You dream about winning since a kid and when you get that first win it took some time to realise it. But once I realised it, it was so cool.
I have found for me, and it should be the same for everybody, that it is easiest just to be how you are. Be the true you and there is no need to act differently. It has always been like that.
During my childhood my family risked a lot financially. They put every single penny they could into my racing and also their free time was completely compromised.
Every time I jump in the car I feel very happy. Racing is what I love to do and I am very lucky I can do it.
I think I am very lucky to meet so many people and go to cool places and nice events. I am lucky to be in partnership with Hugo Boss and the team so I enjoy doing these events.
How many points, how many races you can win, how many times you be on the podium. That's the name of the game.
It was when I first tried a go-kart in '96. I saw a go-kart race locally, and that got me excited about it, and I wanted to try one. When I got to try one, I just loved the speed and after that it became more about how to improve the lap time and all the details and that.
I think Finns in general, we are quite calm and I think we're mentally in general quite strong, and we don't mind to be alone. We are lonely wolves, a lot of us.
You never want to be behind your team-mate at the end of the year, that's definitely always going to be my goal.
I always remind myself the only thing that matters is I perform on track and that's all I need to do.
My goals in the future is to not just be in Formula 1. I want to be really successful, World Champion, though I guess this is like everyone! But that is what I'm targeting.
Of course, there are races that have been boring but overall it's been really good so I'm not complaining.
What we need to make sure we do as a team is build the quickest car on the grid - if we have the quickest car, we can do it!
We need to make sure F1 stays the quickest category of all, and GP2 is not that far away, so that's a little bit worrying.
When I was 12 there was a big shift in mindset and I realised that if I want to get something out of it then I need to work hard and focus all my energy just for this sport and that's when I started training and taking things more seriously. I became a lot more self-critical and analysed the driving more and more, and that was when I was 12.
There were many things in my childhood I sacrificed: I started travelling quite young, compromising school in terms of learning and time with friends doing normal stuff as a kid you want to do. But obviously I wouldn't change a day.
With F1, it's really a combination of many things. You have to have good endurance, good strength in certain muscles, you need to be fast, have good reactions and good decisions. It's not as simple as one thing. You need to be a complete athlete.
In Formula 1, the neck is really important. There's a lot of force that's going to your head. We also have a helmet and it's not that light. When it's all about g-force, all of that extra weight in the helmet compounds and puts more and more pressure.
I'm a naturally very competitive person and I've been competing in triathlons throughout 2012 to keep fit and keep my mind sharp.
I've had a lot of support from back home, starting way back in karting and since then I have been lucky to have been supported by some great Finnish companies.
For sure, some things have changed with the way I feel about things, like my mindset and everything. But you always learn every year about your mindset and what works for you.
When I drive there is not much emotion in there. I'm just trying to get everything right and get every lap, every corner perfect.
All the questions, all the speculation, No. 2 driver and so on, it doesn't get to me. It doesn't matter.
I have plenty of good people around me I can talk to and for me it's the man in the mirror that gives the answers if I have hard times or if I doubt.
I honestly think the reason I've been able to improve year by year is work. Work with the team, work with my ability, focus on all the single details.