Kimi Raikkonen against Max Verstappen's F1 'payback' logic

Verstappen's, Raikkonen's and Sebastian Vettel's Spa Formula 1 races were all wrecked by the opening lap tangle last week, which occurred when Raikkonen was sandwiched by his team-mate on the outside and Verstappen's Red Bull on the inside at La Source.

Both Ferrari drivers then expressed frustration at how Verstappen had driven when racing him later in the event, with his movements flat out on the Kemmel Straight of particular concern.

Verstappen suggested the initial collision had influenced his later tactics, saying: "when they do something like that, I'm not going to give up my position that easily afterwards".

Time for Verstappen to choose his path

Speaking at Monza ahead of the Italian GP this weekend, Raikkonen said: "If someone says during the race that he does something because of what happened in the first corner, that is payback.

"I don't think that is correct, to do something purposely paying back something that has happened.

"People make mistakes. Everyone has made them. It will happen to all of us. You just have to accept it.

"It's not the place to start acting silly in a way and paying back something."

Though Raikkonen and Verstappen's feud has attracted huge attention since their Hungarian GP run-in in July, the Ferrari driver underlined that he felt no personal animosity towards the Dutch teenager.

"I have nothing against Max, he's doing a good job. He's fast," said Raikkonen.

"It's just certain things at least in my view are not correct."

Vettel and Raikkonen are meeting FIA race director Charlie Whiting on Thursday for an informal discussion regarding the first corner incident a Spa, with the discussion expected to extend to other race incidents as well.

VETTEL APOLOGISED FOR LA SOURCE CLASH

Raikkonen added that Vettel had apologised to him for his part in the La Source collision and admitted he had not realised Verstappen was trying to get down the inside of the Ferraris when he turned in.

"He said sorry, I said OK," said Raikkonen of his discussion with Vettel.

"It was an unfortunate thing, there was not a lot to discuss. We go forward.

"It wasn't ideal for any of us to be involved. Next time, we'll try to give a bit more room."

Vettel said after the incident last Sunday that he had lost sight of Raikkonen in his mirrors when the tangle happened.

"I thought there was only Kimi on inside, but as it turns out there were three cars [trying to make the corner]," he added at Monza.

"The room I gave Kimi was for Kimi not for three cars. If I had known that...

"But I can't see much in the mirrors. If I do it again, I will give a bit more room."