In 2010, Räikkönen wants a car to win, or nothing!

Scuderia Ferrari can thank their world champion Kimi Räikkönen for his tenacity in wanting to win every race and his professionalism. Of course, we won’t forget his talent behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, but some might have thought that the Finnish driver only has two races left to take it easy with the Reds. And that his motivation would be slightly less with his replacement by Fernando Alonso brought forward by a year by the Ferrari management. But that would be underestimating Iceman, as the Scuderia driver has no intention of helping McLaren Mercedes take the third place in the constructors’ championship ahead of the prancing horse team. Even though he knows it’s going to be very difficult to achieve it alone, as he can only rely on himself and his talent to succeed. The team has halted all development of the F60 for this end of the season and his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella doesn’t seem to be in a position to help Scuderia in the last two Grand Prix.

Whatever happens, Kimi Räikkönen intends to honor his contract on the track until the end and still does not know what he will do next year.

Are you satisfied with this result?

« Being in fourth place doesn’t make me jump for joy, but we can be satisfied with what we did in the race with the team. »

You didn’t gain any positions at the start, even though you had the KERS. Was it a disappointment?

« No, we had chosen to start with the hard tires, so you’re always going to lose a bit of grip at the start and it’s not really a long straight before the first corner. But we kept our position and, of course, we expected to gain a place, but with the final result it doesn’t make any difference. »

Your second stint, even though you were heavier, was much faster than your first stint. Was it related to the tires?

« Well, we had soft tires. We have to use both Hard and soft tires, and when you have less downforce than the others, the car slips in the corners with the hard ones. But as soon as we put on the soft tires, we had a bit more grip, and the car was much better. »

Was there any chance of overtaking Lewis Hamilton at the second start after the safety car?

« No, it is quite difficult to stay close enough for me to try something. I was sliding everywhere and they are much faster than us in a straight line. So, even with the KERS, there was no chance for me to go after him. »

You maintained third place in the championship, that’s good, isn’t it?

« Yes. I don’t know what the difference is with McLaren, is it one point? But they seem to be faster than us, so it will be difficult to keep them behind. But there are two races to go and anything can happen. I will try to fight with them when we meet on the track. »

In 2007, you came back in two races with a 17-point deficit to Lewis Hamilton, and you still won the drivers’ title. Sebastian Vettel has a 16-point deficit, is it easier for him knowing he is going to Brazil for the victory?

« I don’t know if it makes a lot of difference. The Red Bull is definitely a very fast car, as we’ve seen this year. But Brawn, who knows what they’re doing? I think the car is better than what they’re achieving at the moment. It’s certain, Sebastian has a chance, but the Brawn team would have to make a huge mistake to lose it in the end. But you never know. You need a few mistakes, a few accidents, and everything is different. »

Was the car better with the softer tires?

« Yes. Overall, the balance is the same, but you gain more grip and it greatly improves the driving. It’s a similar story to that of Singapore, but the hard tires were not as bad at Suzuka. With the soft tires, you have a grip that makes you gain time. »

Will you settle your future in a few days?

« No »

So, in Brazil, will there be the same questions?

« I don’t know. As I said, I don’t have a contract for next year. I’m looking at different options and we’ll see what happens in the future. I don’t know when we will tell you something. »

We saw quite a few major crashes this weekend, mainly involving rookies. Some drivers are complaining that it’s a dangerous circuit. What do you think?

« I think F1 is a dangerous sport. Suzuka is an old-school circuit. The new circuits have a lot of run-off areas with asphalt, so it makes no difference if you make a mistake, you can usually get back on the track. Here, if you make a mistake, you often hit the wall, and I think that’s how it should be. You are punished for mistakes, and it makes things more interesting, and I think you need that to be more precise. »

What criteria do you wish to use to select your team for next year?

« There are many different criteria that come into play. But first, I want a contract where I’m satisfied and a car with which I have the possibility of winning the championship. It’s pointless to go to a small team, that doesn’t interest me. »

So, are you not going to the WRC?

« I have no interest in doing Rally, to be in 10th place. I prefer to stay at home and do something else. If I can have a good team with a car to fight for the win, well, then I will start to think about it. »

Is the rally more appealing now that you’ve done it?

« No, it’s the same story. It’s pointless to go unless you get a good car and a good team. Whatever you do, you need to give yourself a chance to be at the top of the rankings and have the equipment to fight in the best possible conditions. »

Do you think you are ready to compete at the highest level in rallying?

« I don’t know. I have never driven real WRC cars. I have an idea from the rallies I’ve done with my car, but it takes a lot of practice. You have to give it your all to get the best time and even with the habit of the speed of an F1, if you don’t have rally skills, it’s a big problem. But with experience, it’s another story.. »

After having done both, which is easier, going from F1 to rallying, or from rallying to F1?

Of course, for me, there was only one direction that interested me, and that was Formula 1. But I didn’t know what I was going to feel in an F1 cockpit until I drove for the first time. But I must say that rallying is more difficult. Many things are evolving, you have a co-driver, you have to take notes and understand them well once you’re going full speed. In F1, you do the same circuits lap after lap, even if a lot happens during the race. For me, it is easier to go from rallying to Formula 1.

We’re talking about Sébastien Loeb who wants to come to F1. What do you think will be the easiest aspect for him?

For me, I would tell him that it is easier for him to come to Formula 1 than for us to go rallying. But, as I have already said, in Formula 1, you cannot know how you will react in a race without any experience in a single-seater. It’s a difficult question.

You have two races left with Ferrari, what offer can motivate you?

« It’s the same thing I said before. I have no interest in driving for a bad team next year. If I’m on the starting grid, it’s to finish as high as I can. I have no other need to motivate myself; if I drive, I try to do my best and that’s all. »

Do you want a car that can win from day one, or are you going to a team with the number 1?

« No, as I have already said, if I want to race, I want to have a car that is ready next year to win the championship. I want at least to be given the chance to fight for the driver’s title, and then it will be up to me and the team to see what happens for the rest. But at the very least, you need to have a car from the start that gives you a chance to win. »