Would Kimi be an unappealing champion?

I'm afraid Kimi Raikkonen has to be favored for the 2007 world championship. "Afraid", I say, because, from what I've gathered, he would make a very unappealing champion. He seems equal parts dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").
Has anyone out there got any contradictory information--anecdotes, comments from people who know him, firsthand observations? If you've got info that confirms my impressions, that would be of interest, too. The next-best thing to a star to cheer is a villain to root against.
Oh, by the way: Kimi's countryman Mika Hakkinen was also criticized for his dull interviews, but if you watched closely, you could see his warmth, his sly humor. And behind-the-scenes comments that I've read tend to describe Mika as decent, classy, with a private sense of fun---quite different.

I can't say that Alonso is particularly interesting or charismatic either, to be honest.

But he did the best job over the course of the season, and on that basis won the Championship. And rightly so.

I think the issue is that with so many youngsters being groomed for success at such a young age, they don't get time to develop a personality.

I couldn't abide Eddie Irvine or Jacques Villeneuve, for example, but you could never ever accuse them of being dull.

Also big part of why Kimi and Alonso sound boring on interviews is that they aren't speaking their native language.
Altough, like many Finns Kimi isn't very outspoken in Finnish either with big groups of people.

Alonso sounds more boring when talking in Spanish :s

yes, Alonso is boring to listen to too. I'm sure if things go Kimi's way for once we will see great happiness in him and the sorts of reactions Alonso had when winning the title.

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Originally Posted by guernsey kau

dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").

any contradictory information.

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I would say those two things are contradictory - the fact that he normally keeps his head down & gets on with business but sometimes goes mad as a brush is what I love about Kimi.

He is like a tory MP - bores you to tears, but then ends up in the papers wearing nothing but a football shirt while gagged with a piece of fruit.

I think he shows his personality inside the car and that's what I care about. There's no need of pitstop "clowns".

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Originally Posted by guernsey kau

I'm afraid Kimi Raikkonen has to be favored for the 2007 world championship. "Afraid", I say, because, from what I've gathered, he would make a very unappealing champion. He seems equal parts dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").
Has anyone out there got any contradictory information--anecdotes, comments from people who know him, firsthand observations? If you've got info that confirms my impressions, that would be of interest, too. The next-best thing to a star to cheer is a villain to root against.
Oh, by the way: Kimi's countryman Mika Hakkinen was also criticized for his dull interviews, but if you watched closely, you could see his warmth, his sly humor. And behind-the-scenes comments that I've read tend to describe Mika as decent, classy, with a private sense of fun---quite different.

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For me its more important that everyone are like they are in their everyday life. I like Kimi because he is an honest guy with nerves of steel and a very good driver. That he speaks not so much doesn’t disturb me at all. I think Finnish people usually are more reticent than people from the rest of Europe and especially from southern Europe. But when you are a friend with some one from Finland, they usually speak more - like the other Europeans :) , really. Maybe this "Finnish characteristic" has something to do with, that you can see so many good drivers from that little country (with only 5 million people) – they really can keep cool when needed. :D

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Originally Posted by guernsey kau

I'm afraid Kimi Raikkonen has to be favored for the 2007 world championship. "Afraid", I say, because, from what I've gathered, he would make a very unappealing champion. He seems equal parts dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").
Has anyone out there got any contradictory information--anecdotes, comments from people who know him, firsthand observations? If you've got info that confirms my impressions, that would be of interest, too. The next-best thing to a star to cheer is a villain to root against.
Oh, by the way: Kimi's countryman Mika Hakkinen was also criticized for his dull interviews, but if you watched closely, you could see his warmth, his sly humor. And behind-the-scenes comments that I've read tend to describe Mika as decent, classy, with a private sense of fun---quite different.

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Is it just me, or is it a little worrysome, that we are more concerned about how Kimi will act in the post race interviews, then perhaps during the actual race?

Kimi can be as Dull as the grey sky on a dreary day during the post race conference, as long as the racing is exciting, isn't that what matters?

Though I imagine, they put a pole up, and a few strippers in that interview room, and I'm sure Kimi would come to life... :)

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Originally Posted by guernsey kau

I'm afraid Kimi Raikkonen has to be favored for the 2007 world championship. "Afraid", I say, because, from what I've gathered, he would make a very unappealing champion. He seems equal parts dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").
......

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For what is worth, Kimi always seems to be at ease with kids and he has said many a time that he likes children. A person who likes kids cannot be completely bad.... ;)

What I have gathered, Kimi is actually quite likable guy when dealt with in person. He doesn't seem to be arrogant at all. His bad performance in front of media is probably due to his shyness.

Off season brings up threads like this. :rolleyes:
I better not get involved! :p :

Don´t think that Kimi is that cold-hearded as everybody thinks.
I got the impresssion that kimi was liked in the mclaren team.
Kimi also said that his behavior at work is another than his behaviour at his free time.
maybe he needs it to get the maximum at the raceing-weekend,

here i found a comment of mika about kimi:

In the coming F1-races Mika will support all the Finns and half-Finns.
- Strong support to Kimi Räikkönen. I know him quite well, we have had good time together. Kimi is a great driver and a great person, he is full of good and positive thoughts – a very warm person. I´m annoyed how he is always criticized and abused, says Mika.

It´s from a finnish interview,

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Originally Posted by guernsey kau

I'm afraid Kimi Raikkonen has to be favored for the 2007 world championship. "Afraid", I say, because, from what I've gathered, he would make a very unappealing champion. He seems equal parts dull (his interviews), cold (no signs of human feeling), and coarse (the incidents at strip clubs, telling Martin Brundel he was "having a s--t").
Has anyone out there got any contradictory information--anecdotes, comments from people who know him, firsthand observations? If you've got info that confirms my impressions, that would be of interest, too. The next-best thing to a star to cheer is a villain to root against.
Oh, by the way: Kimi's countryman Mika Hakkinen was also criticized for his dull interviews, but if you watched closely, you could see his warmth, his sly humor. And behind-the-scenes comments that I've read tend to describe Mika as decent, classy, with a private sense of fun---quite different.

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Could you please get back to us when Kimi starts running other drivers into concrete walls, get's his team mate to pull over so he can win, parks his car in the middle of the road at Monte Carlo so the other guys behind cannot qualify faster?, tries to ram other drivers off the road so he can win teh WDC, etc. etc. etc.

Yeah!! tell me then how unappealing he is when he achieves all the above targets.

Schumacher Senior wasn't exactly Mr Charm & Excitment, so why change?

May be its part of being the champion?

Who do you think would be the best champion if we're looking for character etc?

I think the only driver who would be an interesting champion would be (and please dont shoot me for saying this as I know it sounds rediculous) Jenson Button.

Kimi isn't the smiliest or most approachable of drivers no... but he's there to be judged on his racing not his personality and if he won it'd have to be because he deserved it surely? Kimi's not as warming as his fellow Finns Mika or Heikki, but he's a good driver and that's what would make him a deserving champion.

Today is a great day (althoguh i a have a cold)... but i am happy to say that i agree with two of the biggest Ferrari supporters in this forum:

Yes, Ioan, holydays always bring out threads like this one ;) :D

And yes, 555-04Q2, the best character in the f1 paddock maybe Button, altough you must forgive him for is flirts with Williams a couple of years ago (te buttongate!!! ;)

look on the bright side :D

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Originally Posted by samuratt

look on the bright side :D

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:up: Good one! ;)

Massa i think would make a good champion, the way he reacted in brazil after his win!

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Originally Posted by Norwegian Blue

Massa i think would make a good champion, the way he reacted in brazil after his win!

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Correct me if I'm wrong but I think good champions are judged more by their behavior when they lose. Almost every driver reacts well when he's winning. it's the reaction when they lose that counts.

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

I think the only driver who would be an interesting champion would be (and please dont shoot me for saying this as I know it sounds rediculous) Jenson Button.

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Consider yourself shot!

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Originally Posted by Viv

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think good champions are judged more by their behavior when they lose. Almost every driver reacts well when he's winning. it's the reaction when they lose that counts.

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Than we have a worthless champion in this moment. ;)

The champion is the guy who scores most points in the championship. Perceived character, soundbites, popularity, comparisons to past heroes and other subjective factors might help people win F1 Racing's man of the year but that's it really.

If Kimi gets a chance to shine and show his talents on a winning team I don't see that as boring.
The big test will be to see if he can actually do it.

Kimi has gone "booom!" most of the times, has made some mistakes but has also shown what he's made of.

I will never forget the race he won 2 years ago coming from all the way back and actually fighting for and getting that first place in the last laps of the race. A true classic.

:s mokin:

There's something to be said about the asnine questions that consistently come from the press which he must have heard a zillion times.

There was one interview in which he was asked if he ever had to do a boring job like fix a photocopier - What is a photocopier? is his reply.

it'd be interesting to have position number 22 in the post race interviews, so we could see the character of the losers.

raikkonen will brighten up once he takes the lead in the championship.

How about Taco? He'd make an appealing champion.

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Originally Posted by Rollo

There's something to be said about the asnine questions that consistently come from the press which he must have heard a zillion times.

There was one interview in which he was asked if he ever had to do a boring job like fix a photocopier - What is a photocopier? is his reply.

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That was actually some kind of promo vid for a contest, it was Montoya asking the questions...

