“This was also the case with Michael Schumacher”–David Coulthard thinks Kimi Raikkonen should leave Formula 1 after the Sebastian Vettel incident.
Kimi Raikkonen is the oldest and longest-serving Formula 1 driver on the grid, and in that time, he has accomplished immensely. But, one of his former rivals, David Coulthard, believes that the Finn should retire.
Coulthard’s thought stems from Raikkonen’s recent crash with Sebastian Vettel in the final lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, and the Briton believes his time in the sport is over.
“I was 37 when I stopped,” Coulthard told Bild. “You suddenly make mistakes and don’t want to admit that you’re to blame. But it’s you. I also noticed that it has to do with concentration weaknesses, especially towards the end of a race.”
“This was also the case with Michael Schumacher at the end of his career.”
Kimi Raikkonen furious on his team after the crash
Sebastian Vettel remained calm after the crash, unlike usual reactions from F1 drivers after being forced out of a race that too in the last lap. However, Raikkonen was furious at his team for not warning him.
“Why the **** did you tell me now?” yelled the 2007 World Champion. “If you don’t tell me, how the **** should I know?” After the race, the 41-year-old Finn added: “Obviously, it’s not ideal when you tell me I’ve already had a warning, but I don’t know.
“I mean, obviously the car behaved pretty well and we were just a little bit too slow. We caught up again but not an ideal ending. In the end it didn’t really change [anything], we were out of the points.”
Raikkonen was believed to leave F1 after the last season and being replaced by a young FDA prospect, but Alfa Romeo decided to extend his stint.
