Exclusive Kimi Raikkonen Q&A: No deadline for 2014 decision

With his contract at Lotus expiring at the end of this season and a vacancy at Red Bull opening up following Mark Webber's confirmation he will leave at the end of the year, Kimi Raikkonen has been the talk of the paddock over the last week. We caught up with Raikkonen to find out his thoughts… 

Q: Kimi, in 2009 Ferrari seemed like they couldn’t wait to get you out of their cockpit but three and a half years down the road you are now the hottest thing in an overall in the paddock. Are you surprised about your huge increase in popularity? 
Kimi Raikkonen: No, actually I’m not. Last year when I came back was not too bad and this year has been pretty okay. Things change quickly in Formula One. There have been many reasons for what happened in the past - but it is the past. Now let’s see what happens in the future. 

Q: But it seems there’s something like a Kimi-mania at some teams at the moment… 
KR: …no, I am just doing my own stuff and obviously there are some people who like it. (laughs) I am only trying to do the best for myself and the team. 

Q: When will you make a decision about where you will race next year? 
KR: I have no idea. I will obviously decide at a certain point but there are still a lot of things that have to be right and good things always take time. I have no deadline. 

Q: You have frequently said that you feel comfortable at Lotus. What does ‘comfortable’ mean to you? KR: I want to do what I want. That’s it. 

Q: Do you think you will have that luxury if you move somewhere else? 
KR: I have no idea. I have only been at some teams. Each team is different and you always have good things and sometimes there are bitter pills attached to it. There is no perfect world… 

Q: But personal freedom seems very dear to you… 
KR: …yes, and I have always looked to get the maximum in that respect. But yes, at some teams you have a little more to do than at others. It largely depends on the sponsors. The important thing for me is that I can do my stuff and that has not been different in the past and will not change in the future. 

Q: People dismiss lightly that money could be a decisive factor for you but, on the other hand, it is no secret that money makes the cars go round. What role could a well-stocked piggybank play in the decision process? 
KR: The money is one part of it but there is also another side to the coin. Whatever the decision will be, it will be very similar to what the situation is now in terms of the ‘piggybank’. 

Q: Do you still dream of another title? 
KR: That’s why we are here. If it doesn’t happen this year we will try again in the future. It is always the aim to win races and championships. If it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen, but at least we keep trying. 

Q: Hand on your heart. Is the title still on your agenda after all these years you’ve been in Formula One racing? 
KR: Of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. 

Q: You seem to have a good time here so why break your back? 
KR: Ha, I would have an even better time not racing! (laughs) 

Q: What factor could play to Red Bulls advantage? Adrian Newey? 
KR: There is not just that one thing. I think there are things that matter with regards to racing and also some that are outside of racing. And it is never one thing that makes me make a decision. It’s the overall package. As surprising as this might sound, I look at the details! (laughs) 

Q: Some teams would kill to get Adrian Newey on their payroll and you could be given the chance to drive his car… 
KR: …I’ve raced cars that he has designed! At Red Bull they want me but I have other choices - so time will tell. 

Q: It wouldn’t be a surprise if those teams that develop engines and chassis have an advantage over the others in 2014. But obviously the two teams that do - Ferrari and Mercedes - are probably not an option for you. Could you therefore deduce that Red Bull might be closer to Renault than Lotus and would that be a factor in your considerations? 
KR: Stop, stop! I have no idea what they are doing at Red Bull. The only thing that I know is that Lotus is very close with Renault and they are working fantastically together. I don’t think that there is any difference between how the teams work together with Renault. They are very fair, so these considerations are not affecting my decision. 

Q: How much will the friendship between you and Sebastian Vettel play a role? 
KR: It plays no role in the decision. 

Q: What is relevant to your decision? 
KR: The decision has to be made in light of a bigger picture and not on single things. There are so many aspects that have to be considered. But one thing I can say is that right now I don’t know myself how the die is cast. 

Q: Will you sit down with advisors and management to make the decision? Or wake up one morning and know which contract you will sign? 
KR: I will make the decision. And if it is good or bad I will be the one to blame. I can live with it, as it has been my choice. 

Q: What do Sebastian and you both find so exciting in badminton? 
KR: It is a nice sport for practice. And I have to do something… 

Q: Niki Lauda is quoted as saying that if you don’t move to Red Bull you are a mouse not a man. Does his viewpoint surprise you? 
KR: No, because it is normal for him to talk. (laughs) He can talk what he wants and I know him a little to know what he thinks. 

