Dec.24 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen's father has died.

The Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung said Matti Raikkonen, who was 56, died unexpectedly on Wednesday.

The report said the 2007 world champion and 2010 world rally driver's management had asked the media to respect the Finn's privacy as the family grieves.

"Something like this - especially at Christmas - is very difficult, especially for families," said Raikkonen's spokesman Riku Kuvaja to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

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