Kimi Raikkonen doesn’t agree with Fernando Alonso’s view that team radio should remain private and not broadcast on the world feed for everyone to hear.
The McLaren driver was heard describing his Honda power unit to that of a “GP2 engine”, whilst adding that it was “embarrasing” how he was overtaken so easily.
When asked about his comments, the Spaniard said: “We face some difficult times, some tough times as a team, and what you talk on the radio should remain private because you are talking to the team.”
Raikkonen disagrees with Alonso’s view, believing team radio adds extra entertainment for the fans – something the Finn is known for.
“I think it’s up to the team and the drivers to keep it private,” the Ferrari driver said on Thursday in Russia.
“We have meetings where we discuss many things and that’s private, and we all know how it works out in the radio.
“Some of them are broadcast if it’s good for them, so it’s up to us. If we want to make it private we can easily make it private.
“It’s a simple thing that we’ve known for years already. The radios usually end up on TV, so it’s the same for everybody.
“I think it’s good for the spectators on the TV. It makes it more interesting for them if they can hear what is going on.”
Raikkonen’s most quoted team radio came at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he said: “Just leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.” It was later printed on t-shirts and distributed amongst Lotus employees.
