Scuderia Ferrari Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen blamed a fuel miscalculation by the Maranello team for failing to complete another flying lap in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen had looked like one of the favourites for pole position after topping Q1 and finishing less than a tenth behind teammate Sebastian Vettel in Q2. But as conditions improved late in Q3 following a rain shower, Raikkonen was forced to return to the pits because he did not have enough fuel to complete another lap.
The Finn ran out of time to refuel and return to the track and qualified down in a disappointing sixth position.
“I knew how much fuel we had, but honestly I didn’t know we didn’t have time to refuel and go out again,” Raikkonen said – “I guess we should have stopped when we changed tyres and put more fuel and then we manage to do more laps, but I don’t know reasons why. We haven’t had meetings. Obviously, for sure not how it should have ended, but this is what we got today so we need to see why and what.”
He added: “We knew how much there was but maybe we should have done differently and brought the car in and a bit more fuel and be out there in the end, but I don’t know.
“I thought we had time enough anyhow to come in and change, but this is what happened.” – Kimi Raikkonen concluded.