Lewis Hamilton is one of those guys who seldom finds competition from the other teams, let alone finding a fight from within the Mercedes camp. But from the onset of 2014 until 2016, it could be said, if there was a driver who stood up to Hamilton and went as far as challenging him for the world title then it was Nico Rosberg.
In winning the world title in what was a closely-fought championship again, the German driver did prove to the world that it was possible to beat the unsparing and nearly faultless Hamilton in the same car.
We all remember that sweltering 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a fight that Hamilton and Rosberg took to the very limit, where despite Lewis winning the Grand Prix, Rosberg would run away with the crown. But since his retirement, Nico Rosberg has directed the focus and precision on the track to freely-expressed views off it, in turning a Formula 1 pundit.
And he pulls no punches, someone who’d call a spade and spade.
And while much of what Nico talks about F1 and its drivers and technologies has often earned him the wrath from his critics, it could be said, his latest comments- on a certain Kimi Raikkonen- seem interesting than usual.
We all know and understand Kimi Raikkonen to be one of the most talented albeit laidback drivers in the sport.
We also know that Kimi Raikkonen arrived in Formula 1 at the back of just 23 races against his name, thus his earning the super license becoming a saga rightly described as incredible.
Over the years, Kimi’s carved a no-nonsense reputation for himself, his deadpan expressions giving fine company to an uncomplicated driving style. He couldn’t be bothered about what is being spoken of him and according to the man himself, the only thing he cares about in F1 is ‘driving.’
So on that regard, it’s highly unlikely that Raikkonen would be bothered by Rosberg’s admission that he ‘would’ve achieved a lot more had he worked hard.’
That told, here’s what augurs well for a discussion on Kimi Raikkonen
Something that often casts an eye on the famous Finn, rather his talent is that how c0me such a talented driver- someone who just wanted to go quick in any car, regardless of team or set-up- end up with only 1 world title?
While Kimi in an Alfa Romeo C38 is still going decent, having just driven himself to a decent P8 at Silverstone, emerging once again as the only scorer for the team that weekend, wasn’t his talent worthy of earning a few more world titles?
For sure, those who’ve followed his career closely, and one would think Nico Rosberg, who made those observations did too, would know that Raikkonen in 2005 was fast and swift in that McLaren MP4-20.
Maybe that year would’ve seen the Iceman elope with another crown.
How he ended 21 points shy of Alonso is something that could be down partly to turning points that year, at San Marino and the German Grands Prix.
Further down the road, his 2008 effort for Ferrari that saw him finish 23 points shy of Lewis’ maiden crown was another closely-fought championship. In the same car, Massa emerged only a point behind Lewis, that heart-breaking Brazilian Grand Prix separating the fate of the 3 contrasting drivers.
The disappointing Kimi Raikkonen reality
The second stint at Ferrari, starting 2014 was particularly underwhelming, marked by Raikkonen’s ordinary runs in the qualifying. While he did pick himself up, demonstrating familiar flair starting 2017, the first three years in his second home-coming at Ferrari were disappointing. Were they not?
On that counts, when one considers how Raikkonen was often left in the cold when it came to pit blunders and team strategies during a Grand Prix, you cannot help but scratch your head when you realize a driver who’s driven in nearly a third of all F1 contests has emerged with only 1 title.
Rewind the clocks and revisit 2007
Something that’s often used to bash the likes of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is a recurring meme that’s inspired by Raikkonen’s tremendous effort in 2007, that saw him fly with a point ahead of Lewis Hamilton in winning his maiden crown with Ferrari, in his debut season.
It was widely hailed as a feat but also partly because it’s something even Schumacher couldn’t do- winning a title in his very first year with the Italian stable.
Fast, talented and gifted with the ability to focus for long hours, Raikkonen’s had the traits you’d expect from a multiple world championship winners. Yet when you realize that he’s had just a championship against his name, despite being third in the list for most fastest laps in the sport, you are left wanting.
In that regard when Rosberg shared the following on the enigmatic and unflappable Finn, it seems the German didn’t go wildly off-target or did he?
“You would have to say that Kimi could have achieved more if he had worked harder.
On the other hand, he is being himself. There is no right or wrong way.
“No one can say that anyone has to work like crazy. He does what he wants and what is good for him. You have to appreciate that.
“It’s not the way that I approached this sport.”