Kimi Raikkonen outlines key difference between NASCAR and Formula 1 racing

Former Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen has outlined how the NASCAR series has one specific edge against Formula 1 when the two series are compared in terms of racing as a spectacle.

The Finnish driver, who won the 2007 Formula 1 world title with Scuderia Ferrari and ended his Formula 1 career following the 2021 championship, had the opportunity of experiencing some different racing in the last few years. Most recently, Kimi took part in the latest round of the NASCAR Cup Series, which was held last weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, the venue where the Finn also took his final Formula 1 race win for the Maranello team.

The event itself he took place in the latest round of the NASCAR Cup Series.

American professional stock car racing driver Tyler Reddick won the event, after taking advantage of several restarts in the final stages of the race to take a great victory. On the other hand, Kimi Raikkonen had to settle for P29, 11 positions behind his former Formula 1 rival Jenson Button who made his Nascar debut and came home with a solid 18th place.

While the two Formula 1 world champions confirmed that they enjoyed the experience, the former Ferrari driver has pointed out how the NASCAR racing can at times have a key advantage against Formula 1 as a result of to its close-quarters nature, alongside the fact drivers are able to get involved in clashes and bang wheels with a less probability of sustaining damage that would compromise their race. This means there is more aggressive racing in NASCAR and therefore a better show for the fans.

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“There are places you can overtake, and especially in Formula 1, you don’t get a lot of circuits you can have a good race,” – Kimi Raikkonen pointed out after the NASCAR race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin – “People can actually overtake without the DRS, and it feels more like a normal older-style F1 racing. The racing is slightly different because in Formula 1 with open wheels, if you touch somebody you usually lose a car or lose the wheel. You cannot really take that risk in Formula 1 that much because you lose tiny parts of the car, and your car is suddenly a second slower than it should be. In NASCAR, you can have a bit more closer racing. Obviously, the rules are different, they’re more open here. I think it’s more of if you kind of behave, well they’ll behave a similar way against you the way I’ve understood. It makes it more exciting at the end of the races when people can be quite aggressive.” – the 2007 Formula 1 world champion explained.

At the same time, Formula 1 is currently dealing with the problem of Red Bull easily winning the Formula 1 titles, as was the case in 2022 and seems to be also happening this season. There are some entertaining battles going on in the midfield zone but fans want to see close duels for the top positions and for now Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes are far behind the Austrian side, with little hope of catching up during the 2023 Formula 1 season.