KIMI AND THE FLYING F1NNS.

It is surprising that a small nation like Finland , has been so successful in one of the most expensive and world wide followed motor sport events like F1. For me the explanation lies in the cool and stable  DNA and in the mentality of an extreme experiences searching young man  trusting only on himself. When Formula 1 Races started in 1950, 63 years ago , there has been since then  32 World Champions, from which 4 has been Finnish.(Mika Hakkinen twice) It means over 10% of the drivers which has participated  in the competitions has been Finn and it is lot of  for a country which population is some 5 million.
First Finnish World Champion was Keke Rosberg , who being a multilingual talent made his first step in the Big Circus with very few outer help from his own home country. In 1982 he was proclaimed World Champion, and in 1985 he became third, although the Finnish Labour Party SDP and it's minister of education, Kaarina Suonio tried to prevent his driving in South-Africa in the SUN CITY GRAND PRIX . The money which the minister used for her 5 star flight to Cape Town and further spending government's money in luxurious hotel,studying the apartheid politics, would have helped more  young motor sport devoted and given them chances to practice the sports they loved.
It took over 15 years to see the next Finnish Champion on the highest podium. Mika Häkkinen was Champion in the years 1998 and 1999, with McLaren- Mercedes Team.
When Mika Häkkinen left the F1, there was a new Finnish talent for pilot markets, Kimi Räikkönen, who's turn to be Champion was the year 2007 with Ferrari.
Finland had once it's own F1 Racing Team called  AAW Racing Team  (Antti Aarnio-Wihuri Racing Team) in 1974.
Mika Salo was driving almost same time as Mika Häkkinen, and he participated in 111 Grand Prix. His high lights  was  the year 1999, when he was third in Monza and second in Hockenheim with Ferrari.
Other Finnish names who has been driving in F1 are: Leo Kinnunen and Mikko Kozarowitzky,JJ Lehto (Jyrki Järvilehto) and Heikki Kovalainen  whose contract with Caterham ended last year. His best achievement was maybe winning  in Hungaroring 2008 with McLaren-Mercedes.
This year Finland has two drivers in the highest category of the motor sports : Kimi Raikkonen in Lotus Renault and Valtteri Bottas in Williams. Of course we cannot forget Nico Rosberg, son of famous Keke Rosberg,but he is driving under German flag in Mercedes Team together with Lewis Hamilton.

JOUKO OFVERBERG