Though
Kimi Raikkonen may have come under fire in a number of quarters for his renowned heavy partying antics, the reigning
Formula 1 World Champion has found an ally in the sport – in the shape of no less than
Bernie Ecclestone.
The
F1 supremo has spoken out in defence of the 28-year-old's party reputation, as a man in much the same mould as fellow title-winner James Hunt, who was widely known as a playboy who enjoyed driving fast on the track and living even faster off it. Following the Monaco Grand Prix two years ago, Raikkonen famously fell off his boat moored in the Monte Carlo harbour whilst drunk.
“Every time I've been out to dinner with him he has been as good as gold,” the 77-year-old told the
Daily Mirror. “And he's even better when he's pissed.
“There's nothing wrong with that. He doesn't embarrass people to the extent they say ‘My God, he shouldn't be doing that'.”
Ecclestone also tipped the
Ferrari ace – who entered the final round of the 2007 campaign in Brazil as the irrefutable underdog but emerged world champion – to once again be the “guy to beat” this year.
“And I think he'll take a lot of beating,” he added.
