Raikkonen unfazed by TC ban safety fears

Massa and Raikkonen with their new Ferrari F2008

(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has played down his fellow F1 drivers' concerns that the ban on traction control will make the sport more dangerous, particularly on a wet track.

"This sport is dangerous anyway," the Finn, nicknamed within the sport as 'the iceman', said at the launch of Ferrari's new car for 2008, the F2008, in northern Italy on Sunday.

"You can have a big accident whether you've got traction control or not. It will make driving in the wet a bit trickier, but if you think it's too dangerous then you shouldn't be in the car at all," Raikkonen said.

The 2007 world champion, who is renowned for being timid and often uncooperative with the press, was asked about the issue after a group of drivers – including his Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa – pushed for talks with the FIA about having input into how wet races are handled this year and beyond.

But rather than worry about driving without traction control, Raikkonen said the ban on driver aids makes grand prix cars more fun.

"For me it's a bit more enjoyable because you can get the car sideways, and it may help with overtaking because people will probably be making more mistakes," he said.

"It is more tricky for sure, you need to be awake more of the time," Raikkonen added.

He also said F1's fun factor will be key to how long he keeps racing.

"I have still two years (at Ferrari) left and if I go on having fun, I'll stay here. I really like formula one and I have a brilliant team. We'll see," Kimi said.