Räikkönen finds DRS “ridiculous”
It didn't take long for Kimi Räikkönen to share his straightforward views with us. After the first day of testing, which he completed at the top of the timesheets, the Finn gave an honest assessment of the 2012 cars.
After his first day behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car following two years spent in rallying, Kimi Räikkönen is already taking stock of the new single-seaters and especially the new tools available to drivers: « I find the way DRS works is a bit ridiculous. Overtaking is no longer an art now. You just put the wing in position and you pass easily. The guy in front can’t do much. Even though I agree that it improves the spectacle. »
In any case, it didn’t take long for Räikkönen to get back into the swing of things as he set the fastest time on the first day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain: « For me, it’s easier to adapt to Pirelli tires than it was for other drivers last year. It’s like a new start for me. »
Regarding the ban on refueling during races, Kimi, who will experience this practice for the first time this year, doesn’t seem too unsettled by it: It’s not really a big problem. Pit stops will just be a little shorter. Driving with a full tank of fuel isn’t like night and day. It’s still the same sport. There are just more buttons to push on the steering wheel.
However, the Finn does not regret his return to Formula 1: « I realized how much I missed it. That doesn’t mean I’m tired of rallying. Ideally, I would like to do both, but that is not possible. But if you love racing and have the choice, you first consider Formula 1. »
