Marko Hanželic
Kimi Räikkönen se v Formula 1 broke through a path that is actually unimaginable these days. The Finn did not receive any major funding nor was he part of the youth program, as is common practice today.
Today he is forty-one years old Finn he broke into the top of motorsport mainly thanks to his talent. What does it say about development today, when huge sums of money are already spinning in karting?
“Racing has always been a very expensive sport, even when I was young myself. Now, however, I hear that professional karting is about as expensive as Formula Renault twenty years ago when I drove in this category. This is crazy," he told the magazine auto Zeitung.
“Because of this, it is much harder to start playing motorsport as a young person. Today, good youth teams have the full support of major manufacturers, teams or sponsors, ” he says Raikkonen: “On the other hand, in professional football, clubs also have youth teams and youth academies. That's the way it is in professional sports, and it doesn't really matter if it's good or bad. "
Räikkönen does not know what his will one day do son of Robin, who is now five years old: “If you ask him today if he wants karting, if you ask him tomorrow if he wants something else. You can't change it. He's having fun and that's right. ”
Because it will Raikkonen also next year vehicles also for Alfa Romeo, the fact remains that he does not have much time for family. “When we ride motocross, he says it’s more fun for him than go-karting. For now, it’s all just a hobby. Regardless of whether it will all remain a hobby, or if he decides on such a career, I will support him in this. Time will tell what he decides. We will see how it will be in two years. ”
At the end of his career, the legendary Finn is not thinking about himself: “We will see what happens to me in the near future. There are some rallies I might be able to ride. Maybe I won't even sit in the car anymore, maybe I'll take care of my son in karting. Years ago, I tested a prototype for Le Mans at Peugeot. Nice car, but it wasn't for me. I have always been very interested in the Dakar Rally. But this competition is no longer the same as it once was. It has changed a lot. ”
