There probably isn’t an F1 photographer in the world to touch the quality of Paul-Henri Cahier, but touch him Kimi Raikkonen did pre-race at Silverstone on Sunday.
You can watch the naughty Raikkonen here:
Kimi alledges that Cahier was standing on his stuff on the grid, so Kimi got annoyed and shoved him out the way. Cahier landed on the ground, dusted himself off, got back up and continued snapping.
Ferrari have understandably played down the situation, and Cahier has said that he’s not going to pursue it any further as he wasn’t injured.
But looking at the awesome photo he got of Kimi as he was being pushed to the ground, I’d say it was worth it!
He got what he deserved. There are 10,000 photos of Kimi floating around do you really need to stand 2″ from his face to click off another one? Aside from that, if you damage someones stuff you deserve to get put in your place.
What would you do? If you’d been concentrating for something for a week, feeling maybe a little tense? Then someone steps a foot from you, on your bag, upsets your concentration and then wants to take a picture of you, and ofcourse, you have nothing to gain from it.
I think he deserved more like an uppercut…
Kimi was trying to get something from his bag (you can see it on the film) and P-H C was blocking him.
P-H C laid back on soft english grass, no big deal. If it would be Tyson instead of Kimi his ears could be in danger.
I agree, he definitely got what he deserved, and also he did look extremely close to Kimi’s bag on the floor.
“Furthermore, the distance at which Paul-Henri Cahier was taking a picture, although close, was completely standard.” – It looked pretty close to me, couple that with some pre-race tension, viola!
It was funny to see the yellow press here in Finland making a huge deal ot of that little push. “Kimi attacked a photographer!!!” You get my drift.
Quite funny to see Kimster show some emotions outside the car too.
Kimi shouldnt have done that the stupid idiot
I could almost have understood kimi doing that after the race, but before? This is what he gets paid mega bucks for. It would be like Amy Winehouse moaning that she doesnt like the fact that so many dealers hang around her street corner!
In response to Geriatric Peon: So if you’re in someone’s way, you would understand completely if they were to throw you out of the way in order to get it, without so much as even asking you to move? Furthermore, looking at the footage I doubt he was stood on Kimi’s stuff at all (unless he’s able to levitate above it!) and even if he was, i doubt he’d have broken anything.
It just shows Kimi is arrogant and has a complete disrespect for other people. Yes, photographers are annoying but not only is it their job, but it’s part of the deal with being a racing driver. If you don’t like photographers, don’t race in such high profile championships. Go for BTCC or something.
don’t see what the fuss is all about really, he is the iceman after all i seriously doubt he’d act any differently
Whilst I agree with what has been said about Paul-Henri Cahier’s distance, there was no need for Kimi to push him. I acknowledge that asking him to move would probably do no good as photographers can be very invasive and extremely stubborn, however all he had to do was pick up his bag and if Paul-Henri Cahier fell over then so be it!
I think it’s quite arrogant to say “I’ve been doing this for 40 years”, implying there’s no way he could have been in the wrong. From the other comments on his web page, you get the impression he doesn’t really like Raikkonen. Like all the other members of the press
Raikkonen could have handled it better, but surely after 40 years Mr. Cahier knows what levels of adrenalin are going around pre-race?
To be honest, I guess I would’ve done the same thing if someone would trash over my stuff , shoving that camera into my face. For God’s sake, they have special lenses, why do they stick it into their faces. You can clearly see that the photographer was really too close, and Kimi reacted as he should, like someone that has it’s private space invaded.
Ash babbles – “Furthermore, looking at the footage I doubt he was stood on Kimi’s stuff at all (unless he’s able to levitate above it!) and even if he was, i doubt he’d have broken anything.”
This has to be one of the dumbest things every typed. Really? You are going to judge if anything was broken from the internet clip? Now that is arrogant and how exactly can you tell he isn’t standing on his stuff? If you watch the cleaner video with the speech on youtube you can here kimi say “you stepped on my stuff” and the photographer say “sorry”.
Wow Ash, reading your comment made my brain die a little.
Would it have killed him to say “excuse me, my bag please”? Looser!
Oh come ooon! You are preparing for a start in F1, and usually there are alot of photographers, however there should not be any in front of your face trying to kiss you!!! Kimi is allright! Freedom of speach, but this is stupid. And is not so much of an issue. What was that stupid photographer doing anyway so close, with a camera like this he could shoot him from London
))
Paul-Henri Cahier is a whiney bitch. So Kimi pushed him a little.. so what? I bet he is going to write a book about how he has been violated by a F1 champion
The preparation before a race is when a driver is most tense, if Cahier is close enough to get a non-zoom shot 2 inches from Kimi’s face, with the flash on, he deserved to get pushed over.
