Raikkonen the silent presence in Austria
Seeing the number 7 Alfa constantly on the top ten from the first Practice to the last decision of stewards is no more a surprise for the habitués of the F1 paddock. But what the crowd thinks?
A new lookout has arrived in the Styrian alps for the weekend: one of those mountain lovers, climbers, hunters that sit in silence contemplating the beauties of nature surrounding them. A kind of a Buddhist meditation under a pine tree in this melting June.
I feel that even Kimi Raikkonen started meditating from a while: not for the heat (he got used to, even if he’s Finnish), not for the hunger of results (in the end he still has a championship in his pocket) but I suggest it’s due to the silence he love desperately and for what was in need after an year of underhand news and sentences from media. Just silent spirit. Blended with results.
Do You remember the titles? “Kimi Raikkonen ready for retiring”? Pole position in Monza in front of the two title contenders: ahead of the driver with more poles than anyone else in F1; right ahead of teammate in the twin sister car. And a few days before his sacking from the Cavallino.
“Kimi Raikkonen not the right driver for Ferrari”? 2018 his third time 3rd place in championship.
“Kimi Raikkonen too old for this F1”? First turn at Austin, one of he most insidious of the entire calendar, and clash with Hamilton, not one of the sweetest in one-to-one battles.
Jumping on Alfa Romeo he focused probably even more on letting become good the car’s setup. Silently. Without claims, louds outings and so on. Just working, helping the team and bringing home as many points possible. And things started running, perhaps better that many seasons within the Rossa.
The low profile from Maurizio Arrivabene has reincarnated in 2019 in Kimi; as one of his many interviews, the post-Free Practice 2 release was on the trend of previous ones:
It was a bit of a stop-start day, especially in the afternoon with the red flags, but it goes like this sometimes. It’s the same for everyone and we have to make the best of it, whatever the situation. The car felt better in FP2 but let’s not get carried away. It is way too early to say where we stand compared to our rivals, that is something we will only find out tomorrow and in the race. For sure, we have work to do to improve things ahead of qualifying.
Again, a top ten. Again a 7th. Again, the silence. And again, the conviction of a good result possible in the weekend; media should be on a mission now: emphasize how much this little Finn is doing well at 38 years of life and probably at his last stands in this sport.
Because silence is far more powerful and respectable.
