First kilometers for Räikkönen without traction control…

Kimi Räikkönen enjoyed his first on-track outing without electronic aids, meaning without traction control. This reaction comes as the world champion made his return to the F1 world with the Jerez trials.

The Ferrari driver, who won his first title during the last Grand Prix in Brazil over a month ago, has returned to the heat of action to work on the electronic systems that will be used in 2008.

The Finn admitted he was happy to get back into a Ferrari seat and said it was important to start testing with next year’s settings.

« If I had to drive the same single-seater I had in Brazil, I would probably have stayed on vacation, » said Räikkönen in the columns of Gazzetta dello Sport.

With all the new electronic rules, you must be present here in Jerez. I can’t deny it, I’m happy to be back behind the wheel of the car.

He added: « Now, it is easy to lose control of the car, especially when accelerating on the out lap. »

« I experience the same sensations as when I started with Sauber in 2000; back then, the power came gradually, whereas with the V8 engines, everything was very brutal. »

In the end, driving in these new conditions without traction control is pleasant.

Räikkönen added that he is already ready to fight like a lion to defend his title and win a second one.

« Now no one asks me when I will become champion anymore, from now on I will focus on a second title, » concluded Iceman.