one simple question, why do you believe that kimi has gotten arrogant? just because of the canada radio? genuine question. i was so frustrated about that canada dnf that i on god blocked out any f1 content because i knew that the kimi glaze would be insufferable (and i was right, WHY are we comparing him to senna wtf be real). SO, my point is, while im not a kimi fan, i havent seen much evidence, if you could call it that, about him getting star fever to such a big extent.
so id to hear your thoughts on that, mostly bc i have really enjoyed your past posts about canada. thank you for posting them, truly.
hey! thank you so much for the ask and for keeping up with my breakdowns on Canada. you brought up some excellent points and touched on something i’ve been observing for a while now.
before i dive in, i completely understand where you’re coming from. the exaggerated "hype" around Kimi is honestly crossing the boundaries of reality, as tends to happen with every new "rising star". but let’s get into it. to be completely honest: i don’t think it’s just the Montreal radio (though that was the breaking point), but rather a combination of factors that show he is letting the success go to his head way too fast.
firstly, the radio during the Canadian GP itself. his behaviour was a major red flag. during saturday's sprint, after battling George and going onto the grass, Kimi completely lost his composure. he went on the radio, practically hysterical, calling his teammate’s move "very naughty" and demanding a penalty. Bono tried to calm him down, asking him to focus, and he just replied with "i don't care". excuse me, you don't care? come on, the move was perfectly clean and well-executed, and the FIA didn't even consider an investigation. yet he insisted. it got so bad that Toto himself had to jump on the public radio, telling him to stop complaining and focus on driving (even after Bono had asked him multiple times). the audacity didn't stop there, because after crossing the line in third, he dropped a provocative "if that’s how we’re going to race, good to know", which made Toto give him a live dressing-down, saying it would be handled internally again.
on sunday, the pattern repeated when he cut the chicane to pass George; he was ordered to give the position back and questioned the team quite aggressively before reluctantly complying. this "i am always right and i am the priority" attitude is the classic sign of someone who feels untouchable (which we can kind of understand, given he’s just a teenager starting his F1 career with several records broken and four consecutive wins). but this is the sport. that’s how it works. and if you aren't capable of understanding your own mistakes and trying to improve, well, that’s a serious problem.
secondly, the off-track stance. his behaviour during and after races, as well as past incidents, really caught my attention back in the 2025 season, at the US GP if i'm not mistaken. Carlos and Kimi had an incident, which is normal, and Kimi ended up getting carried away and swearing at Carlos. and sure, like i said, these things happen (Carlos even said afterwards that "what happens on track, stays on track") but i might be sounding redundant, but respect is respect, especially when it comes from people older and more experienced than you. look at what happened in Montreal with Oscar and Alex. it was Oscar’s mistake. Oscar apologised to Alex afterwards. it’s not that hard, is it? my point is, in Kimi’s head (and for a part of the media), his win on sunday was inevitable, ignoring that George started on pole, won the sprint, and was leading very solidly under pressure before his engine failed.
and his apparent coldness (swearing at or forcing other drivers off track and then acting as if nothing happened) might not mean much to people who think F1 should be a mess (and, to be fair, it is sometimes), but to me, it says a lot about the person’s character beyond being a driver. Toto has praised Kimi’s ability to "compartmentalise" things. he makes a mistake or has a clash, "files it away", and moves on. but while that’s great for a driver’s mental health sometimes, for those watching from the outside, and especially for his colleagues on the grid who are affected, it sounds incredibly cold, arrogant, and unsympathetic. basically, it sounds like he never owes anyone an apology and thinks he’s always in the right. whether it’s resolved behind closed doors or not isn't for me to decide or know, but i’m just citing what i observe in his stance and attitudes. it might change one day, and i hope it does, but like it or not, this stuff follows you for the rest of your life.
regarding the comparisons to Senna, the perspective error goes beyond technique; it touches on the very nature of the experience of driving. although Formula 1 has advanced drastically in terms of safety (and let’s be deeply grateful for every life saved thanks to these innovations) it is a mistake to ignore that the shadow of danger is still a constant companion for any driver, regardless of the era.
still, the psychological relationship with that risk has changed. comparing current drivers to Senna is comparing distinct experiences. in Ayrton’s era, a mechanical failure or a miscalculation often had fatal consequences, which imposed an almost unbearable emotional burden and urgency. today, even with infinitely safer circuits and cars, the risk remains real and latent (as we are unfortunately reminded by the tragic losses we still witness). the difference isn't about the sport being "safe", but about how the perception of danger and living with the possibility of an accident shapes the mind of those who sit on the grid.
therefore, i agree that this might be going a bit too far. this narrative started due to pure statistical coincidences, but there are some differences, and the main one, in this case, is the car. Senna built his legend pulling off miracles in mediocre cars, whereas Kimi is driving the best car on the current grid, the Mercedes W17. even Toto has publicly criticised these comparisons, saying they don't help at all and only put irrational pressure on the shoulders of a 19-year-old kid (which i honestly agree with, because, well, Senna was Senna and he was unique). the problem is that the fans and the media treat Kimi as the reincarnation of Ayrton, and his recent behaviour on track shows he’s started to believe his own hype. but... that’s not quite how it works.
the question that remains is: why does the attitude of drivers like Kimi cause so much discomfort, even when we know that explosive behaviour has always existed in the history of the sport?
the answer might lie in the fact that, despite "arrogance" often being a psychological armour in an environment of extreme pressure, it doesn't justify a lack of respect.
it is perfectly possible (and, actually, expected) that the evolution of Formula 1 into a more professional and globalised environment brings with it a more mature stance. we have seen over the last few decades that relationships between drivers on the grid have matured significantly; there is much more awareness about the role of each one as a public figure and, mainly, as a professional colleague.
so, the sport doesn't need to be an environment of hostility or gratuitous disrespect to be competitive. when a driver resorts to arrogance or verbal attack, he isn't just failing in maturity; he’s going against the process of humanisation and respect that the grid has been building for years. demanding a standard of ethical behaviour isn't asking them to stop being competitive, but rather to recognise that respect for others is the minimum baseline of any high-level professional environment, regardless of adrenaline or age.
anyway, in short: competitiveness in F1 is healthy, but Kimi had already shown spoilt behaviour before and ended up crossing the line in Montreal. he challenged the team on the radio, disrespected his teammate’s effort, and acted with an arrogance that doesn't fit someone who still has a lot to prove. his talent is indeed impressive and i think he has a long way to go, but his ego is growing much faster than his maturity. we’ll see what happens.
thank you again for the sincere question, and feel free to send more thoughts!
