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Kimi Raikkonen Q&A

After all the fuss over his apparent lack of qualifications, Kimi Raikkonen breezed into Formula 1 in Melbourne and looked like he'd been there for years. Cool, calm and collected, he adapted with ease to his first trip outside Europe and, incredibly, his first ever visit to a Grand Prix. On a weekend when many more experienced drivers made mistakes he didn't put a foot wrong, and his unflustered drive to seventh was rewarded with a point when Olivier Panis was penalised. Peter Sauber hired Raikkonen because he felt his potential was limitless, while other candidates had reached their limits, and it will be fascinating to see how he develops as the year goes on. Adam Cooper spoke to the Finn about his impressive debut... and outside toilets!



"That's true. It's the first time."



"I don't know. I think it's just one more race for me. Of course it's a much bigger race than I am used to, but otherwise it's pretty similar."



"Not really. It's similar to testing when you go onto a new circuit. You just need to learn the circuit and do your best."



"Yeah that's true, but it doesn't make any difference in driving because you're not looking at the people when you're driving or when you are in the car."



"Not really. It's pretty much what I expected. If you want to be top, it's always hard."



"Of course that was difficult. I didn't have much practice in qualifying, set-ups and stuff like that."



"Not particularly good! I just kept wheelspinning, but next time will be better."



"It was a bit messy for me, because I lost quite a lot of places. But then after a couple of corners I got some back, so it was not too bad."



"Yes, at the beginning of the race I was stuck behind people, which was a bit bad, but then I overtook two or three cars and it was good."



"(Jean) Alesi and Jenson (Button) and then I think (Giancarlo) Fisichella. It wasn't too bad!"



"It was OK. I think it went pretty well."



"I didn't feel any different. I was just pushing harder all the time."



"I think I've proved something to other people who were thinking I shouldn't be here. I proved to them that I'm not in the wrong place and I can just do my best all the time."



"I don't really know..."



"The car was good, only a little bit of understeer after the pit stop, and that's why I lost a bit of time to the Jordan. Then it started to get better again."



"I hope to get more points this year, and just do my best and then we'll see how it's going."



"It will be, but I think we have the speed to finish in the points. It's just a matter of experience and getting everything right."



"He's a nice guy. I think we can work together really well."



"I don't know! Everyone's asking the same question. It must be in the blood..."



"Yes, that's true! It was normal for me."



"Yes, we decided to do that. It wasn't a bad option. Everything started from my parents, and it's got bigger and bigger..."

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