Raikkonen: “I was bored”
Kimi Raikkonen has stated an inconvenient truth. And no, he hasn’t been complaining about global warming. After finishing second for the second race in a row the Finn had this to say:
At this stage in F1 is difficult to get past. The race was really decided yesterday.
It is boring driving behind other cars. In F1 these days the races are pretty much decided after qualifying, but I just wanted to push like the other cars. It gives you something to do.
In the Turkish Grand Prix F1 served up another follow-my-leader procession with virtually no racing worthy of the name.
It has become so obvious that F1 has a major problem with aerodynamic sensitivity that even the drivers are beginning to complain loudly about it.
When a driver can sit in an FIA press conference after a race and justifiably say ‘I was bored. I just wanted something to do’ then the sport should hang its head in shame.
For the second race a row Raikkonen found himself stuck in second, unable to get anywhere near the leader because his car would lose downforce, and instead amused himself by setting a new fastest lap in the dying stages of the race.
I know the ultra-purists will have nothing to do with the suggestion that F1 should be entertaining. But I haven’t heard any good arguments why the current system should stay the way it is – with the top ten drivers lining up in the order of how much fuel they’ve got on board, and then not overtaking each other because they can’t get close enough.
Nor have I heard any good arguments why the sport can’t just copy GP2, and slash back the size of wings, ban refuelling, and require the use of slick tyres.
Give us that, and I guarantee you we would have seen wheel-to-wheel racing between the Ferraris at the front of today’s race, Fernando Alonso scrapping to pass the BMWs he got stuck behind at the start, and plenty more action up and down the field.
Just as there is in the GP2 races – even at circuits like the Hungaroring.
Photo: Ferrari Media
Related links
- Turkish GP 2007 review: Masterful Massa wins
- Boring races
- Maximum Motorsport – GP2 Turkey Feature: di Grassi takes title lead
- Maximum Motorsport – GP2 Turkey Sprint: Glock back on top
Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport
Ogami said on 27th August 2007, 8:16
Clive:
Yeah we do not need to argue forever, every one’s has his opinion, we’ll see with time.
Thanks for the discussion.
Al said on 27th August 2007, 9:26
The fastest lap in Hungary doesn’t say much, but yesterday’s one was over 6/10ths faster than Massa’s best – thats massive. Kimi clearly couldn’t have been risking much either since it was his second last lap to a valuable 8 points.
He’s perhaps making a point:
- Overtaking is impossible, especially your own teammate
- He’s got the race pace, but hasn’t figured out qualifying yet
On the other hand, he’s probably just doing it to entertain himself.
Ogami said on 27th August 2007, 11:25
I think the same can be said of massa (qualify) he simply like KR or anybody else make sometimes mistakes.
The F2007 are stronger in race than in qualify, well we should say they’re relatively weak in qualify but maintain their pace in race witch is why their lap times are close to their qualifying ones.
I think this is obvious there’s a problem to overtake, this track shows it as it was supposedly wide enough to do it, but as those year tires have less grip more downforce is needed, so more turbulence.
Sean said on 27th August 2007, 13:44
Kimi’s words and actions yesterday pointed to Ferrari team orders.
Dan M said on 27th August 2007, 14:58
“Kimi’s words and actions yesterday pointed to Ferrari team orders.”
I see it as just the oppostie, I see it as Kimi being ****** he didn’t get a team order to pass Massa. Prior to the race he was one point ahead of Massa and thus would be that much closer to the Championship. If it was a McLaren in front of him he would have been much more aggressive for the win but because it was his team mate he couldn’t risk screwing Ferrari out of the Constructors Championship by knocking both of them out of the race.
This just further complicates Ferrari #1 driver situation. Who do they back now? (lets face it, they always favor one driver)
Will said on 27th August 2007, 17:53
I love you guys.
T Cashmore said on 28th August 2007, 18:32
It is indeed sad when the commercial breaks are more exciting than the race
Anthony said on 30th March 2008, 10:52
Hopefully we will see a return to wide slick tyres next year, giving more mechanical grip. It would also be good to see the drivers changing gear the proper way; with a stick and foot clutch instead of playing round with silly bottons on the wheel and without making excuses when they stick it in the wall… just admit that they went wrong. Ohh and it would be refreshing to have the cars number displayed in large writing on the side for easy identification.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 30th March 2008, 11:01
Big numbers would be nice but the sponsors would go nuts…