F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Raikkonen laments 'rude and less fair' on-track battles in F1

Kimi Raikkonen believes F1's evolution has led to on-track battles between drivers becoming "less fair" and "ruder" than during his first years in the sport.

As Formula 1's senior citizen, the 41-year-old Alfa Romeo driver has raced against two generations of drivers, but the Finn admits the rules governing wheel-to-wheel racing and on-track behaviour have changed over the years, and not for the better he insists.

"I think in the past, when I started, it was probably a bit more fair games in a way between drivers," the Iceman told the media in Monaco.

"If you were overtaking, I wouldn’t say somebody let you past but it maybe wasn’t so rude, in a way, or blocking that much, or doing those things."

As defensive moves in the field have become harsher, the FIA has felt the need to intervene more frequently to keep drivers in check.

"We didn’t need rules for this kind of thing in that time," he added. "Obviously, every sport has changed over the years and it’s a part of the thing.

"The big difference is they make a rule for everything. There are so many rules that whatever you basically do, you can find a rule for it.

"If it’s good or bad for you that depends, obviously, [on] what you have done."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Hot off the press, cool in the cockpit

Had Niki Lauda been given the good fortune to read the next day's newspaper on…

15 minutes ago

Ferrari set for emotional Michael Schumacher tribute at Monza

Few places in Formula 1 carry as much emotional weight for Ferrari as Monza, and…

2 hours ago

Red Bull hit with Dutch GP reality check: ‘We’ve taken a step back’

Red Bull has been forced to confront an uncomfortable reality after the Dutch Grand Prix,…

3 hours ago

Verstappen takes on 100 rivals in epic karting challenge

Next month, Max Verstappen will trade Formula 1 for something far closer to where his…

4 hours ago

Hamilton admits he crossed the line in Ferrari radio outburst

Lewis Hamilton has candidly admitted that his frustration boiled over during the Dutch Grand Prix…

5 hours ago

Colapinto penalty row escalates as FIA condemns abuse

The FIA has drawn a firm line under the backlash surrounding Franco Colapinto’s Dutch Grand…

20 hours ago