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Road vs race track: Why the 2031 engine debate remains a complicated puzzle

Formula 1
Austrian GP
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Why everyone suddenly wants a piece of Alpine

Feature
Formula 1
Why everyone suddenly wants a piece of Alpine

WRC Acropolis Rally Greece: FIA investigating dangerous rock incident

WRC
Rally Greece
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What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Austrian GP

Feature
Formula 1
Austrian GP
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Austrian GP

What's behind Red Bull's "hit-and-miss" issues during first test of crucial F1 upgrade?

Formula 1
Austrian GP
What's behind Red Bull's "hit-and-miss" issues during first test of crucial F1 upgrade?

The difficult questions Mercedes has to answer

Feature
Formula 1
Austrian GP
The difficult questions Mercedes has to answer

Why McLaren hasn't run its "McMacarena" wing in Austria

Formula 1
Austrian GP
Why McLaren hasn't run its "McMacarena" wing in Austria

Spotlight back on Verstappen's Red Bull future after Monaghan exit rumours

Formula 1
Austrian GP
Spotlight back on Verstappen's Red Bull future after Monaghan exit rumours

Kimi Raikkonen Q&A

Kimi Raikkonen has taken Formula 1 by storm this year, and it's easy to forget that this time last year he was racing in Formula Renault. He's now replacing a double World Champion at McLaren, and has a long term deal that many only dream about. Clearly Ron Dennis sees him as the man of the future, which is why a team boss known for paying relatively modest driver salaries was willing to pay a multi-million transfer fee to an extremely grateful Peter Sauber. Kimi has justified the hype with his performances on the track, with four points finishes so far - including a couple of fourths. The biggest loser in the deal is Mercedes protégé Nick Heidfeld, who has also done a great job in only his second season, but now knows where he stands. Adam Cooper spoke to Kimi at Monza, where he put in a strong run to seventh



"It wasn't too bad, but the car was quite difficult to drive all the time. I lost loads of time at the first chicane when Jenson hit Trulli, and then he spun in front of me and I went around him on the outside on the grass, and everybody went straight across the chicane."



"Yes, it was OK, but after the pit stop the car was difficult with a full tank. I was sliding around."



"I don't really care. I do what everybody else is doing, and I don't even want to get involved with those things."



"Yes, for sure. There's a good chance to win races next year and even something bigger. But first what I want to do is finish this year as good as I can, and I hope we can keep the team in fourth place in the championship. Then we can look at next year."



"I'm very grateful. I want to thank Peter and the full team, my mechanics and my engineers. They allowed me to show my speed, and I think I gave something to them also."



"Yes, I think so. But of course I also had pressure this year to show that I'm good enough for F1. I will not face any more pressure than this year, and I'll just try to do my best."



"For sure it's going to be hard. I think they're expecting wins and things like that. I'll try to do my best, and then we will see."



"It's nice to hear because I haven't spoken with him after this, and it's good that everything is OK between us."



"I don't know really... you need to ask Ron."



"We just met this year for the first time, but it's been a bit like a friendship now."



"Yeah, I met him on holiday for a couple of days."



"I don't really know the date and how long ago. But there was contact with my manager and then Peter and McLaren were talking together, and in the end they got the right situation."



"I'm very happy that it worked out in the end, and I hope that everyone else is now happy and it was a good deal for Peter."

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