Scuderia Ferrari Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen has backed his team for making the decision to pit for the second time under the safety car caused by team-mate Sebastian Vettel crashing out of the German Grand Prix. The 2007 Formula One world champion stopped as early as lap 14 after trying a different approach to the race, however, when the safety car appeared on track, the opportunity presented itself to change onto fresher rubber for a charge in the final laps.
Kimi also felt both Mercedes drivers were faster in the damp, tricky conditions and there was no way to tell how the result of the race would have faired if he didn’t come in for fresh tyres. When asked if he regretted the team’s decision to pull him into the pits, Raikkonen said: “No, It’s always easy to say afterward but honestly, we don’t know what would happen if we stay out. I’m 100 percent sure that the ultras worked better plus I had very used tyres at that point already but I can’t give an answer if it would have been just fine or a complete disaster, so that’s always an unknown and you try to weigh up the differences and hope that the new tyres will give you some grip to come back. Obviously we knew that the Mercedes will be on one of the some aged tyres but they seemed to be the right decision in those conditions so I don’t have an answer, I don’t think anybody would have an answer what the end result if we stayed out or not. Who knows. That’s how it goes.” – the Finnish driver added.
Kimi Raikkonen remains third in the Driver’s Championship, nine clear of compatriot Valtteri Bottas in fourth place, Ferrari fall eight points Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship after their troublesome race.
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