Kimi's dad was the center of the gang

Kimi Räikkönen's dad Matti Räikkönen, 56, died suddenly on Wednesday

Kikka Kuosmanen who worked as Kimi Räikkönen's publicist for a long time was surprised just like the others when hearing that Matti Räikkönen had suddenly passed away. Kuosmanen has been a close friend to Räikkönen's family for almost 20 years.

- This is a huge sorrow now that it's Christmas. This was a sudden and suprising matter. My condolences to the family, Kikka Kuosmanen said.

- If anyone Matti was a friendly and outgoing person. He was always the center of the gang. It's hard to describe him more at this point because I just heard about his death, Kuosmanen said.


Mika Salo: There would be no Kimi without Matti

- Matti was Kimi's biggest supporter right from the beginning. Without Matti there would be no Kimi. Not many fathers have helped their son as much as Matti has, Mika Salo says.

Salo sends his condolences to Räikkönen's family.

- Matti left too early, Salo says.


Matti Kyllönen sends his condolences to Kimi Räikkönen

Matti Kyllönen was shocked after hearing what happened to Matti Räikkönen.

- A completely shocking news. My deepest condolences to the relatives, Matti Kyllänen said.

He knows that the loss was huge for Kimi Räikkönen.

- They had a particularly warm and close relationship. Father and son were really much in touch with each other.

Kyllönen also thinks with warmth about his own father who passed away a year ago.

- He comes to my mind especially during Christmas. I can only imagine what Kimi is thinking now.

Courtesy: Nicole

Heikki Kovalainen - Fonecta TV Spot (HD)

This new ad is one of the biggest TV spots ever made in Finland. If features my dad, Seppo, digging the telephone cable to find out who called him from unknown number ;)

Source: OfficialKovalainen

Hamilton invites dad to British GP

Lewis Hamilton is set to be reunited with his father this weekend at Silverstone as the pair continue to rebuild their fragile relationship.

Anthony Hamilton, who had previously attended all his son's races, has not been to a grand prix this season after being sacked by Lewis as his manager shortly before the start of the campaign.

But Lewis expects him to be cheering him on at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

"I think he's coming, yeah - I've invited him. It will be good that he's there," he said in The Sun.

"I've got grandstand tickets so I said you can choose whether you want to be in the paddock or the grandstand.

"I said he should go into the paddock but then he should go and experience something different because he's always watched it either from TV or in the paddock."

The pair did not speak for several weeks after Lewis' shock decision and their relationship remains fragile.

However, the 25-year-old, who leads the Championship standings by six points, nevertheless believes it was the right decision.

He added: "Everything is not 100% but we're definitely continuing to build on the relationship and things are moving slowly.

"We're letting things take their time and move naturally rather than forcing things.

"He's always sending me positive messages before the race. But it has given me space. I've just grown.

"Bit by bit I've focused on things, working in certain areas that I didn't necessarily understand or know about before.

"Sometimes it takes longer but it's going well."

Source: Planet F1