Steve Robertson, long-time manager of Kimi Raikkonen, reflects on the Finnish driver’s Formula One career:
“Never, in a million years, could I have believed that Kimi would still drive in F1 at 40. At the beginning, I thought that if a driver drives ten years in F1, it would be amazing. Obviously Kimi still loves driving. That’s the most stunning here.”
Kimi Raikkonen has an agreement with Alfa Romeo for next year. Can Kimi continue after that?
“When Kimi turned 35, I said that his career can’t last much longer. Now he’s 40 and next year 41. If he does his job in this style and still likes driving, I’ll never say never again.” – Steve Robertson said.
Mark Slade, who worked as a racing engineer for Kimi Räikkönen for a total of seven years (nowadays he works with Hülkenberg and has followed his Finnish friend’s career closely), also talks about the Finnish driver: “I remember how explosively fast he was at McLaren at the time. When Kimi became father, I wasn’t surprised that he enjoyed it so much. I remember how he once asked me how my children are. He showed genuine interest and I have not experienced it with anyone else. Sometimes he is a different guy, but I give him that.”
Mark Slade smiles broadly when asked what it feels like when Kimi continues his career at the age of 40: “People are attracted to Kimi’s approach to everything. It alone makes an impression. I really like Kimi. When you get to know him, there is no nicer person.”
