Accept the Facts

Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2018: Thursday

- I don't have time for stupid questions.

No one said it was easy to interview Kimi Raikkonen... knowing his character.
- But ... Wait, I ... Damn. - I know my job perfectly and being a fan should be easier for me than the rest of the team... but not today. Not today. I ripped the paper with 'stupid' questions and headed out of the paddock. Stopping in front of Ferrari's motorhome, I take a dramatic sigh. Sad and lousy.
- Don't take everything into your own account, - any fan will recognize this voice. - This is Kimi. - Sebastian Vettel smiled and went into his motorhome. Well, at least someone supports me today. I smiled back, but couldn't say anything. Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I feel a growing desire to drink latte.
  Thursday is a pretty calm day, especially until 15:00. After they will open a walk along the pit lane, and all the fans will move there. I hate a big crowd of people, but my job is to be there and shoot happy faces in the crowd. After taking a sip of the hot latte, I begin to read the angry email that Ferrari team sent to my manager for the "incompetent" questions.
- Heck! These ... Ferrari!
- Yes, sometimes I think the same. - looking to the left, I almost fell off the chair. What is Lewis doing here again? - Sorry, I didn't want to scare you. - he smiled. - I just wanted coffee as well.
- Hmm, I see.
- Wow, such a cold answer. Bad day?
- No. Well, yes. Kimi called my questions stupid, and Ferrari wrote an email to my manager, so... It could be better.
- Well, Kimi loves to be... to be Kimi, you know? He is always like that.
- I know. I know you all, Lewis.
- Oh, so you are a fan! And whom do you support?
- Not you. - leaving my coffee unfinished, I got up and started to leave.
- No, no, wait! - he overtook me and stood blocking my way. - What was that tone of voice? Feels like I was talking to Vettel.
- That is precisely why it was said so. As a driver I respect you very much, but as a person you annoy me. Now excuse me, I need to work.
***********- You should have found an approach to him, you know his character perfectly! Why should I receive angry emails from Ferrari team?! This is your job, do it properly!
  I was silent all the way until we got to ... Mercedes motorhome. Hits getting more tense with every hour. It would be better if they locked me in the same room with Raikkonen.
  The team gave us 10 minutes for the interview. Hamilton approached me as soon as I stepped into the motorhome.
- I don't know why you are thinking in that was about me, but... but stop it! - He spoke in a whisper, but at the same time changing intonation.
- Why do you care?
- Because we have an interview now and I don't want it to be held in such an atmosphere, Lilo.
- How do you know...
- It was written on the coffee cup. - winking, Lewis hastened to take a seat on the couch. I got a list of questions. Sitting down in front of Hamilton, I turned on the recorder. His assistant left us after pouring tea to him. I refused.
- So ... Let's start. Do you follow a certain ritual before you get into the car or everything happens spontaneously?
- I always ask God to send me and all my opponents a successful race, because we are doing a very dangerous job. I don't think that at least once I got into a car without such treatment.
- Yeah ... How would you describe yourself in 3 words to a person who does not know you?
- Hm... Actually, many people have a false idea about me. They consider me an egoist, a tyrant, a fake one. I don't think that I can give myself any definition. Appearance is deceiving, isn't it?
  I bit my lip, but did not break eye contact. I knew what he was doing. After a couple more questions, we finished. After collecting my papers and other things, I said goodbye to the team and left the motorhome. Lewis nodded and smiled.