Q: Will you make a return to the podium this weekend? 
KR: Obviously it hasn’t been too bad today, if you compare it to the previous three races. Hopefully we can challenge for a podium tomorrow. 

Q: Have you been worried about the performance of the E21 in the last three races? 
KR: No. We just had some issues at the last races but we should have been on the podium in Silverstone. So the speed is definitely there. 

Q: So you aren’t worried about a development slowdown? 
KR: No. Never. 

Fonte: www.formula1.com

OMFG!!! Minha reação após ler esta entrevista M-A-R-A-V-I-L-H-O-S-A com Kimi. Pelas perguntas que foram ótimas (em sua maioria) e pelas excelentes respostas do Iceman. #happydance

Simplesmente perfeito tudo o que ele falou do começo ao fim. Tudo. Não, ele não disse que ficará na Lotus, nem disse que irá para Red Bull, mas é tão bom ler as entrevistas do Iceman e sentir que ele realmente está ciente do desafio que tem pela frente, seja ficando na equipe de Enstone ou se mudando para o time de Milton Keynes. #alíviodefine

Eu já tinha um orgulho tremendo do cara que este finlandês era fora das pistas. Sempre, mesmo quando todos o julgavam da pior forma possível, mas o que aconteceu com ele nos dois anos fora da F1 o transformou em uma pessoa ainda mais forte e ainda mais adorável nesta segunda fase na F1. #semdúvidas

Ele não quer nem saber, responde o que pensa e sente, doa a quem doer. Não gosta? Não pergunte! Ou então fale mal, ele não se importa mesmo! E o admiro por isto, esta autoconfiança que alguns acham arrogante ou exagerado. Problema de quem não gosta. Não dele! #adoro

Kimi é autêntico, sempre foi e depois da experiência complicada com a Ferrari e os anos no WRC, tudo isto o deixou ainda mais preparado. 

Ele está ciente da decisão que tem que tomar, a estressada da história sou eu!!! rsrsrsrs... Eu me preocupo mesmo, me estresso e penso demais nas coisas que podem dar errado. Não consigo me desligar das lições ruins do passado, de não pensar que podem acontecer de novo, não quero vê-lo maltratado novamente. Foi tudo muito difícil. Vivi tudo tão "de perto" por ter o blog para atualizar e tendo que lidar com tudo que vinha junto. #foibarrapesada

Mas eu sei que por mais que eu possa não concordar com o que ele escolher para o futuro dele. Ele será correto o suficiente para jamais colocar a culpa de seus erros em ninguém. Reparem como ele jamais apontou o dedo para a Ferrari, mesmo quando poderia e teria razão para isto. Jamais falou mal deles, como tantas vezes já foi provocado a fazer, como nesta entrevista mesmo.

As pessoas estão ávidas para saber o que ele fará do futuro. Nós, seus fãs também. A maioria o quer na Red Bull, uma pequena parte, o quer na Lotus. Eu só sei que apesar deste assunto me angustiar mais do que deveria, acredito que independente do que houver, vou continuar com um baita orgulho do que Kimi sempre foi dentro e fora das pistas. Justo.

Eu poderia ter feito comentários sobre as perguntas em si, mas não quis, estava precisando tirar isto do peito, porque hoje mesmo até comentei no Facebook como isto me deixava com o coração apertado. E daí vem esta entrevista dele para aliviar minhas angústias. #KiitosKimi

Mas antes de encerrar, traduzirei as duas perguntas que mais me marcaram...

"Q: Você ainda sonha com outro título?

KR: É por isto que estamos aqui. Senão acontecer este ano tentaremos novamente no ano que vem. É sempre o objetivo vencer corridas e campeonatos. Senão acontecer, paciência, pelo menos nós continuamos tentando."

"Alguns times matariam para ter Adrian Newey em sua folha de pagamento e a você pode ser dada a chance de pilotar um de seus carros...

KR: ... Eu já pilotei um dos carros que ele projetou! Na Red Bull são eles que me querem, mas eu tenho outras opções - então só o tempo dirá..."

E vocês fãs de Kimi Räikkönen que frequentam este blog, tratem de comentar, porque sinceramente, às vezes tenho a sensação que falo para ninguém por aqui! #Ludybrava rsrsrs 

Beijinhos, Ludy