Back On The Podium

Am so happy for my dear Kimi. Yes, Mr. Raikkonen is now back on podium! Yes, it was close to getting a pole position in yesterday's qualifying but still, he's back. That's the thing...

Today's results, Monaco GP (May 24, 2009)

1. Jenson Button (Brawn Mercedes)
2. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn Mercedes)
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

and guess who's fourth? None other than the other scarlet car driver, Felipe Massa. Yes, it's Ferrari 3-4 today!

Oh and by the way, the heat is extremely annoying today.....

Yayyyy!

From The Official Formula One Website,

Ferrari confirm Raikkonen to end of 2010

Ferrari have announced an extension to Kimi Raikkonen’s contract for a further two seasons, keeping the world champion with the Italian team until the end of 2010.With Raikkonen’s team mate Felipe Massa also under contract for that period, it means Ferrari’s race line-up will remain unchanged until at least the start of their 2011 campaign.Raikkonen joined Ferrari from McLaren last season, while Massa has been with the team since 2006. The announcement should end media speculation suggesting that Raikkonen may retire at the end of this season.

Exclusive Raikkonen Q&A: We need to take every chance

Never underestimate a sly old fox. When most had discounted him as a title contender, last year Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen gave his competitors a dressing down in the season’s final races and walked away with the crown. With a 19-point deficit on championship leader Lewis Hamilton, Raikkonen seems to be facing a similar situation in 2008, though now with team mate Felipe Massa also among his rivals. Ferrari haven’t yet picked a favourite, but the Finn knows he must perform well in Monza if he is to stay in the picture…

Q: Kimi, how is life as the reigning world champion? You have been in the public eye for quite a while but the title must have increased attention on you? How do you deal with that?

Kimi Raikkonen: It’s true, it increased but it has not changed any normal living. I wouldn’t say that anything is different for myself - and the racing is still the same. But yes, it’s nice to be the champ. I always wanted to achieve that - and it’s something that can never be taken away from me. This is the really great part!

Q: Driving for Ferrari is every aspiring young race driver’s dream. Is it a dream come true for you?

KR: It was a dream at one point for me as I always wanted to come into Formula One and be with a top team. So far I’ve been lucky to be in two top teams. I enjoy being here and I had a fantastic time last year - when I joined last season, I had more fun than I have had in a long time. It is a great place to be, working with all these 120 percent-committed people. And red suits me, I would say.

Q: This season must be like a deja vu for you. As in 2007, you are playing catch up in the title race. But what is different to last season?

KR: Well, so far it has not been the easiest year. There have been a lot of difficulties lately, but that is part of racing sometimes. We have had some issues in getting the car exactly how we want it. We had a strong first part of the season and then we faced some problems. It has been difficult, yes, and hopefully we can turn it around a bit and get some good results. It is not too late yet - but it is getting difficult with every race. Let’s wait and see how it develops.

Q: Last year it was you against Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. This year the title match involves your team mate. That obviously doesn’t make things easier…

KR: Of course not. But again, that is part of racing. At the end of the day, it does not matter who it is - you need to beat all of them. So it doesn’t make any difference if it is your team mate or somebody else. You need to be in front of everybody if you want to win.

Q: But teams can concentrate their efforts on one driver…

KR: We have never had that situation. Of course last year when it was clear that the other car had no chance - points-wise - then it was a different story. But as long as we have every chance, we need to take them. Until that ‘no-chance situation’ comes, it is up to us to move forward - or to come back in my case.

Q: If your chances decrease, will you play the role of supporter to Felipe?

KR: When I clearly have no chance at all then it is a different story. But then that is not up to me. First Felipe needs to be in a position where he can try to win, and then if there is something that the team will benefit from, then it might be yes. But until that situation comes, I am not interested in talking about it.

Q: The championship is still wide open with five races to go and 50 points up for grabs. At what point would you accept that your chances to win the title have evaporated?

KR: As I just said, when it is clear that I will not be able to make enough points.

Q: In Spa you drove for all or nothing. In hindsight, would you do it all over again or settle for securing some points?

KR: I wanted to win - or nothing. Unfortunately I got nothing that time, but at least I had more fun that at many races before. And what are sure points? I needed more points than the others, so realistically I was in a position where I didn’t have much to lose, so I went for it. Afterwards it is always easy to say that by playing safe I would have probably ended in second place, but that is not the right way to win. I want to win it on the circuit rather than after the race. What happened in Spa happened. Again, that’s racing.

Q: The F2008 seems to be a very different machine to last year’s car. Are you still struggling to adapt your driving style to its characteristics?

KR: I would not say that the car is so different to last year. It is more about getting the tyres the way you want them to behave - that is the biggest issue. But then again, they are the same for everybody. When you compare the tyres from a couple of years ago, what we have now is completely different. So hopefully next year when we get the slick tyres it will be more as it used to be - meaning that it will be more fun to drive. And it’s not about wanting the old car back, it is more about getting the package right for us. And the last races indicated that we are on the right track.

Q: Monza is Ferrari’s backyard. It’s almost an obligation to succeed here. You have never won this race. How much ambition is there to walk away with the trophy on Sunday?

KR: I have never made it here although the chances were there. It would of course be great to win here - especially as it is the home Grand Prix for Ferrari. And hopefully we are in a position on Sunday to fight for it - that would be great.

Q: What about you and Felipe? Is there a rivalry?

KR: It is like at any other race. I try to win, he tries to win. This is normal procedure in a top team.

Q: You wouldn’t die for it, but what would a race win here be worth to you?

KR: Of course not. But be assured that I really want to win here and it would make me more happy than in a long time to be on the top spot of the podium on Sunday.

Q: Were you satisfied with the test here two weeks ago. Did it give you any indication of what your performance level will be?

