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Kimi Raikkonen Believes Drinking Makes Him A Better Racing Driver

We all know Kimi Raikkonen as a party-going racing driver. Like a modern James Hunt, just with less hair. Now however, he’s mostly settled down with a wife and children to look after, but how has this affected his racing? Well, either side of a three week binge between the Japanese and Spanish F1 races in 2012, he managed to finish on the podium, and he put this down to his drinking and partying sharpening his reflexes and concentration.

Speaking on the ‘Beyond the Grid’ Podcast, Raikkonen said this:

“Obviously it’s been a joke often, but I actually think it’s more true than a joke that I’ve often been driving better doing whatever I want between the races than if I’m just not having fun and drinks and stuff.

“There’s too many proven theories… that (you drive) better (after you’ve had) a bit more fun,” says Raikkonen. “That whole summer was more or less racing and partying. It’s nothing new — for me it’s normal. Outside it might look a bit weird, but for me, in the past, it was a very normal story.

“I always thought that (it makes you) more relaxed and you need to put more effort and concentration in (on track) because you’re a bit unsure. And then the end result comes better.”

After winning at the United States last year, he made an appearance at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in St. Petersburg, Russia. If you didn’t see it, we’ll pop the video above – it’s very funny. Obviously a good night of drinking and partying relaxes the racer, so who are we to stop him?

He’s racing with Alfa Romeo this year and came 8th in the first race of the season, Australia.

 

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