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Originally Posted by Valve Bounce

How about Taco? He'd make an appealing champion.

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I imagine every bit as good as Davidson... :p

Thanks to all for the interesting responses. I hope to respond to some of the others when I have more energy, but for now I just want to say that Juppe and hello 86 have provided some of the contradictory information I was looking for (that quote from Mika was great), and I hereby withdraw my "anybody but Kimi" comment. I'm glad to hear that there's more to Kimi than had so far met my eye. I also want to clarify that I agree that the championship is awarded for driving and not personality. I've thought for some time that Kimi is not just a good but a great driver, and in that sense he would certainly be a worthy champion. I decide how worthy a driver is by how they do on the race-course; I decide how much I like 'em by that, and personality, and character too. If others care only about the driving, that's ok, we're just different.
Which reminds me, like Dave Brockman, I'd say Eddie Irvine is certainly not dull, but I too "can't abide" him. In his case, it's a character issue. (Irvine was also just a good, not a great driver, and would not have been a worthy champion had he won in '99.)

Thanks to all for the interesting responses. I hope to respond to some of the others when I have more energy, but for now I just want to say that Juppe and hello86 have provided some of the contradictory information I was looking for (that quote from Mika was great), and I hereby withdraw my "anybody but Kimi" comment.), I'm glad to hear that there's more to Kimi than had so far met my eye. I also want to clarify that I agree with all those who made the point that the championship is awarded for driving and not personality. I've thought for some time that Kimi is not just a good but a great driver, and in that sense would certainly be a worthy champion. I decide how worthy a driver is by their performance on the race-course; I decide how much I like 'em by that, and personality, and character too. If others care only about the driving, that's ok, we're just different. Which reminds me, I share Dave Brockman's feeling that Eddie Irvine is certainly not dull, but, like Dave, I "can't abide" him. In his case, it's a character issue. (Irvine, by the way, was just a good, not a great driver, and would not, in my opinion, have been a worthy champion had he won in '99.)

You can't really tell how appealing certain drivers would be as champions, as many drivers only seem to come alive when given race winning machinery (Massa being an example).

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Originally Posted by samuratt

Today is a great day (althoguh i a have a cold)... but i am happy to say that i agree with two of the biggest Ferrari supporters in this forum

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Now there's a first :D

how does it matter if he doesn't want to speak well in press conferences,A champion is defined by how well he races......end of story

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Originally Posted by harsha

A champion is defined by how well he races......end of story

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Well said :up:

I think that Kimi's dull behaviour was a result of McLaren's corporate image. I think that he'll be different in Ferrari. Look at DC.

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Originally Posted by F1boat

I think that Kimi's dull behaviour was a result of McLaren's corporate image. I think that he'll be different in Ferrari. Look at DC.

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This hits the spot, basicly. RD actually admits to this also as he just complained about Kimi "not listening to anyone". He should be happy that Kimi seems to be a team player all the way, never complained about the crappy braking engines which cost him at least one WDC. If you look at the current champion, the minute he was having any difficulty, he started complaining about not getting support form his team. So thats a sign of a true champion?

Anyway, its funny how people here judge drivers personalities based on the interviews and the public image they present. Maybe some guys dont give a rats ass about the interviews. Maybe they feel that the important stuff... what really matters happens somewhere outside the press meetings.

I dont know any of the drivers personally and Id guess thats true for most of the forum members. Kimi seems to have a dry sense of humour that is very typical for Finns. BTW, that seems to appeal to Brits as well. Its the Germans, French and the Americans (not listing everybody) who take that kind of humour as offensive, dull and impolite.

I know my jokes have had Americans lining up for therapy and I think thats great. The more versatile we are the more interesting life is. You cannot expect to be liked by everyone, but believe me, if Kimi delivers in 2007, the Tifosi will love him.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Than we have a worthless champion in this moment. ;)

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Good champion and Worthy champion are different. I said a GOOD champion is judged by his reaction...and that's only 1 factor. The curent champion may be a cry baby but he is a DESERVING champion simply coz of the way he drove this year...and for the same reason he is a WORTHY champion too :)

Driving is what really matters. For behaviours outside of workplace look for the pink press. And for those who want funny press conferences, don't care:
Kimi wining will produce lots of stupid comments from Alonso

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Originally Posted by F1boat

I think that Kimi's dull behaviour was a result of McLaren's corporate image. I think that he'll be different in Ferrari. Look at DC.

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Then, what can we expect form Alonso at McLaren???? cause he is so stupid right now... and his english is so poor, that i can't see him doing an interview at the BBC :(

;)

He would be a great champion - plus you might get to see some decent chicks hanging around and get free Vodka after the race. Go Kimi GO !!