Raikkonen "cannot understand" Rosberg's pundit role

  • Published on 17 Aug 2018 14:28
  • comments 9
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Kimi Raikkonen admits that he finds it difficult to understand Nico Rosberg's new role in the paddock. The German retired from F1 racing following his championship victory in 2016 after spending ten years in the series.

Rosberg has regularly been seen in the paddock working with broadcasters RTL and Sky Sports. Raikkonen says that he finds it difficult to understand why Rosberg retired to take on the role of a pundit, stating that he won't find it difficult to walk away.

"No it will not be hard to stop this job," the Ferrari driver said at his book launch in Helsinki. "I will be relieved when all of the things not involving driving will end. The driving is great but nothing else," Raikkonen added.

"When asked if he would be tempted to follow Rosberg's lead in returning as a regular pundit, he answered: "When he explained why (he is stopping) I thought it was cool and I understood. Now he's standing there with a microphone. I cannot understand why given the reasons he gave for wanting to leave."

However, the Finn says that he would be interested in doing some background work: "Yes, I'm interested in doing something like developing a car, but in the background not in public. It will not be standing with a microphone."

Mansell

Posts: 104

He quit on the chair cause he knew he couldn't cheat his way to another title,
Won't ever be remembered as a world champion or a cheat but as a quitter

  • 1
  • Aug 17 2018 - 21:25

Replies (9)

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  • He doesn't want to loose to Lewis, and leave on the high note ( with the upper hand, some might say).

    • + 0
    • Aug 17 2018 - 16:17
  • Some people might also ask what Raikkonen has been doing in F1 for the last 5 years... I mean given the reasons he says he wants to be in the sport. Overall, he has seemed miserable every weekend since he came back from rallying. Perpetually dissapointed, underperforming massively compared to both Alonso and Vettel. Rosberg? He's the opposite of Raikkonen. Nico likes being out in public, he likes speaking in front of a microphone, he's fairly articulate, and has a lot of insight. Surely he knows that journalists/commentators don't have a schedule anywhere near as rigorous. Especially Rosberg, he more less shows up and just talks.

    • + 0
    • Aug 17 2018 - 17:15
    • Not always, I'd probably say he has underperformed ever since he left Lotus. But I feel ya, Kimi hasnt really been Kimi in a long time now. I'd never think The Kimi Räikkönen would settle for being a second driver. And I for one have enjoyed Rosberg's commentary.

      • + 0
      • Aug 17 2018 - 17:33
    • One look at his mobile banking app, while boarding the jet back home after each race, has probably continued to fix that, time and time again.

      • + 0
      • Aug 17 2018 - 17:47
  • Raikkonen looks happier than I've seen him look in years. The way he is all excited after a good qualy or race. He's been more talkative and enthusiastic as anyone has ever seen from the laid back Fin. Kimi has never enjoyed having to deal with the press and it's no wonder if you look at some of the clowns at Sky and 4 and the idiotic questions they ask. He probably looks at Rosberg and thinks he went from the best job in F1 to the worst. I've watched some of Rosberg's videos on youtube and some of them are pretty entertaining. Rosberg is a bright guy and has some interesting insights into the paddock we don't normally get.

    • + 0
    • Aug 17 2018 - 17:44
  • Mansell

    Posts: 104

    He quit on the chair cause he knew he couldn't cheat his way to another title,
    Won't ever be remembered as a world champion or a cheat but as a quitter

    • + 1
    • Aug 17 2018 - 21:25
    • I for one will remember him as a champion who went out on his own term, and not as a cheater who managed to get away with mowing the lawn of the Mexican GP track. :)

      • + 0
      • Aug 17 2018 - 21:38
  • Bhurt

    Posts: 320

    Preparing to race at the highest level week in and week out is probably quite a lot harder than having a free holiday where your only job is to occasionally blurt out some cliches into a microphone. Pretty sure he's paid a good buck for his troubles as well. And it's not like he stopped being interested in F1 just because he didn't feel like racing anymore.

    • + 0
    • Aug 18 2018 - 06:45
  • Major Tom

    Posts: 152

    Given Raikkonen's notorious 'economy' with words it's hard to imagine a less likely pundit.

    • + 0
    • Aug 18 2018 - 11:15

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