Minttu Raikkonen interview:
Is it more exciting to be at the track?
Minttu: “Sure, but it’s also more convient. I have here the feeling that I know what’s happening and what’s going on. I see lap times and hear communication through headphones. At home I only depend on TV broadcast.”
Kimi is now racing for Alfa Romeo
Minttu: “The feelings are the same. Moving to the midfield hasn’t taken away the excitement – or meant less interest. All the while, of course, I hope they improve step by step, and after all, it is really good to be at Alfa Romeo.”
Is Minttu worried when Kimi is on track?
Minttu: “Of course I’m nervous but I don’t really worry about Kimi. Only when it rains, I can feel a bit scared. Otherwise I’m never afraid, I’m just really excited and hope he’s doing well and will succeed. That’s the excitement. Being afraid wouldn’t help, it would be an endless swamp.”
How much of Kimi joining Instagram was due to Minttu?
Minttu: “Perhaps the biggest impact was that the world has changed so much. Nowadays, it’s more of a miracle that you’re not there. Of the F1 drivers, Sebastian Vettel is the only one not there. He wonders why Kimi is, but it is much more amazing to others that Sebastian is not on social media.”
Kimi is not so active on Instagram
Minttu: “It’s more sharing of pictures: there’s one word or some exclamation mark. I said to Kimi, that this is now the world what it is. It’s kind of good to be there. It’s good to have your own channel: if you have something to say, you can say it there. I always have to think about what to put on social media. I try to keep it as natural as possible – like I really am. Whatever I put in there is what life really is. Our whole life is not there, but the small moments that are there are real.”
What kind of approach does Minttu take when everyone knows Kimi so well? Fans are always around, and own peace will suffer.
Minttu: “I think if we fly somewhere to a race, attention is part of it. I told Kimi that the fans come there for him and I have advised to give at least a minute of the time for them. I understand that Kimi doesn’t like that fans touch him but if they come to ask for an autograph or a picture, there’s nothing wrong with that. Yes, in my own way, I would like to thank them every now and then.”
Minttu and Robin seem to be part of the family when they arrive at the Alfa Romeo motorhome.
Minttu: “There’s always a really warm spirit when I come here, and I feel welcome. Here is their own thing, and so was at Ferrari too.”
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