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F1 legend Niki Lauda thinks that it was something more than just pure speed that secured Kimi Raikkonen pole position for today's Grand Prix around the tight and narrow streets of Monte Carlo.
The Iceman set a blistering lap to take the top spot, his first in nine years. Lauda brought up an interesting conversation he had with Raikkonen before the weekend, stating that the 2007 world champion hugged the Mercedes senior.
"He happened to be walking next to me and suddenly he hugged me, which he has never done before, and said 'Niki, how are you?' I didn't know, but he said he had become a father for the second time. I told him about my children too and it was a very pleasant conversation," Lauda added.
"I thought 'This guy is in a good way', and if that is correct, then the accelerator pedal is correct. And now he has a performance that no one expected. Kimi has woken up."
However, right behind Raikkonen on Sunday's grid is his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel, who has a perfect opportunity to take a big points bite out of his title rival Lewis Hamilton: "As long as his car works, he will not let Sebastian go. Kimi wants to win," Lauda predicted.
Raikkonen says that sort of approach will be nothing new: "I don't know why people expect that there will be something different to how it's been the last two years. Just trying to make a stupid story out of nothing," he said.
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
A hug from Raikkonen is too difficult to picture
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Very difficult, and it was probably very awkward, but hey, whats important is that it was a hug. X)