Wearing Marlboro red for the first time, Kimi Raikkonen on Wednesday fired back at his old formula one chiefs after they suggested that life for the Finn may not be smooth sailing in Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari boots.
Addressing a news conference at Madonna di Campiglio for the Maranello based team’s traditional press event, 27-year-old Raikkonen was told by journalists that both Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh have been quoted by a British magazine as saying Kimi’s ways of working may never net him a title.
“The problem (at McLaren) was not what I did with my training or in my private life, it was more to do with the car not lasting the race or not being quick enough,” a rarely forceful Raikkonen, who still wears a watch made by McLaren sponsor Tag Heuer, said in Italy.
Kimi said he had not read the British reports but reiterated that his laid-back approach to motor racing – in stark contrast to his seven title winning predecessor Schumacher – “works well enough”.
Nine time GP winner Raikkonen, who has visited Ferrari’s HQ, also observed a winter test from the back of the garage recently and insisted that working at Ferrari seems “much easier” than at either McLaren or Sauber, for whom he made his debut in 2001.
Asked by a reporter to compare his new cap, jumper and racing suit with his former grey getup, Kimi smiled: “I think red is more warm for sure. It’s very nice.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
