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

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

16 mins ago

Hamilton delighted with ‘consistently strong day’ in Vegas

Lewis Hamilton was particularly happy with his opening day of running at the Las Vegas…

2 hours ago

Verstappen stuck with 'draggy' rear wing for Vegas

Red Bull fears that its prospects for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix - which…

2 hours ago

Ferrari and Mercedes admit to plank changes based on FIA’s TD

Ferrari and Mercedes have both modified their car’s floor element in Las Vegas to comply…

3 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton continues on top in second practice

Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on top of the timesheets for the second time in Las…

4 hours ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas,…

4 hours ago