From Gazzetta dello Sport magazine "SportWeek", 31/08/2013: Who loves me, must chase me

From Gazzetta dello Sport magazine "SportWeek", 31/08/2013: WHO LOVES ME, MUST CHASE ME 

THE ALCOHOLIC INFRINGEMENTS ARE PART OF THE PAST (“I DRINK A LOT OF MILK TODAY”) AND EVEN HIS NATURE, ALWAYS A LITTLE ICY AND RESERVED, SEEMS TO BE SOFTER, SO THAT HE HAS BECOME THE FINNISH TESTIMONIAL OF A BRAND OF JEANS . AND THE "LADY IN RED" SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED ITS MIND ABOUT HIM ... 

When you fall from a horse, you have to ride back as soon as possible to regain confidence. But if it’s a prancing horse which unseats you, it’s a different matter. Especially if your name is Kimi Raikkonen and the runaway beast is willing to pay you to sit down a whole year on your home sofa. It’s impossible to serve two masters if you work for the Lady in Red, which in 2009 fell in love with a talkative Asturian, Fernando Alonso. Exactly the opposite of the Finn, not surprisingly named Iceman for the icy coldness in human relationships. 

Four years later, the differences of views seem to be attenuated, so that Raikkonen is seen as the most serious contender for the seat of Felipe Massa (ironically: Masa, with a single S, is the nickname which Kimi's mother, Paula, uses to call her husband Matti). A thing that (maybe) has made Maranello chiefs minds change is the incredible series of results achieved by Raikkonen since his return to F1: before the stop for a brake problem, then not his fault, in Belgium last week, during the 30 GP starts from the beginning of 2012, the Finn had always managed to bring the car to the finish line. He did it without skimping on his performances, as evidenced by the 2 wins and 13 podiums conquered, but especially the record series of 27 consecutive Grand Prix always in points. Points which Ferrari desperately needs to conquer the Constructors' title. 

If Ferrari had bounced back to win in the meantime, the question wouldn’t even have existed. But, in spite of the expectations heaped on Alonso, today Raikkonen is still the last driver who won a world title with Ferrari: he succeeded in 2007, mocking the two top drivers of the McLaren army, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, for one point. "Ferrari is a very big brand in motorsport" repeats Kimi since his return to the Circus, "and it was nice to race with the Reds. I have only good memories because it is a team where I won the World Championship and where I have several friends among Ferrari’s mechanics." Although, when asked to point out a candidate of best friend in motorsport, his answer is surprising: "In Formula 1, I would say Vettel, because he is the person I know better and with whom I spent the most time. Outside I would say Toni Vilander, who races in GT championship with a Ferrari." 

DOGS YES, NO HORSES 

We always come back there, at the Prancing Horse, despite his natural intolerance for horses: "I'm allergic to a lot of things and among them there are cats and horses. If I stay for long in their company, I cannot stop sneezing. But during my military service was even worse." On the contrary, Raikkonen feels perfectly at home with the dogs: "For many years I've had three, but unfortunately Ajax, a beautiful German shepherd 8 years old, died in June. I have two Jack Russell, 10 and 9 years old, Peppi that stays with me in Switzerland and Reiska which is in Finland." These are his two homes: "I spend a lot of time in Switzerland because the geographical position allows me to quickly reach the tracks. I go in Porkkalanniemi (Finland), however, in the summertime, because of the good weather." In Italy anything yet, in spite of the promise - then become a familiar catchphrase – he made to his parents as a boy, when returning from a race in our country he said: "One day I'll give you a castle in Italy." It was a sincere way with which Kimi thought to repay their many sacrifices. No wonder, then, staying on the subject of house and family, his choice about charity: "I support SOS Children's Village, a charity that makes homes close to hospitals, to enable families to be close to hospitalized children." Other money he spends in motorsport for his team, the ICE1 Racing, which competed in the motocrossMX1, with not much luck so far. Trifles for a man whose assets, before the separation from his wife Jenni Dahlman, former Miss Scandinavia, exceeded plenty 120 millions of euro: "I am not ashamed of my belongings because they are the result of my work. And then, money makes things easier but it is not everything in life." 

NEW OPENINGS 

Coming back to his link with Ferrari, the extra-sport aspect has a decisive weight. At the time of his first experience in Ferrari, Raikkonen was reluctant to the public relations that modern F1 requires. There were also harsh arguments with the Chiefs who wanted more commitment by him with sponsors while Kimi just wanted to drive. So it came as a surprise the choice of this shy Raikkonen as special testimonial for a brand of jeans: "I love working with expert people. As Wrangler is in the world of jeans. Everyone knows that I prefer comfortable clothes, features that I can find in jeans and denim jackets . But I don’t think to be an icon for this." Even the alcoholic infringements seem to be rarefied than in the past: "I drink a lot of milk." Maybe it will remain the problem of the coexistence with Alonso, who elected Vettel to his natural enemy. Untangling between the personal relationships and the interests of the team will not be easy, but Raikkonen can do it: just little opening his mouth, as he has always did, and leaving the results to speak for himself.

Fonte dos scans: Kimi Räikkönen Italian Forum / Dica da tradução: Whatever / Tradução para o Inglês: Tania_S

Eu li esta entrevista ontem, ainda não tinha a tradução em Inglês e decidi que não postaria aqui. Mas como a Tania gentilmente fez a tradução, resolvi postar para quem quiser ler. Vale a pena pelas coisas pessoais que Kimi comenta, como seus cachorros, alguns detalhes de sua vida, sobre a importância do dinheiro, sobre ajudar em projetos sociais e outras coisinhas.

Mas obviamente, preciso fazer alguns comentários. Leio as palavras acima e não há como não lembrar de como era a situação desta revista (e seu jornal) com relação a Kimi há 4 anos. Eles o "agrediam" em toda oportunidade possível e hoje, escrevem este texto, elogiando, querendo mostrar o quanto ele mudou, o quão humano ele é. 

Mas eu lamento em dizer para esta gente, que Kimi não mudou, ele sempre foi o que está escrito acima, os italianos que o odiaram é que jamais foram capazes de ver este lado. Eles nunca viram a humanidade do Iceman, apenas o que queriam ver, um piloto que não servia para a Ferrari.

E sim, eu me incomodo com cada palavra escrita de elogio vinda deles porque nada vai apagar o que eles fizeram em 2008 e 2009. E a possibilidade de Kimi voltar para Ferrari vai ser uma das coisas mais tristes que vou ter que aceitar, se acontecer. Vou continuar ao lado dele? Claro que vou! Nem passa pela minha cabeça não acompanhá-lo, mas que vai ser difícil aceitar, vai, e não há nada que mude isto.

Beijinhos, Ludy