Raikkonen puzzled by Rosberg’s pundit role

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Kimi Raikkonen: Cannot understand Rosberg's retirement

Kimi Raikkonen: Cannot understand Rosberg's retirement

Kimi Raikkonen has said he is struggling to understand Nico Rosberg’s retirement now that he is back as a TV pundit.

Rosberg announced his shock retirement after winning the World Championship in 2016, but has continued to be a regular visitor on race weekends as he forms part of Sky Sports’ coverage in both the UK and Germany.

Raikkonen said he respected Rosberg’s decision at the time, but now he is puzzled as to why he keeps coming back if he is retired.

“When he explained why [he is stopping] I thought it was cool and I understood,” Raikkonen said in Helsinki at the launch event of his autobiography ‘The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen’.

“Now he’s standing there with a microphone. I cannot understand why given the reasons he gave for wanting to leave.”

Raikkonen added that he will find it very easy to retire when his time comes as only the driving interests him.

He said: “No it will not be hard to stop this job. I will be relieved when all of the things not involving driving will end. The driving is great but nothing else.

But Raikkonen did state that he would be interested in staying involved with Formula 1, but in a background role of course.

“Yes, I’m interested in doing something like developing a car, but in the background not in public. It will not be standing with a microphone,” Raikkonen insisted.

As for his book, the 38-year-old simply stated: “It is what it is. I don’t really care if someone likes it or not.”

The English version of Raikkonen’s autobiography is due out on October 18.

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