Catching Up with Kimi:

Learning from George, Working with Bono, and the European Season

Kimi on… Europe

“Standing here now, if I had one message for the Kimi of May 2025 it would be: ‘Don’t mess up the European season!’

“It was a tough period. As a driver, frustration starts to get over you. The focus starts to go somewhere else. You don't focus as much on the process anymore. You just try to get the final result.

“I think that was my problem during the European season.”

Kimi on… Bouncing Back

“After Monza, I did a big meeting with Bono and the engineers. I got a little kick in the butt, but it was what I needed, honestly.

“Now I'm back on the right track, with the right mindset, and focusing on the process, on the basics, trying to drive well, put things together, and then I know the result will come by itself.

“We had a couple of good weekends [in Singapore and Baku], which is important, bringing points for the team.

“The car has been very, very strong, which is very promising. Now six races to go. We pull away from Ferrari and Red Bull as well. That's the most important.

“It's going to be important to keep bringing points, perform well. And to get the P2 in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Kimi on.. Bono

“It's a massive privilege to be able to work with Bono. He has so much knowledge, and every time he brings such an important input on my job and my work.

“It's been crucial. Also, especially during the races, the way he speaks to me is very important. Most of the time, it makes a difference. It's been good so far. I've been having a lot of fun with him.

“I'm looking forward to getting some good results for the end of the season.”

Kimi on… George

“With George, especially these past two weekends [In Singapore and Baku], we've been really pushing each other, session by session. What I really like about him is how he's in control of the situation.

“Experience – this helps a lot – but I like how he's in control, especially in qualifying. It looks like he might be having a bad run, but he's able always to turn it around somehow.

“This is what I find really cool about him.”

Kimi on… Valtteri

“It’s been good with Valtteri, he has been having a big impact. In Singapore we went cycling together on track.

“I’m really happy for him that he got a seat next year, he deserves to have another shot and to see him on the grid is going to be nice.

“We've been working well together and looking forward to the next few races as well. He has been having a lot of input for me, especially at tracks I didn’t know before.”

Kimi on… His Favourite Track (So Far)

“I think driving-wise, Suzuka was a really, really special one. I think it's incredible. It's mind-blowing, how fast you can go in the first sector with an F1 car.

“Overall, all the tracks with the F1 are pretty special. Because the car is just so fast compared to the other categories.

“Whenever you go with an F1 car, it becomes another track. Because you just ride so much faster. It takes so much more speed into the corner.

“Jeddah is a good example of this in the F1 car. To go that fast in a street circuit is pretty scary in the first lap, I'm not going to lie. But once you get into the rhythm, it's super nice.”

Kimi on… The End of 2025

“If I focus on how I've been doing in the past two weekends on trying to drive well, maximizing the result, then everything else is going to come by itself.

“I think in Singapore, it was very possible to go on the podium. Looking at the pace we had in Q3, I turned into Colin McRae because I was more sideways than straight because I was pushing a bit too much!

“I think with a cleaner lap, I would have started more in front and then would have been a different story.

“But it is so nice to come back to the factory and see you all, and I want to thank everyone for their continuous hard work.

“We have to keep pushing, and as a driver, I'm going to try to do my best to contribute and get that P2 in the championship.

“It’s very important for me, but also for everyone in Brackley, because everyone here deserves it so much.”