KR: The test was not bad. It was definitely better than where we were one year ago, so we should have quite a good chance of a good result, but it depends on many things. If we get everything running well and the weather stays nice, that would improve our chances.

Q: All that sounds as if you are still enjoying racing…

KR: I would not be here otherwise!

Belgium GP : The Official Results

I did not realise that the final, official results for Sunday's race have changed until my brother DC told me about it. The last I read about it was about the stewards going to investigate the Kimi-Lewis incident at lap 43.

I must admit I couldn't be happier with the new results :

1. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)

2. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)

3. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes)

There's still a big chance for Kimi to win the Drivers' Championship with five remaining races. That's a lot of races. Kimi has full capability for that. Remember last year?

You can read more about this new results here.

Belgium GP

While I am happy Massa made it to the chequered flag in 2nd place, I pity my hero, Kimi. He was so close to winning. What to do, not his luck. But I will always support Kimi no matter what. You go, Kimi!

That's Why He Is My Hero...

He made the mistake of leaving his pit before it was safe to do so, resulting in a pit crew being injured. His Drivers' Championship is at stake. His car had an engine failure in lap 46 at European GP in Valencia today. But he did not hesitate in the slightest to admit that it was his mistake :

Quoted from The Official Formula One Website :

“I made a mistake and left before I should have done,” he said. “Fortunately, Pietro is not too badly hurt. I wish him all the best and hope he gets better soon. In any case, it would not have changed anything as then the engine broke. Now we must concentrate on preparing for the next rounds and on improving our qualifying performance."

And that is why Kimi Raikkonen is my hero. He is highly professional and is not afraid to admit his mistakes. Unlike some people who would blame others and engaged into a fight in the same situation. Kimi has an obvious resemblance to a certain someone.

And Wave alone knows.

It's a Ferrari Start @ Magny-Cours

Yes! It is going to be a Ferrari 1-2 start @ Magny-Cours later today.... Kimi would be on the pole position while Felipe will begin the race right next to Kimi at second place.

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES!!

Retirement? I sincerely hope not!

As taken from The Official Formula 1 Website, June 6, 2008 :

A tale of two rivals - Raikkonen and Hamilton, on retirement and fame

While McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, the world championship leader, is getting used to the spotlight, the man who beat him to the 2007 crown, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, was showing signs on Thursday in Montreal that he may have seen enough of it.

Raikkonen spoke in depth about retirement, further fuelling media suggestions that he won’t be around in 2009 and that Fernando Alonso will take his seat at Ferrari.

“I always say that I still have a contract until the end of next year,” said the Finn. “I haven't made any decision as to whether I will keep going or not. So far, that's the last contract that I have and we will see during this year and next year what happens.

“I wouldn't stop if I thought I would miss it. For sure, I would have found something else to do, something maybe at that time I'd enjoy even more. I don't know what's going to happen after next year. I haven't made up my mind and we will see. Maybe we make the decision this year or maybe not and then we will look next year, but until then, I haven't really made any decisions so far. It's hard to say. I think I'm going to race as long as I enjoy it, I think it's the right thing for me, and then when the day comes when it's no longer fun, then for sure I stop. It can be the end of next year, it can be in four years' time. It's too early to say.”

“It's purely if I like it or not. That's the reason if I keep going or not. There are many reasons why you like Formula One or not. For sure, many people only like the driving and the rest can be something that you don't enjoy. When there are more things that you don't like, then it's time to stop.

“Everybody probably knows, I like the racing and all the other stuff is not always the best thing. I think everybody in Formula One is here because of their love of racing and driving. When there are too many things that you don't enjoy or you think that the whole thing is not what you want anymore, then it's time to go away.”

In contrast to Raikkonen, Hamilton, it seems, is just coming to terms with the fame game - and, if anything, quite enjoying it. In some ways the recent Cannes Film Festival was his coming out party.

“Cannes was one of best weekends I have had,” said the British driver. “Two things appeal to me most; films and music. I get star-struck at these things. Indiana Jones was amazing. I’m watching the film and Indiana is sat behind me. I was like, ‘No way!’ I could not believe how excited I was. I was so nervous driving up to Cannes. I was like a kid. As I was going into the theatre, I walked across the seats past Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. George said, ‘Hey Lewis, meet Harrison’. After the film Harrison (Ford) spoke to me upstairs. I’m still not sure he knew who I was.”

Returning his attentions to the track, Hamilton reflected on his first two Formula One victories in North America last year, first in Canada and then at Indianapolis in the United States Grand Prix: “It was unreal. There were huge challenges after that of course. I didn’t see everything that was going on in the background. I didn’t go home and see the papers, all the hype. All I had done was achieve my goals. My life did not seem as though it had changed, but in reality it had.

“This year I feel that I have aged a lot, a good five years in the last few months. I’m a lot wiser and making sure I make the right decisions for my life and everything else. I have the experience of last year so in a sense I know how to do it. It won’t be easy in Canada. Ferrari will be even quicker but without a doubt I feel I’m stronger and I love street circuits.

“The whole thing is now about having major responsibility, pushing the team forward, playing a major role. Last year I was just given a car. I did the best I could but there was not much the team could take from me because I didn’t have the experience. This year they are relying on me. I have the power to take them in whatever direction. Turkey felt like a win. It is great that we can fight like that.”

I Do Love Him For A Reason

apa kata orang? jatuh kasih pasti bersebab.... kaedahnya...

The Iceman Won!

I am so, so happy! He won! The Iceman won! My Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari won the 2007 Formula One World Championship. Congrats to Ferrari, Kimi and Felipe!

I will write more about this hero of mine.. in the meantime, do drool over these...

these are the photos of Kimi when he's missing me!

and this... is Kimi the moment he sees me......

~ TOLONGLAH.. JANGAN JEALOUS! ~