Kimi: Overtaking is back

Speaking at the launch of Ferrari's new car, codenamed the F2008, Raikkonen, 28, said that he was looking forward to defending the title that he won by a point from Britain's Lewis Hamilton in Brazil last year.

And he thinks that spectacular tyre-smoking passing moves will make a brilliant return.

"Now traction control is not going to help you, for me [I think] it will be a lot more fun. I think there will be an easier chance to overtake as people will make more mistakes." Raikkonen said.

The Finn, who is renowned for his fearless approach to racing, dismissed claims that taking away the aids would make the sport more dangerous, saying that it simply forces the drivers to concentrate more.

"The sport is dangerous anyway," he added. "It doesn't matter if you have traction control or not. If you think it is too dangerous you probably shouldn't be in the sport. It is more tricky for sure, you need to be awake more of the time."

His Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa said that the rule changes would reward those drivers, such as himself, with a smooth driving style and will give him a better chance to challenge for the title than last year, a season in which he won three Grands Prix and finished fourth overall.