Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen is lamenting the end of Formula 1's more exciting days.
He went into the 2014 season playing down the likely impact of the 2014 rules: limited fuel and quieter, energy recovery-dominated, turbo/hybrid V6 engines.
Raikkonen has, however, struggled for form since returning to Ferrari to race the automaker's 2014 F14-T car.
'I WANT MORE FIGHTS'
Raikkonen, who at 34 is F1's oldest active driver, said: "The racing itself should be more exciting again. I want more fights, rear wheel-to-wheel battles, but that's not so easy when at the same time you want to bring in sophisticated cars."
As for his personal struggle with the F14-T car, Raikkonen added: "It doesn't fit my style yet but that's not a disaster, at least I can still collect points."
Raikkonen's struggle and his aversion to the "new" F1 could ramp up rumours he might not stay on the grid much beyond 2014.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali was photographed meeting in the paddock with Red Bull's reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel during the 2014 Malaysian GP. He played down the rumours: "We at Ferrari are very pleased with what we have and I'm sureSebastian is also pleased with his situation - it looks as if he can fight again."
Unlike Raikkonen, apparently much happier in 2014 is F1's other 34-year-old, Jenson Button, who is set to drive his 250th GP at Bahrain on Sunday (March 6).
Raikkonen said: "The positives of a guy my age outweigh the negatives. So maybe the best years are still to come."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Bahrain grand prix.
He went into the 2014 season playing down the likely impact of the 2014 rules: limited fuel and quieter, energy recovery-dominated, turbo/hybrid V6 engines.
Raikkonen has, however, struggled for form since returning to Ferrari to race the automaker's 2014 F14-T car.
'I WANT MORE FIGHTS'
Raikkonen, who at 34 is F1's oldest active driver, said: "The racing itself should be more exciting again. I want more fights, rear wheel-to-wheel battles, but that's not so easy when at the same time you want to bring in sophisticated cars."
As for his personal struggle with the F14-T car, Raikkonen added: "It doesn't fit my style yet but that's not a disaster, at least I can still collect points."
Raikkonen's struggle and his aversion to the "new" F1 could ramp up rumours he might not stay on the grid much beyond 2014.
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali was photographed meeting in the paddock with Red Bull's reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel during the 2014 Malaysian GP. He played down the rumours: "We at Ferrari are very pleased with what we have and I'm sureSebastian is also pleased with his situation - it looks as if he can fight again."
Unlike Raikkonen, apparently much happier in 2014 is F1's other 34-year-old, Jenson Button, who is set to drive his 250th GP at Bahrain on Sunday (March 6).
Raikkonen said: "The positives of a guy my age outweigh the negatives. So maybe the best years are still to come."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Bahrain grand prix.