From GMM

Ferrari's world champion of 2007, Finland's Kimi Raikkonen (photo) is an "unbelievable" character, team boss Stefano Domenicali said on Wednesday.

At the traditional 'Wrooom' ski and media event in the Italian Dolomites, Domenicali was asked about the famous personality of the team's reticent Finnish driver, who carries the nickname 'Iceman' on his helmet.

"Kimi lives in another world; on another planet," he is quoted as saying by the German news agency SID.

Domenicali's point is reinforced by an anecdote of the Italian press following the launch of the new F60 single seater earlier this week.

According to colleagues who attended the Mugello rollout of the 2009 car, while drivers Felipe Massa, Michael Schumacher, Luca Badoer and Marc Gene conversed in the paddock, 29-year-old Raikkonen was asleep in a car in the car park.

"Kimi isolates himself," Domenicali confirmed. "If he feels pressure, then it's only because he has put it on himself.

"Nothing that is coming from the outside affects him at all - and that is unbelievable," he said.

Domenicali said he would never expect Raikkonen to emerge from the winter break and "has suddenly learned Italian", or is "suddenly smiling".

"That is not the way he is," the Italian explained. "But he is completely impatient to drive and win races again."


Photo Credit : WRI2