Kimi Raikkonen’s reputation for doing things his own way was on full display during a memorable appearance on Top Gear, according to former producer Andy Wilman, who recalled having to sharply reprimand the Finn for a lacklustre effort.
Speaking on the Midweek F1 podcast, Wilman reflected on Raikkonen’s visit to the BBC show during the period when the 2007 world champion had returned to Formula 1 with Lotus. Raikkonen was expected to complete a lap in the show’s “reasonably priced car” at the Dunsfold Aerodrome circuit, but conditions were far from ideal, with rain falling throughout the day.
While the team anticipated a cautious run given the wet track, they still expected more commitment from a driver of Raikkonen’s calibre. However, his early laps were slow and uninspiring. When Wilman checked in with the timing crew, he was told Raikkonen’s performance was well below expectations.
Raikkonen soon headed back to his motorhome and suggested he was finished for the day, pointing to the poor weather. Although not rude, his attitude was firmly dismissive. As the circuit began to dry, Wilman tried to persuade him to make another attempt, explaining that the lap time was underwhelming and that conditions were improving.
Raikkonen disagreed, barely engaging with the suggestion and insisting the track was still wet. Frustrated, Wilman finally lost his patience, reminding the driver of the many people waiting to see him deliver a proper lap and warning that it would reflect poorly if he refused.
The message worked. Raikkonen returned to the track, completed a few more laps, and went quicker, bringing the day to a close. Wilman summed it up simply as the moment he had to “tell Kimi off.”
Be the first to comment