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F1: Raikkonen frustrated by fuel saving, calls it 'not racing'

Kimi Raikkonen says his excessive fuel saving in Abu Dhabi was "nothing to do with racing" after a quiet run to P4.

Kimi Raikkonen was left frustrated by excessive fuel saving through Sunday's Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi en route to fifth place, saying it had "nothing to do with racing".

Raikkonen qualified fifth at the Yas Marina Circuit and held position early on before rising to fourth when Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo retired from the race, where he remained to the chequered flag, finishing less than a second clear of Max Verstappen.

The Finn was left frustrated by the amount of fuel saving he had to do in the race, leaving him powerless to try and cut the gap to Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel in third, who finished 26 seconds up the road.

"It was maybe not the greatest start on the first two laps but to be honest the whole race was fuel saving," Raikkonen said.

"I tried to hold off the guy behind and tried to save enough fuel to be legal in the end but it was nothing to do with racing.

"It was unfortunate but those are the rules and at some circuits it is like this, but it isn't really that fun."

Raikkonen rose above Ricciardo to fourth place in the final drivers' standings in Abu Dhabi, but after struggling to replicate Vettel's title-chasing form, there is significant room for improvement in 2018.

When asked what he wants next year, Raikkonen said: "I don't really know - a decent car.

"Obviously we'll have to put things together over a race weekend but it is like this and this weekend was nothing to do with the car, it is just rules are rules and it doesn't feel like racing.

"We were just trying to use the amount of fuel that we're allowed and cruise in the closing laps."

Zdroj: crash.net