Raikkonen: Today's closer racing is good for F1 and all the fans

2007 Formula 1 World Champion with Ferrari and 21-time Grand Prix winner, Raikkonen quit the pinnacle of the sport at the end of the 2021 F1 season, bringing the curtain down a sparkling, two-decade career that included 350 GP starts.

Speaking to F1.com during the weekend at Monza, Raikkonen spoke of his life in retirement, which included being a mechanic for his son: “It’s been busy. We moved to Italy, and I’ve been a mechanic for Robin. Rianna is doing gymnastics, and we have a small one [Grace], so a busy family life! But it’s been great.”

Is Robin a new Kimi in the making? Raikkonen reckons: "He’s enjoying it. Everything is going nicely. We’ll see. If something comes or not, who knows? But he’s having fun—that’s the main thing.”

As for following F1 now since he quit, Raikkonen admitted: "Not much, because there’s always something that we’re doing with the kids and the family. When [there’s] been time when we’ve been home and it’s been on TV, I watch.

"I still have the interest, but I don’t know everything like I used to know. But it’s good. It’s interesting to see always how it goes. It looks like things are getting closer now in the racing, so it’s good for F1 and all the fans," said the 44-year-old, F1 living legend.

This year, a second highly hyped Kimi broke onto the F1 radar at Monza this weekend. The highly hyped but as yet unproven 18-year-old earmarked by Mercedes for greatness—Kimi Antonelli—made his debut in FP1, but pranged after a handful of laps. Nevertheless, he remains the 'chosen' one.

Regarding his namesake, Raikkonen said of teenager Kimi: "When we came here, somebody said that they announced it! It’s great. A lot of new faces, I think, coming next year, a lot of new drivers that have been signed to F1. It’s good for the sport, and it’s also great to have an Italian in the championship. It’s good for everybody, I think.”

Asked if he had advice for Antonelli, Raikkonen replied, “I’m sure they know how to get him ready. Obviously, these days they have simulators. When I started, there was no simulator; you just jumped in and got going!

“I think it’s much easier [to be ready for F1] in many ways now. You can obviously do a lot of testing and get ready. I wish them and all the rest all the best!” added Raikkonen, Ferrari's last F1 World Champion.

The Finn's presence did little for lil' Kimi who pranged George Russell's Mercedes in the process of trying to impress the paddock he will soon be part of.

But on race day, Raikkonen may have been the Scuderia's lucky charm after posing with eventual race winner Leclerc the Monegasque went on to win the 75th Grand Prix of Italy. The 20th time the great Italian team have won on home soil.