And on the entire video (not just this short clip) it is quite obvious that Kimi’s stuff is being trod on, and his trainer said to the photographer ‘watch the stuff.’
The photographers pretty flimsy in my opiniom, a little shove and he fell spectacularly.
He had it coming…good one Kimi!
I am very much fed up with the paparazzi style photographers. They have no respect for people…
Afterall, Kimi was about to race in a very demanding race. You need to concentrate 100% for that, and definately not get photographed from distances like that before a race. Ofcourse it would be nice of Kimi to apologise, but I can understand his reaction completely.
Geriatric peon: That’s not my main argument. Cahier could well have been careless and stepped on his stuff. That doesn’t give Kimi a right to shove him off like that. If we did that to everyone who got in our way or touched something of ours, we’d either get punched back or arrested within half a day.
As for your post quoting me – yes, what was quoted was kind of dumb, but not nearly as dumb as your advocation of Kimi’s behaviour. You call me arrogant – that’s rich coming from someone who says anyone touching your stuff “deserves to be put in their place”. Looks like we’re BOTH guilty of typing without thinking, huh?
Deserved to be shoved, was right in Kimi’s face and very close to his stuff, and that photo with the clouds in the background is awesome! Kimi looks angry and there is a gathering storm…
Also you can see Kimi look down at his stuff with the photographer standing on it, and he shoves him immediately as he looks down.
Sure it’s the guys job to take pictures of kimi but is it his job to step on his stuff? i think i would have done the exact same thing if some one was stepping on my stuff. people are saying kimi was inconsiderate and just pushed the guy…but who was inconsiderate first? If your gonna do ur job and take pictures of ppl know ur surroundings don’t be a pillock.
When i’m working, and somebody tries to photograph my nose, of course he would have black eye and nose on hes neck.
Its only matter of time to this kind of things to happend, Kimi just did show what many other “celebrity” would want too. everyone else would done it too…
Ps. I’m suprised! Writer isnt defending fellow colleague, normally it would be awful fight even in clear cases like this.
good for u paul-henri good job kimi paul u got to close to him sow u got what u deserved
I think both should share the blame. Putting myself in Kimi’s position, I know I’d be a bit irritable and I can understand why he would react that way, but understanding doesn’t mean he’s right in shoving the photographer. Also, the photographer, for all of his experience, should know better. If he knew Kimi isn’t too kind to the press and that he’s focusing on the race, why push your luck?
Still, things like this happen all the time in workplaces all around the world (usually verbally), I see this in the same light. Both of them should think about it, apologize and let bygones be bygones.
Well done Kimi. Stupid papparazi. The photographer can go suck a weener, you’re standing an inch from his face, he tolerates you and then you stand on his stuff and get so close you could have started intercourse. What a gay photographer. Good Kimi. You should have beaten the living crap out of that idiot.
I think (and totally predicted) that this is gonna be glorified and people’s opinions and readings of the situation are going to be a bit out of proportion.
Annoying photographer is in tense racing driver’s way. Tense racing driver is blocked by annoying photographer and can’t speak clearly (naturally mumbling voice mixed with balaclava and helmet) so does the most logical thing: he gets him out of the way. Unassuming photographer is caught off guard and trips back. Kimi even waves an apology afterwards.
And if he wasn’t after his bag, then maybe the silly man with the loud black clicky thing invaded personal space or disturbed his peace or something.
Granted all the same, PH C was just doing his job and wanted a good shot of a world class racing driver, which he inadvertedly did. And if he wishes not to take it any further, then why the hell are we?
Pointless discussion, chaps. Kimi’s a great driver and had a crap race. PH-C’s a good photographer and ended up taking a cracking picture. ‘Nuff said.
Good man kimi! PHC deserved being thst close and stepping all over his stuff. Cracking photo though so it’s a win win situation
Really great criticising the media in this one especially when the only reason the photographers were so close to Kimi is because they were all competing for our attention as consumers. He’s there to get great shots that the F1 public appreciate, and he’s competing against others to do so. If they weren’t there doing their job you wouldn’t get the pictures of the heroes you idolise so much.
It’s seriously debatable whether PH C actually stood on his stuff, and if he did it wasn’t intentional.
