F1 Test: How drivers fared on Day 1 of post-season tyre test?

Kimi Raikkonen - Sauber

Approaching 40 but still giving some really talented names a run for their money, there's never a dull moment around with Kimi in it, isn't it?

Or maybe only when there's something wrong in his car.

Raikkonen seems to have fallen out of flavor with a track wherein he clinched one of his most famous wins, the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP with Lotus. That was 2012 now.

Immediately, the next year, he'd retire within seconds in the opening lap at the start due to a collision.

Since then, he's only managed 1 podium here in the form of a P3 in 2015. And if you rewind the clocks back to 25 November 2018, Raikkonen couldn't get beyond Lap 7 considering his Ferrari SF 70H gave him some troubles.

But this time, sitting behind the wheel of Sauber's C37, Raikkonen, who initially looked good had to contend with a heartbreak of sorts.

As his Sauber caught fire, owing to an unexplained technical problem a day's worth of a good job was left lacklustre.

Motorsports.com reported incisively on the issue stating:

Raikkonen's late stoppage ended a productive first day with Sauber since 2001 prematurely.