Disgruntled F1 driver has become the next Kimi Raikkonen as paddock insiders notice change in interviews

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Kimi Raikkonen loved racing. That’s why he stayed in F1 for almost 350 Grands Prix, ranking third on the all-time list.

Raikkonen walked away from the sport in 2009, only two years after winning the title. But by 2012, he was back with Lotus.

His second stint in the sport lasted until 2021, by which point he was 42 years old. He spent three seasons in the midfield with Sauber, his first-ever team, after losing his Ferrari seat.

But despite this evident appetite for competition, Raikkonen hated Formula 1 as an entertainment product. He said as much in a private conversation with Peter Windsor.

The Iceman became known for his monosyllabic answers in interviews, a clear sign that he just wanted to focus on driving. Former colleague Ruth Buscombe-Divey claims Raikkonen ‘never’ spoke in driver briefings because he didn’t have a ‘political agenda’.

Max Verstappen is turning against ‘political’ F1 just like Kimi Raikkonen

F1 paddock insiders are now seeing the same traits in Max Verstappen. According to Motorsport.com UK’s Filip Cleeren, Verstappen ‘seems to dislike being a Formula 1 driver’ based on his recent interviews.

And his Motorsport Netherlands counterpart Ronald Vording adds that the ‘pure racer’ sees the ‘political aspects of Formula 1’ as a ‘toothache’. Unfortunately, they’re unavoidable, particularly for a driver of his calibre.

Verstappen sounded somewhat irritated in the F1 press conference before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend. After repeated questions about his hotly debated Red Bull future, he told David Croft to ‘focus on commentating’.

During the race, Verstappen received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in his battle with Oscar Piastri. He refused to comment on the decision afterwards, suggesting that his words would be distorted on social media.

Max Verstappen’s sabbatical makes sense – but not for the reason you think

Raikkonen spent two seasons out of F1 and came back looking revitalised. His form at Lotus was so good that Ferrari took him back.

Now there’s talk among confidantes that Verstappen could take a sabbatical. He would be a spectator in 2026 and then return in 2027 once he’d established which teams had nailed the new rules.

Aston Martin have made an enormous offer to Verstappen and seem well-placed for next year after building a world-class off-track team that includes Adrian Newey. But they still need to justify that hype.

Verstappen’s motivation for taking a year away might not be sporting, though. He’s expecting a child with girlfriend Kelly Piquet in the near future, and a 24-race calendar would severely limit how much time he could spend at home.