F1 not much different to before - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has said that Formula One today is not much different to in the past.

Radically different engine regulations were introduced in 2014, bringing in complex turbocharged hybrid 1.6 litre V6 engines, a far cry from the naturally aspirated V8 and V10 engines Raikkonen has used for the majority of his F1 career.

But despite the big engine changes, the 2007 world champion believes that as far as actual driving is concerned, not much has changed.

"When it came in in 2014 everything was new and probably not at the level we wanted. OK, some teams were at the level they wanted, but for sure [Ferrari] were not happy with where we were," Raikkonen told F1i.com. "Driveability was also depending on how good your car is or the grip on the circuit or conditions, it wasn’t always easy [to judge] because it made it quite tricky. But now after a few years everything has improved so much."

"Driving-wise the sound is different but the driving itself hasn’t changed. You drive the same way, okay you have fuel saving but in the past you had brake saving or something, so it’s the same thing just affecting different things," he added. "So I wouldn’t say there’s an awful lot different apart from the sound and I guess a certain feeling around you, but for me it’s good already again that it’s normal now."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Oct 17 1979 (46)
  • Place of b. Espoo, FI
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar