Formula 1: Kimi Raikkonen gives typical answer about sim racing

Kimi Raikkonen has not competed in Formula 1’s Virtual Grand Prix series. Does he have plans to join? Absolutely not, as he simply doesn’t care.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic that has delayed the start of the 2020 Formula 1 season by at least three months already, Formula 1 introduced the Virtual Grand Prix series.

Several of the sport’s 20 drivers, seven to be exact, are a part of this series, and that total has grown ever slightly since the series was introduced a few weeks ago.

One driver who has not yet competed in the series is Alfa Romeo Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen. Does he have plans to do so?

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The 40-year-old Finn was asked about the matter, and he gave an answer that will shock absolutely nobody.

Here is what he had to say, according to Corriere dello Sport, about whether or not he has any aspirations to give sim racing a try and compete against the likes of real-life teammate Antonio Giovinazzi and other fellow Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz Jr., Alexander Albon, Nicholas Latifi and George Russell.

"“I don’t care [about it]. I’d rather wait until I can get back to a real track.”"

Would you expect anything different from the Iceman?

Raikkonen did do simulator work when he drove for Ferrari, but he made clear that the sim isn’t why he chose to be a Formula 1 driver, and it would be hard for even the hard-core sim racers to disagree with that.

"“It’s not that I didn’t love it. Let’s say that flying to Italy to get in front of the simulator wasn’t exactly why I chose this job. It’s a different thing to drive around the track. And anyway, those simulators are completely different and extremely more complex than the online racing ones.”"

He doesn’t think that staying away from racing entirely during this unexpected delay in action will make him rusty when real-life action returns, however.

"“I don’t think it’s much different from the traditional winter breaks since we’ve been back at the tests in Barcelona. This time I think we’ll go straight to the first race, I don’t see any particular problems.”"

Raikkonen is the oldest driver in Formula 1, and by more than five years over the next oldest driver, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. He is in a contract year and had been slated to break the all-time Formula 1 starts record this year, although whether or not he does that will depend on how many races end up being contested in 2020.

Next. Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark

As of right now, the opening race of the 2020 Formula 1 season is the French Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 28 at Circuit Paul Ricard. This race would have been the 10th race on a record-breaking 22-race schedule.

That schedule now consists of only 13 races, but only two of the nine races that were scrapped have officially been canceled. Formula 1’s updated goal is to run between 15 and 18 races this year.

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