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“It’s getting worse and worse”: Departing F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen feels there is too much unnecessary politics in the sport nowadays

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"It's getting worse and worse": Departing F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen feels there is too much unnecessary politics in the sport nowadays

Kimi Raikkonen says he plans to step away from F1 after his retirement because of the politics involved within the sport.

Raikkonen is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. The 42 year old has won 21 races and 1 World Championship in his long and illustrious career. The Ala Romeo driver is set to leave the sport at the end of 2021.

Ahead of his final race weekend ,in Abu Dhabi, the Finn spoke about the current state of F1 and why he dislikes it. Kimi feels that the sport is riddled with unnecessary drama and too much politics.

He was asked if he wanted to get involved with a team in terms of management, post racing and the Espoo born driver was quick to shrug off the idea.

“There’s too much nonsense and politics in there and I think it’s ridiculous.” said Kimi. “But that’s the way it is. It does seem like it is getting worse and worse.”

The former Ferrari driver isn’t the only one to be open about this. 1997 F1 Champion Jacques Villeneuve also feels that the sport is turning into a ‘Hollywood Show’.

“You see the team principals, everybody, shouting, putting on pressure, even on the marshals and so on. It became ridiculous.” the Canadian said.

Also read: Michael Masi warns all the teams and drivers ahead of a thrilling title closer at Yas Marina Circuit

Kimi Raikkonen on his plans after retirement

A lot of people have wondered what the Iceman plans to do after his retirement. The idea of returning to F1 as a team official was a big no, as he said earlier.

Raikkonen says he wants to spend more time with his family, and also work on his own ventures. He added that he plans to do all this ‘for fun.”

“Some people are starting to tell me that I will be bored at home.” said Raikkonen.

“But I say if you have such a boring home then you should change the house or the people you live with. I don’t have such problems.”

The legendary F1 driver will be a big miss in the F1 paddock next year onwards. Other than being an exemplary figure on track, he is also famous for being honest and outspoken about his opinions.

Kimi Raikkonen is 16th in the Driver’s Standings with 10 points to his name.

Also read: Former F1 Champion feels Max Verstappen is trying to downplay his intense Championship battle with Lewis Hamilton

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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