Most of the comments on here are a great example of lazy thinking. One’s an F1 Champion – therefore he must be faultless and idolised like he was one of your mates down the pub (you wish!) – the other is a photographer – so he must be paparazzi.
That’s the level of thinking here – shoot the messenger, how dare he bring me information!
Realise that there are many professionals in the F1 arena doing difficult jobs who deserve your respect – not just the drivers.
it was interesting to see that raikonnen has a personality at least.
after all they only call him the iceman because its a polite spin on not being very interesting with nothing to say.
He got up in Kimis face. Deserves it
Ha! my days that was the best shot of him by far. you have get up close an personal for some of these pictures. what a legend =>
If you asked me, a crouched photographer would fall over easily if pushed lightly. I don’t think PH-C was standing directly on Kimi’s bag. Perhaps he had a knee or two over the bag. Still, I would say that PH-C was at the wrong place, wrong time and that Kimi didn’t intend to topple him over.
A fuss about nothing. James Hunt would have ko’d him
I must be missing something here? Kimi & the photographer aren’t making a big deal out of what happened & the PH-C seems to have taken a great picture, which will no doubt earn a few bob, so why is there so much rubbish being written about the pair of them.
It made me chuckle & that should be then end of the matter.
Today Kimi himself has said that first the camera hit him on the helmet, and then he saw a photographer standing on his fireproof hood (the one that goes under the helmet). He also said that this fuss is getting out of proportion.
The push was justified though, he was standing on his gear and touching Kimi. Cahier whines like a little girl.
He got away easy, F1 drivers from the old days would’ve ko’d him.
kimi is sooo cool.
He deserved it.
This whole case seems to have been blown way out of proportion. Obviously the unhappy photographer is using the oppportunity to get his own name exposed. Why else would he have gone to the lenght of actualling putting a press release on his website to clarify something that really didn’t need clarification in the first place. Browsing through his website you furthermore get the feeling that he really doesn’t care too much about Kimi in the first place, so why not also use the opportunity to thrash him.
How can people possibly condone what Kimi has done. Kids look up to this man (man meant very losely as kimi is the biggest child ever to grace F1!). If a child did this he would spend the rest of his/her time at the wall or in detention. It is not acceptable, no matter how close the photographer gets. I cant believe people say that it what he deserved. Its just anger boiling through unessacarilly and ferrari should punish him for it. What if it was a fan with a pit pass trying to get a once in a lifetime pic of their hero. No, sorry all you who agree in his actions, its not the right thing to do at all!
seriously men grow up it was just a push, there are so much more things goin on around the world which is more important. i actually found it quite funny!
Lots of opinions but mine is like you see on cars “if you can read this you’re too close” I.E. if he can push you without stepping forward you’re too close!
I hate it when people “invade my space” and I’m not about to get in to an F1 car and start a GP (unfortunately)
isn’t it annoying when the reporters always say “i was only doing my job”, getting right into people’s faces isn’t much of a job then
No matter whether Kimi had pre-race tension or not there is never an excuse to use any type of physical violence whether it was a shove, a push or anything else. This photographer has 40 years experience and knows the drill. All Kimi needed to do was at least ask the guy to move back a bit as he was crowding him and makeing him feel pressurised. He is a rude, arrogant individual anyway and it not a good example of a sportsman for our children.
Some prima donnas would have paid to have a photographer get that close
Good one Kimster!
Photographers can be really annoying, Cahier or no Cahier… Pre-race prep is very important to every driver, so Cahier should know better, considering his experience. He deserved “Chuck Norris style roundhouse kick”, if you ask me…
Storm in a tea cup
Cahier and Kimi should both sit on the naughty step for ten minutes, but neither are making as much fuss as we are about it !
I have a great close up mugshot of Heiki soon after getting pole, but I was at least 10 feet away and used the cameras zoom function.
This was the first pic of Heiki I had taken, I’m sure Cahier already has hundreds of Kimi, So no need to get so close. An experienced photographer should know that.
If Little Kimi doesnt want to be photogrpahed he should retire.
No picutres = no publicity = no overpaid job driving around in circles.
oh by the way the pic Cahier took whilst falling on his arse is Kerap anyway,
A good photographer would have kept his finger on the multiple exposure button with a wider angle , at least one pic would have been acceptable then!
