No regrets for Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has no regrets about switching from Formula One to the World Rally Championship. The 2007 F1 champion joins the Citroen Junior quad this year with the backing of Red Bull and is enjoying the relatively low pressure environment of the new series and is relishing the challenge.

Ahead of his debut in the WRC, the Finn dismisses talk of him joining his current sponsor back in F1 next season and is taking a wait-and-see approach as to where his career takes him next.

“I have not made my mind up,” Raikkonen said when asked of his plans beyond his current one-year Citroen WRC deal. “This year I have a contract with Red Bull and with Citroen helping me. I have no plans for next year or for the years after. If it goes well, there’s a good chance [to stay in WRC], if not then there’s nothing planned. After a year there might be some new plans, we’ll see.

“It’s all exciting,” he continued. “I did F1 for many years, and when you change it’s a nice experience. There are so many new things to learn. The difficult thing is to learn the roads and make the pace notes, that will take time to be as good as the others guys. This is the main thing, let’s see how it goes. So far, it’s been friendly, if it stays like that. For sure it’s a different atmosphere. I have enjoyed it. It’s been positive.

“It’s not going to be easy, I will enjoy it and enjoy the challenge. This is the learning process, we will learn a lot in Sweden and I expect once we go on the gravel it should be more easy. I hope we can finish and do some good times"