Video: Räikkönen in IL-TV's interview: Are you scared, Kimi?

Iltalehti met with Kimi Räikkönen at the Geneva Motor Show

Kimi Räikkönen sits behind the wheel of formula car within a couple of weeks to compete first time since 2009. After spending two years in WRC, return to F1 does not shake Räikkönen much.

- I have driven more formula races than rally. I know what's going on and what the circumstances are. Rally was completely new to me, says Raikkonen in IL-TV's interview in Geneva Motor Show.

Räikkönen has been asked about differences between rally and formula in several interviews, but what does motorsport's multi-talent think which is more dangerous.

- In any sport something can happen. Speed does not have to be high, if you're unlucky. In formula they have invested a lot to security and run-off areas. In rally it is usually trench, tree, stone or such [which you collide]. If you consider it only by eye, the result would be that rally is more dangerous, 32 year old driver says.

How about does the fear sneak into mind on the track?

- It is probably wrong sport, if you think that, Raikkonen points out briefly.



Source: IL
Courtesy:reppo

Räikkönen shined with satisfaction

Iltalehti was the only Finnish media in private rooms of Lotus at the Geneva Motor Show. There was Kimi Räikkönen himself answering the question

Lotus has been the biggest sensation in winter tests. It does not necessarily say anything about the final strengt, but of course it is better to be fast than slow in tests.

What is the secret of the speed of Lotus?

- It behaves well and responds to setups, all the normal things are in order. All of course wants more downforce, but it is just small things, no major problems.

How do you think that Lotus will be placed in future races?

- Hard to say how it will go in race. A couple of weeks and then we'll see.

There has been much talk about tyres before the start of the season. Have you had trouble getting used to these narrow rubbers?

- It has really not been a problem. I don't have anything to compare from last year. If I had been driving other tyres, maybe then, now there is nothing that I should be expecting. Well, maybe they'll wear out more than before.

Read the full Kimi Räikkönen interview in the newspaper tomorrow.

PENTTI RÖNKKÖ

Courtesy: reppo

IL: Kimi will not ask permission for party

Return to F1 tracks in Lotus does not cause changes in Kimi Räikkönen's leisure time celibration, Iltalehti tells.

Kimi, who has sometimes been famous of his parties, says that his attitude to alcohol has not changed anyway.

- If I want to go out and have fun, I'll go. I do not have any problem with it. No-one forbids me, and I need not to ask permission from anyone, Raikkonen says to Iltalehti in Zurich.

Source: Iltalehti
MTV3

Courtesy: reppo

Finnish tabloid claims: Ziigmund and Kimi Räikkönen "played for hundreds of thousands"

A Finnish tabloid magazine is claiming that Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies and the race car driver, former Formula One World Champion Kimi "Iceman" Räikkönen recently played a huge poker game where hundreds of thousands were on the line. Ziigmund and the Iceman say they did play but just for fun.

The Seiska magazine claims that Räikkönen challenged Ziigmund to the game in Helsinki in June and that the F1 champion first won approximately €500,000 from the pro before losing it back.

Another Finnish tabloid, Iltalehti, got hold of both men for comments and they deny the rumor about the sums in play.

"Sure I play poker, but those claims are not true," Räikkönen is quoted as saying. His agent Riku Kuvaja adds that the stakes were "a few euros" maximum.

Ziigmund's comment is along the same lines. "Nah, it was just for fun. Let's say we played just for matches," Ilari said.

Räikkönen's agent says his client is not particularly experienced in poker. The two men have met before, but this was the first time they played together.

Iltalehti draws rather colorful comparisons between the two men, saying they both have "a close relationship with alcohol" and listing some of their drunken feats: Räikkönen has fallen off from the deck of his boat, taken out his penis at a strip club and physically attacked Michael Schumacher, while Ilari "once lost 1.3 million euros in one day because of a hangover".

Naturally, if Ziigmund had the chance he would probably love to play for "hundreds of thousands" with a rich amateur player like the Iceman, whose reported income in 2008 was 30 million euros - not quite as much as Guy Laliberte's but plenty for a friendly game with a real poker pro.

Source: Coinflip.com
Courtesy: _TaniaS_