Kimi relaxed after his firing

Kimi granted a rare special interview to Turun Sanomat (a Finnish newspaper) at the Ferrari paddocks in Suzuka. Chances are that it hasn't been picked up by the English speaking media.

Only the Q&A are translated:



How are you feeling?

-Just fine – I reckon better than at the last few races on Thursdays. At least I don’t have to speculate on my driving a Ferrari with anyone.

Did you feel like you were in a loose noose in the last few weeks?

- According to the press that may well have been the case. But given how the playoffs ended I was left with a feeling that I came out quite well in this whole thing. I have nothing to complain.

When was it clear to you that Fernando Alonso was out to take your place as soon as the next season?

- It wasn’t all that long ago. I’m sure I could have driven [next] year too if I had insisted. But it makes no sense to do so if for some reason someone wants something else.

- It made no sense for me to stay here and battle against anyone. I got compensated for it and they got what they wanted. Both parties got what they wanted.

Do you have pressures to end your F1 career after this?

- No pressures whatsoever. I can now enter into a contract with anyone if I want. If I didn’t want to drive in F1, I wouldn’t have entered into that contract with Ferrari.

Your primary goal is to get in to a winning team in the future too?

- Precisely. I will not enter into any contract unless I get into a car capable of winning and a championship. I will not drive for some hobbyist team. It would be of no benefit to me.

- There really aren’t that many alternatives that can offer me a car that I want.

Is it McLaren then?

- There aren’t that many teams that even have available seats. McLaren is one such alternative. I was there for five years and I know most of the people. Let’s see what happens. It will depend on many things.

- I’m not in any hurry, but some teams are waiting for an answer at some point in time.

Are you feeling spent after all this public roughing up?

- I don’t really feel any different at all. After this the reporters will surely start asking about the next contract.

What about your three years at Ferrari? The first one brought the championship, in the second you still led the series after Turkey. This year the results came only towards the end of the summer?

- My championship year went well and we won at a steady pace. Last year started out well too but then we had some races that we should have won. But we didn’t. Then suddenly we just started changing parts to the car and that was not a good thing. It took a long time before we got back to the right track. It was already too late for me.

Has the Ferrari car ever been to your liking?

- It is good at the moment too. It is nice to drive and it works the way I want it. We are just too slow.

What is then the ideal car like for Räikkönen – does it have to oversteer?

- No, car that oversteers car is never fast. Same with a car that understeers. It is impossible to ever get it to be 110 [per cent].

McLaren corners very sharply – just like Räikkönen wishes?

- It is very different car from Ferrari. Most of the time it was a very good car for me but we had different tires back then when I drove McLaren. Tires have changed the game a lot.

What would it feel like to drive as Hamilton’s teammate?

- I don’t think he’d have a problem with it. But there are many things that we need to figure out first.

What kind of reinforcement is Alonso to Ferrari?

- Let’s see what he’ll do.

Are you leaving in good terms with Ferrari?

- In good terms. I have nothing to do with this. It didn’t matter how I have driven or what I have done here. This decision had nothing to do with that. It is not difficult to know what happened. Money buys everything.

- I’m not sad. I don’t cry. This possibility always existed. It is not the first time when someone’s contract is terminated, and it is not the end of the world.

How many years are going to continue in F1?

- It depends on many things. I have no advance plans. Let’s see what happens.