with a different team and everything runs a different way. I’ve worked with different teams before. At the end of the day, the work we do as a driver, it’s a very similar thing. It doesn’t matter which team you go with. Maybe the big picture is slightly different here and there but we have our meetings, trying to sort out the cars as best as we can, do the set-up right … so that doesn’t change.
People who work next to you might be different, like the engineer, but then again with Alfa Romeo, I’ve worked with some of the engineers before, some multiple times. Kimi: I mean you always have doubts because every car is slightly different; some cars are more easy for you to drive. I’ve changed teams a few times so I really know what to expect and so far it has been going really smoothly.
What would your dream race look like? What would you be driving, who would you be racing against and where would this be happening?
Kimi: Next to my home would be a great place! I don’t need to travel then. We cannot choose where or who we race but I have been very blessed that I’ve been able to race with [Michael] Schumacher before his accident and a lot of the old guys who have not been around for many years, in that generation. I raced with different cars. I’m not able to pick from those because it would be easy to say, “oh this car is from 10 years ago”. I think if we were to take them now and do some laps with them, probably the memory would not be the same. After a while you’d say, “this is a great car, but I’m pretty sure that car is much nicer and easier to drive and faster”. I’m happy where we are and who we race against.
How do you mentally prepare for each race? Is it the same for every circuit?
Kimi: No I don’t really have [a ritual]. I think all the races that we’ve been in the past, we know the tracks. Some lighting changes completely and the conditions over the years, that’s what makes it more different than anything else. Sometimes you need to go to the tracks and check it out and then everybody kind of learns from that. When we go to these places, I remember from past years the good and the bad. I need to psyche myself more than that! But it starts like everything starts, you have to practice and that’s really to get everything sorted and try things. It’s not like we jump straight into the race so you build up the momentum. What works for me, I’m sure is a completely separate thing from my teammates. As with anything in life, you kind of know what is good for you, what is not from the experience of living your life and figuring it out.
What’s the difference racing in daylight and artificial light? And which do you prefer? Besides F1, what other kinds of races do you like? Monster trucks? Nascar?
Kimi: No monster trucks, although my friends always joke that that is the future for me because you can drive and race until you are old! When you’re driving, it’s not really any different [in daylight or evening] because the lights are good in some places. There may be some shadows in some places, but you get the same even on a sunny day if there’s a tree somewhere. Especially here, in the daytime when we practice, it’s not very different except that it’s cooler [in the evening], so I think it works better for every team because we kind of stay in more European time. I think it’s beneficial for us.
You have been racing for 18 years. Do you see any big change in your perspective? Or in personality?
Kimi: Like I said before, I think in real life at the beginning, you do what you want, even nowadays, but you learn. You have the times when you want to go out and see your friends but then other things come [that are] more interesting to you. I’m not 20 any more; I wouldn’t want to be 20 again! It was fun [at] that time but you have to live your life and there are more important things in life now for me. I’m sure if I were 20 now and somebody asked me that, I wouldn’t know that I’m here today and I have two kids and a lovely wife. It’s just that life moulds you. Good or bad, I always do what I feel is right for me. It’s been good or you wouldn’t be living for yourself. This is where I’ve ended up so far and I’m very happy. I wouldn’t change things that I’ve done in the past, even some not so good things, because it’s all learning.
As a racing car driver, obviously success is winning races on the track, but off the track what defines success for you?
Kimi: A happy life. That’s pretty much it, really. My family. I try to relax and do normal things, I’ve always done so. Success is not always to win something. As long as you live a happy life, it’s fine.
Could you tell us a bit more about what excites you about collaboration with Richard Mille and also what attracts you to a watch?
Kimi: Honestly I’ve been in teams and with the different brands and I’ve never been really the guy to wear a watch because it was uncomfortable. It’s never appealed to me. I was a bit sceptical when we signed the deal, I knew it was a watch brand, but once I got my watch I was so surprised. I didn’t really use a watch because I don’t like the feeling of this but now you don’t even notice it so that that’s completely different. Because in the past it bothers you and now I don’t even notice it. It’s a great looking watch and it doesn’t weigh anything. Now for me, it’s perfect. I’m the perfect guy to test this thing and I absolutely like it. It’s very light and easy to wear so I can wear it all the time and it doesn’t disturb at all. I’m very happy with the outcome.
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