Kimi Raikkonen questions why he’s so popular with F1 fans

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kimi Raikkonen will finally draw an end to his decorated Formula One career this week in Abu Dhabi, but admitted he hasn’t always understood why he’s been such a popular figure within the sport. The Finn will retire with the most race starts in the sport’s history but says he isn’t overly emotional at the prospect of bidding farewell and that he “doesn’t know why” he’s been so popular with fans. “Maybe because I’ve always been myself,” Raikkonen told Formula 1’s Beyond the Grid podcast. I mean, I don’t care much because, like I said, I luckily have been able to do most of the things how I wish to do it and whatever they remember – good way, or bad way, it’s a memory – and it’s fine for me.” Although he’s dedicated his life to F1, the 42-year-old said he’d always managed to make space in his life for other interests and so he does not envisage adapting to life off the track being too difficult.