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via Getty
MONZA, ITALY – Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Ferrari looks on in the garage during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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via Getty
MONZA, ITALY – Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Ferrari looks on in the garage during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Kimi Raikkonen might be a world-famous, championship-winning driver in F1 right now, but his past is not that glamorous. Like many of his colleagues, the Finn comes from humble beginnings.
Growing up, Kimi did not have a fancy house or access to necessities. So, when he received his first F1 paycheck, the former Ferrari driver decided to rectify that right away.
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Kimi Raikkonen looks back at his journey to the world of F1
Speaking about his path to F1 and the struggles he overcame to get behind the wheel of the fastest cars in the world, Raikkonen revealed something about his first stint in F1 that is bound to melt his fans’ hearts.
In an exclusive interview with Fritz-Dieter Rencken, Raikkonen revealed, “The moment I got my first Formula 1 salary – of course I had already made some money in the lower classes – I immediately bought some land at my parents’ house. We never had an indoor toilet in my youth, so we took care of that right away.”
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 25, 2021 Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
The financial struggles also meant that his parents went to great lengths to actualize Kimi’s dreams of becoming a racecar driving, and the Finn knows that very well.
“Without my parents I would never have been here, I would never have gone karting or anything.
“They almost never had any money, they had to borrow a lot for the house, but they worked very hard. All the money that was there was spent on me and my brothers racing. being able to travel through Finland to race and later, of course, through Europe, which helped a lot,” he concluded.
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Kimi isn’t concerned about who replaces him Alfa Romeo in 2022
The 07′ world champion is now 41 years old; he is currently the oldest driver in F1, and many believe his departure from the sport isn’t too far away in the future. There has been significant speculation as to who will replace him in the Swiss-based team, and names such as Mick Schumacher, Callum Illot, and Valtteri Bottas made their way into these conversations.
But Kimi isn’t concerned about that. He said, “If I decide to quit, I really don’t care who drives the car (laughs). That’s no longer my problem.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – July 2, 2021 Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen during practice REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Do you think we will see the veteran driver behind the wheel next season? Or will he leave the grid once the 2021 season is done and dusted? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Read More: “F**ked Again” – Kimi Raikkonen Rages at Alfa Romeo F1 After Pit-Stop Blunder in Hungary
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