Kimi Raikkonen insists he has no regrets about his fantastic F1 career as he did it his way

One of the greatest F1 legends will hang his boots by the end of 2021 as Kimi Raikkonen has officially announced that after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of the season, it is time to say goodbye to the sport. The 2007 Formula 1 champion is best known for his short and blunt, humorous answers. Speaking about his career ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, he said he had “no regrets”.

Kimi Raikkonen reflects on the legendary F1 career

Kimi Raikkonen, who made his debut in the 2001 Australian Grand Prix for Sauber, has now driven 18 and a half seasons. During this time he has achieved 21 race victories and above all the victory in the drivers’ championship in 2007 with Ferrari F1. After such an historic career in the top tier of motorsport, he insisted that he had “no regrets” for having “done it his way”.

At the press conference on the Thursday before the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix 2021, Kimi Raikkonen said: “I had a good run. I am satisfied with what I have achieved. Of course you want to win, and it is not easy to win to win a championship. I’ve got close a few times and managed to win with Ferrari, I’m so happy it happened, especially with them. “

He insisted, however, that he wasn’t sure he had strength and that he didn’t care, since he was doing it his way. “But I don’t care about the rest, strength or no strength. I had fun, and I did it my way, and I wouldn’t change anything even if I could, otherwise we might not be anymore. I’m sitting here today, if you’ve changed one thing on the way. No complaints – I can’t really complain, “said the 2007 Formula 1 champion.

Kimi Raikkonen comments on the future and reflects on the best moments

When asked what his future plans were after retiring from Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen said he had no plans as he had driven races for the past 21 years, including two years of rallying. “No plans. I don’t want to set a schedule because obviously for the past 18, 19 years in F1 since I started, I’ve rallied these two years.” [away from F1 in 2010 and 2011] There was always a schedule, what’s next and what is that date and what date. So I don’t want that. “

When asked what his favorite Formula 1 win was, Raikkonen said that he couldn’t make up his mind as every win is different due to the effort involved. “Of course every victory is different. Some came easier than others. There were more important than others and certainly something like 2007, especially at the end of the year, they were more important than others. But something like a few wins at Spa where we definitely have the car didn’t have the speed, or Japan [in 2005] all in all it was a hectic weekend and everything, “said Raikkonen.

However, he added that if he had to choose, he would choose his first F1 win in Malaysia in 2003. “But they’re all good and you always have to fight for them, so I wouldn’t say that there is someone who is more special than others. Winning the first one is always difficult and somehow different from the others.”