Very unprofessional from Kimi and not very smart to do this while being on camera. Being photographed comes with the job. If he doesn’t like that he should retire or go race snowmobiles in Finland. A perfect example of an overpaid pampered prima donna that thinks he can get away with whatever he pleases to do and expects other people to put up with that. It’s not the first time he has pulled of a stupid stunt like this.
kimi is the best driver on the grid maybe he doesnt have the good manners thing but he is the best at f1 u shouldnt even judge him on that the man stepped on his helmet and stuff so kimi was annoyed and it was a tense moment before the start of the race so id say to kimi good job for getting the photographer to know that ur just as serious as everyone else !
Look at the first few frames of that video… Both Kimi and his Assistent are pointing down, because that obvious is place his big feet right on the stuff on the ground. So even if this photo-guy says he didnt touch anything..He just a friggin liar…like his friend Max M is.
Clearly, the “completely standard” distance a photographer stands next to his subject is ridiculously close (as evidenced by the crappy photo PHC produced …please don’t give it the air time). Still, Kimi is far too classy a man to have to guide the photographer to a more suitable location, I say provide the drivers with henchmen to do the work for them.
Deserved it, don’t mess with Kimi, he doesn’t bother you, so don’t bother him!!! Plus, I’m sure Ferrari had given EXPLICIT instructions, as they always do, to not mess with their drivers pre-race.
One more thing, I love all these comments from people calling Kimi some “rich, spoiled, etc.” driver who should understand and deal with people all up in his face, just because he’s a driver in the spotlight. Driver or not, he gets that money from DOING HIS JOB AND PRE-RACE he’s concentrating on THAT JOB which grants him this money. Ridiculous salary or not, he’s a human being and a competitor at the highest level, he doesn’t need people IN HIS FACE before a race. As many have said, I’m sure they had plenty of “Kimi pics” by then, where Cahier didn’t need to step on his stuff or get in his face to obtain another one. Simple as that!!!
Paul-Henri Cahier? Sounds like a Frenchman. Of course he’s gonna run off and cry!
Very quick witted of Kimi to notice that he could use his bag to recreate the trip trick that I’m sure we were all caught out by in the school playground.
By the way, I’m a photographer, and I can see the funny side.
Firsly, I’m no big fan of Kimi. However it looks very much like the photographer did stand on his stuff (whether or not there was any permanent damage is neither here nor there), and he was rather close to him. I think people in the public eye should still be allowed a little bit of personal space.
If it had been my stuff that he’d stood on he would have got a kick while he was down there.
Even if the photographer stood on his stuff Kimi is still way out of line reacting like this. Imagine this happening somewhere else in a different setting: would you still agree with this sort of reaction?
For F430MC: perhaps we should start banning everyone except for the drivers, team members and officials from attending so that mister Raikkonen and Co can be assured to have their private space. And let’s also for good measure ban photography as well because all the pictures needed have already been shot in the past so there is no need for new ones.
Kimi quick witted? Dumb witted would be a more accurate description I would think.
What a bunch of poofters
Kimi show a unprofessional attitud, if he can´t handle the pressure, he must retired from F1. F1 drivers earn a lot of money with their own images, doing advertising and so on, but they have to know theres a price to pay….and the photografer is only doing his job, no excuse for Mister “iceman”, wich by the way is starting to melt…
wooooo gooooooo kimi lol
He deserved it, in my opinion he was far too close to Kimi and I would have done more than just push him
should av stayed away from kimi’s gear lol!
What a coincidence that Cahier would be involved in an incident such as this and then pass away a few days later.
And who could blame him? I predict a Hello Magazine-type outrage…………..
say agree if u hate kimi raikonen
That damn photographer is just angry because he fell down when someone bearly touched him and got embarrased. you can see kimi pointing to the bag and probably just tried to get the idiot off his bag and not push him over or brake his ribs on that “very HARD” grass.
what would all you raikkonen-haters do if someone stuck their meter long camera lenses in your face?
I’d probably punch them in their face, because it would be damn irratating. Why do expect f1 drivers to behave like robots to stuff like this. They are normal people who have a talent for driving, not some a-list celebrities, who in any case spit on papparazi and brake their cameras with someone even batting an eye.
Kimi Raikonnen? Showing some emotion? Something wrong there, surely. An imposter! I want that driver DNA tested!!!!
post number 66’s writer is an idiot.
Kimi is a gun.
Kimi for president.
End of story.
Can’t blame Kimi! The right thing he did. Those papparazis are getting too cocky, it’s obviously time to someone put them to place. Those who are whining about Kimi, how do you like it yourself if some papparazi would be just an inches from your face with their cameras and don’t let you do what you need to do? Like getting ready to race…
Go Kimi!
Kimi, What a LEGEND