George Russell: “Kimi Räikkönen would have no place in today’s F1”
At a time when drivers are as much athletes as public figures, George Russell asks: could a champion as discreet as Kimi Räikkönen still exist in modern Formula 1?
In Formula 1, times are changing. The cars evolve, the regulations too. But perhaps what has most transformed the face of the paddock in recent years are the expectations surrounding the drivers themselves. More than just competitors, they have become ambassadors, brands, content creators. And this is exactly what George Russell laments, or at least analyzes, using the example of a man who became a legend of silence: Kimi Räikkönen.
The king of « leave me alone » faced with modern demands
Kimi Räikkönen, 2007 world champion, never sought to charm. Cold, laconic, sometimes downright silent, he nevertheless left a mark on an entire generation of fans precisely because of his rejection of the norms. A proponent of minimal media interaction and allergic to social media, he alone embodied a form of resistance to the spectacle of F1. But today, according to Russell, this profile would no longer work.
The fans would be unhappy if Kimi arrived today, he claims to Motorsport-Total. The sport has changed. What you see on Instagram or TikTok is not real life. We post a hundred photos and choose the best one.
Russell, clear-sighted, talks about a world where image prevails. Not to flatter his ego, but because the media and commercial ecosystem imposes it. It is the fans who keep this sport alive. They are the ones who attract the sponsors. And the sponsors allow me to live my passion.
Between Authenticity and the Obligation of Representation
The Mercedes driver insists on the complexity of the role. In his view, it’s all about balance. « I want to remain authentic. But I also want to protect my privacy. When I’m with my loved ones, there are no cameras. We’re ourselves, unfiltered. And I don’t feel like pulling out my phone to post a photo as soon as I’m on vacation. »
A fragile balance, which everyone manages in their own way. The era of Kimi, when one could flee the spotlight without justification, seems to be over. “We can’t bite the hand that feeds us anymore,” summarizes Russell pragmatically.
A sport turned showcase
Formula 1 has entered an era of staged transparency, where behind-the-scenes action sometimes matters as much as on-track performances. The series “Drive to Survive,” Instagram posts, YouTube vlogs, Twitch streams: all these formats expose drivers to a wider, but also more demanding, audience. In this context, would Räikkönen’s anti-hero profile have even emerged today? Russell doubts it.
And yet, the Finn’s aura remains intact. Proof that a certain mystery can still be alluring. But it’s no longer the norm: it’s an exception, a remnant of another time. A time when one could be a champion without liking, without posting, without existing anywhere other than on the asphalt.
