Kimi at Enstone

As is to be expected of a former Formula 1 World Champion, Kimi Räikkönen is a man very much in demand. With engineers’ briefings, fitness training and a host of media requests to juggle – let alone the commitments of a race weekend – spare time is a rare pleasure.

With that in mind, it came as somewhat of a surprise for the Lotus F1 Team crew back at Enstone when the Finn came strolling into the factory at lunch time today ; less than twenty four hours since the chequered flag had dropped at Silverstone the day before.

Taking in a tour of the entire facility, Kimi made time to chat with anyone and everyone who crossed his path ; posing for pictures, signing autographs and even fitting in a quick game of darts! [Source]

Lotus F1 Team & Linkin Park present: The World First F1 Rock Experience

Lotus F1 Team and Linkin Park have joined forces for the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix to create ‘Linkin Park GP’ — bringing together the adrenaline of Formula 1 and the passion of rock music in a ground breaking digital experience for the first time in history. Featuring Linkin Park’s latest hit single ‘Burn it Down’ and Lotus F1 Team’s stunning E20 car, this unique, world-first creation celebrates the team’s 500th Formula 1 Grand Prix and the release of the band’s 5th studio album ‘Living Things’. Linkin Park GP is available on iTunes as a free download from Thursday 24th May 2012.

Kimi Raikkonen: Refuelling ban has bigger impact on racing than tyres

Kimi Raikkonen says that too much has been made of the impact of tyres on the racing this year – and thinks that it is the ban on refuelling that is playing a huge factor in shuffling up the order as well.

The competitiveness of the F1 field this year has meant elements like tyres are playing a bigger role in the outcome of races, with Pirelli having faced criticism that its products have now become too important in defining results.
However, Raikkonen is not convinced that Pirelli should have been singled out as the key element – because he reckons that the ban on refuelling is a big contributing factor too.

“I don’t think the nature [of F1] is different because of that,” Raikkonen told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat about the impact of Pirelli.

Read the full article here.