Alfa Romeo Team Manager explains how Kimi Raikkonen made the correct tyre strategy decision on his own in Hungary. Kimi made the correct tyre strategy decision in Hungary.

There were contrasting fortunes for the Alfa Romeos in Hungary. Kimi Raikkonen was pleased with seventh and pace that he reckons bettered McLaren’s in the early stages. As for Antonio Giovinazzi, his disappointment was plain to see.

Raikkonen was in the top 10 for each of the practice sessions in Hungary so it was perhaps no surprise to see him line-up 10th on the grid. That became P7 inside five laps.

A pit stop on lap 29 had him emerge just behind Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly, and for the last five laps the Finn was right on Gasly’s tail. He just couldn’t make the pass on the narrow bends of Hungary. At the same time, Kimi was able to successfully defend against a much faster Mercedes, as he finished ahead of Valtteri Bottas. Alfa Romeo Team Manager Beat Zehnder exlains how Kimi Raikkonen made the correct tyre strategy decision on his own in Hungary, which helped him stay ahead of the Mercedes driver:

“It was his own decision to go for the medium compound, instead of the hard tyre. That saved him P7 at the end. He had good traction out if Turn 14. On the hard tyres, Bottas would have got him.” – Beat Zehnder admitted, as the Alfa Romeo Team Manager also confirmed that Kimi decides his own engine setting and strategy: “Kimi is driving without instructions. The engineers discuss with each other whether we need to change the engine settings. At this very moment, Kimi changes it on his own.” – Beat Zehnder concluded.