Has world champion lost his mojo?

What’s up with Kimi these days? He seems to have lost his passion for F1. After Sunday’s Hungarian GP, he described the race as “boring”. Okay, so he was stuck behind Fernando Alonso for a large portion of the race, but he only seemed to come alive near the end of the GP, putting in the fastest lap of the race. No F1 driver should describe the heat of battle as “boring”.

The Italian press savaged Kimi after Hungary. Tuttosport wrote: “This Raikkonen is not the driver that Ferrari needs”. We see their point. Apart from the last few laps, Kimi was rubbish in Hungary.

It appears that Kimi now drives with 100% commitment and passion only when he chooses to do so. He should be “on it” all the time. But he’s not. For example, he has recorded the fastest lap of the race at no less than seven grands prix this season - far more than any other driver - but he has not been quick for the whole weekend at any GP, bar Spain and Malaysia. He was awful at Monaco, and sluggish at both Silverstone and Hockenheim - in fact, since Lewis Hamilton ran into the back of him in Montreal, Kimi has struggled.

And yet… he is only five points off the championship lead. How did that happen?

The Finn may yet retain his world title, and force all of the doubters to eat their words. But we maintain that something is up with Ferrari’s No.1.

Any ideas?