quoteVettel calls on Raikkonen help to secure front row start
A mistake by Kimi Raikkonen prompts him to turn his attentions to helping his team-mate out instead...
Sebastian Vettel says he has Kimi Raikkonen to thank for getting him onto a potentially crucial front row starting position for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The championship leader has largely trailed his Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen in terms of raw pace around Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, but a mistake by the Finn when it mattered towards the end of Q3 would see him immediately turn attentions to helping Vettel instead.
Backing off before giving Vettel a tow in Sector 3, it would allow Vettel to get between the Mercedes’ on the grid for what could be an important front row start alongside main rival and pole man Lewis Hamilton.
“I had a good feeling in Q1 and then I lost that feeling a little bit. I had a light front end, especially through sector two with the medium and high speed corners but the last lap the car was more alive.
“I could feel it turning into turn one and then I admit I was lucky with Kimi, who aborted his lap and gave me a nice tow which made it a bit more comfortable. Good position today, great job from the team, very happy.”
Though Ferrari has ultimately struggled to match Mercedes when it was able to switch to its fabled ‘qualifying mode’ of power, over a race distance the Italian team is said to be in better shape and could well be a match for its rivals.
“So far it has been looking pretty good so I hope we can keep it up, but the car over one lap is a bit tricky to get it together but consecutive laps I felt good.
“We will see what we can do with the strategy, but for sure Mercedes will be quick but we don’t have to hide. We are front row for a reason, we have the speed and we should have it in the race.”
quote2017 Belgian GP: Kimi Raikkonen comments after P4 in qualifying
Kimi struggled with problems during the entire session
Scuderia Ferrari Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen has admitted that an unfortunate mistake on his final Q3 run was behind him giving a tow to team-mate Sebastian Vettel, rather than being instructed to do so. The 2007 Formula One world champions went “sideways” at Liege at the end of the pole position shootout and backed off to help Sebastian Vettel on the long run from Stavelot to the Bus Stop chicane.
Sebastian Vettel thanked the Finnish driver at the end of the qualifying session, adding that the gesture earned him a couple of tenths of a second, as he split Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ahead of the race on Sunday. The German driver heads Lewis Hamilton by 14 points in the Formula One title race, raising suspicions that his team-mate was asked to play the team game, but the Finn slammed such suggestions, making clear that it was his decision, after an error:
“Don’t try to make a f**king stupid story about this.” – Kimi quickly replied, when asked if there were any messages from the Scuderia Ferrari pit wall to help Sebastian Vettel: “I had a mistake, I was coming back, and obviously if I can help our team I will do it. There are not any other stories behind it.” – the Finnish driver said, as reported by the Italian media at the end of the qualifying which took place earlier today at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Kimi Raikkonen’s qualifying session was already compromised by unexplained vibrations, before his off at Turn 9, and he lamented failing to capitalise on strong practice form, as he wound up fourth: “I don’t know what it is.” – he said of the vibrations issue – “At first it was worse, then a little bit less, then it disappeared and then it came back. Apart from that it was going pretty okay… on the last run there were some small things that were not ideal, and we went a bit sideways at one place. I was struggling a bit with the tyre temperatures, for whatever reason, on the last lap, so I got sideways and I couldn’t finish the lap.” – Kimi Raikkonen concluded.
Not what I wished for today But some points again....
quoteBelgian Grand Prix - Kimi comments about the race
46lOf5bF.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)
Overall, we have been quite competitive this weekend. In the race the car was good on the Soft compound, while with the Ultrasofts,after some laps,I was struggling with the rear; the first laps were ok but then I was sliding around. When I saw the yellow flags I was on the straight, on the right side and I’m sure I did not go any faster than on any other lap. The penalty was not ideal, but luckily there was a Safety Car and we could recover something. I overtook Bottas and then I tried to get close to Ricciardo, but we did not have enough speed to overtake him as he was surprisingly good in race conditions, with good speed in the right places. I guess the result of today could have been worse, but for sure I was looking for more. We have to take the good things, we learned from this race and we’ll try to do better next weekend.
quoteF1 steward Mika Salo explains Kimi Raikkonen’s stop/go penalty call
Kimi was running in fourth place when he received the penalty
Formula One steward Mika Salo has defended his decision to penalise Scuderia Ferrari Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen during the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix, which took place last weekend at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The 2007 Formula One world champion was found guilty of failing to slow through a double-waved yellow flag zone, as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car was being recovered.
Kimi Raikkonen was running in fourth place when he received the penalty and was forced to pull into the pits which dropped him down the order in seventh place. However, the sheer pace of the Scuderia Ferrari SF70H car and the safety car allowed him to climb back up to finish fourth. Without the stop/go penalty call, Scuderia Ferrari’s Finnish driver would have most likely finished on the podium, behind Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
Formula One steward Mika Salo explained his decision at the end of the 2017 Belgian Grand Prix: “It is a rule – it was a double yellow.” – the former Ferrari driver told the Finnish TV company C More Entertainment – “We got information showing that everyone lifted the throttle with the exception of Kimi. There were people on the track side of the fence pushing the car. Anything can happen and Kimi cannot make that judgement. A rule is a rule – it is that simple.” – Mika Salo said, as reported by Italian national sports newspaper based in Rome Corriere dello Sport.
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Fri Aug 25, 2017 6:06 pm
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