Raikkonen: F1 rules meant to give more freedom…

Kimi Raikkonen believes the push to allow Formula 1 drivers to fight on track was only through the understanding of “smart, fair” racing and feels while the drivers are united in meetings the incidents can divide them on track.

Following the lengthy debate which was triggered by the controversial penalty handed to Sebastian Vettel that ultimately saw him lose the Canadian Grand Prix to Lewis Hamilton, the former Ferrari driver added his insight into the flashpoint pointing to F1 drivers being permitted to more wheel-to-wheel racing.

While the rules were largely unchanged, F1 drivers were given more freedom in on-track combat without the associated threat of penalties during the race.

Raikkonnen underlined that point but says it was only permitted when racing “in a smart way”.

“That’s what we have been told, we’d get [more freedom],” Raikkonen said. “Then you look at some things and it’s definitely not that way.

“Freedom in a smart way, yes, but obviously when you start pushing someone off or something stupid, as drivers we all know – or should know – what’s fair and acceptable. As long as it stays a fair fight then I’m okay.”

Raikkonen also feels drivers’ opinions on racing incidents become skewed instantly when they are involved in an incident and feels the FIA race stewards, acting independently, were simply applying the penalties as required by the current F1 rules.

“We are on the same side but it’s not the drivers that make the last decision,” he said. “And then I think it’s easy to agree on certain things when we are there but, in the end, whoever is in a fight, they are against each other.

“In that room we discuss it but on track there are always a million different opinions and somebody will always be happy about it and somebody less happy.”