Alfa Romeo F1 team sporting director Beat Zender has revealed that Sauber’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel was built with financial compensation from McLaren for hiring Kimi Raikkonen.
In 2001, Sauber appointed Kimi Raikkonen, who had only 23 Formula Renault races and had no F3 experience, as a regular driver. He made his F1 debut with a provisional license limited to four races.
However, Kimi Räikkönen, who suddenly finished 6th in his debut race at the Australian Grand Prix and was officially issued a super license, won 4 out of 17 races and earned 9 points, finishing 10th in the driver’s ranking. Sauber also finished the season with the highest result since entering F1, 4th in the constructors’ ranking.
Kimi Raikkonen’s success caught the attention of his rivals. McLaren wanted to lure Raikkonen after just one season to succeed retired two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen.
Kimi Raikkonen had a “full three-year deal” with Sauber, but Sauber had no choice but to let go of the driver, according to Beat Zehnder.
“He was very clear that he wanted to quit rather than continue. Either go to McLaren or quit. He made it clear,” said Beat Zender.
At least McLaren compensated Sauber financially for the loss.
“Then we received financial compensation and built a wind tunnel,” Beat Zender revealed.
The wind tunnel at Hinwil has long been considered state-of-the-art and remains one of the best of its kind today. At the time, Sauber’s wind tunnel was reportedly built at a cost of $55 million.
Kimi Raikkonen is back in Hinwil’s team after 18 years. In 2019, late in his career, the former F1 world champion returned to the team now called Alfa Romeo F1.
But Beat Zender has admitted that in some areas he was not quite the same as Kimi Raikkonen before him.
“What he lost was the speed in qualifying,” said Beat Zender.
“In his youth he was one of the fastest qualifiers.”
“It’s a matter of age. When you’re 42, the corners show up a little earlier than when you’re 20,” laughed Beat Zender.
Still, Kimi Raikkonen hadn’t lost his racing brilliance.
“I don’t like talking to Kimi during the race. He speaks for himself,” said Beat Zender.
“Even before the engine engineers in the background decided which engine settings to use, Räikkönen implemented it himself.”
“For me, he’s one of the smartest racers. He could read the race and knew exactly when to defend, when to push and when to let someone overtake.”
Kimi Raikkonen, who retired from F1 at the end of the 2021 season, will be racing his first race since retirement this weekend at the road course of Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Category: F1 / Kimi Raikkonen / Sauber