Kimi Raikkonen as soon as satisfied Ferrari crew principal Maurizio Arrivabene that he had damaged his leg, sending the Italian supervisor into panic and leaving him prepared to tell Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. There was only one downside: nothing had really occurred to the Finnish driver. It was an elaborate prank that completely mirrored the weird relationship between the 2 throughout their years collectively at Maranello.
Kimi Raikkonen and Maurizio Arrivabene’s relationship at Ferrari
Maurizio Arrivabene was appointed Ferrari crew principal on the finish of 2014 on the request of then-president Sergio Marchionne and remained on the helm till 2018. Throughout the 2014-2018 interval, one fixed in Ferrari’s driver line-up was Kimi Raikkonen, who spent one season alongside Fernando Alonso earlier than partnering Sebastian Vettel for the next 4.
The bond between Kimi Raikkonen and Maurizio Arrivabene rapidly grew to become a robust one. The pair had really met again in 2007, when the Brescia-born supervisor was liable for Marlboro communications. Reflecting on the Finnish driver’s distinctive character, Maurizio Arrivabene defined: “Kimi is totally different from the others, within the sense that first he has to grasp, and solely then does he communicate.”
There have been, in fact, occasional disagreements between them, however Maurizio Arrivabene at all times appreciated one specific attribute in Kimi Raikkonen: his skill to place an argument behind him in a short time. Their relationship grew to become one of many memorable components of Maurizio Arrivabene’s Ferrari years, each inside and away from the extraordinary aggressive atmosphere of System 1.
The Kimi Raikkonen broken-leg prank that fooled Maurizio Arrivabene
Maurizio Arrivabene first informed the story of Kimi Raikkonen’s broken-leg prank in 2016, throughout an occasion designed to deliver the Scuderia nearer to its supporters. With each males collectively on stage, their change grew to become significantly entertaining. It additionally offered a lighter second throughout Ferrari’s 2016 System 1 season.
Maurizio Arrivabene recalled: “I used to be at dwelling in Maranello, and it was already late. You realize when you may’t wait to sit down down on the couch and say, ‘Ah, the day is over’…
“Then I obtained a message from Kimi with an image. I assumed, ‘Right now of night time?’. I opened it and there he was together with his leg in a solid. And there was one phrase, as a result of he’s used to saying little or no. It stated ‘shit!’. At that time, my coronary heart sank. I swore, then I swore once more, and at a sure level I assumed, ‘Rattling, we now have to inform the president [Sergio Marchionne]!’
“I used to be about to choose up the telephone and name him to say, ‘We’ve obtained a large number right here,’ when Kimi referred to as me. ‘Ha, ha. It was a joke!’”
Kimi Raikkonen explains how he pulled off the prank
Kimi Raikkonen then confirmed precisely how he had managed to make the prank look so convincing. The {photograph} of his apparently injured leg had been made attainable by one other dedication that occurred to present him the proper alternative.
“Sure, it’s true,” Kimi Raikkonen defined. “I used to be working with an organization that made orthopaedic helps. I took a photograph and did it intentionally, clearly. I loved it, although.”
Maurizio Arrivabene’s response was quick: “However I didn’t!”
The change captured the contrasting personalities of the 2 males and the relaxed aspect of a relationship that existed alongside the stress of competing for Ferrari in System 1. The episode has remained one of many extra amusing tales from their time collectively, whereas footage of Kimi Raikkonen pranking Maurizio Arrivabene additionally supplied Ferrari followers one other glimpse of the dynamic between the pair.
Aug 11, 2026
