Dennis: Risk was Worth Taking
McLaren were right to let race leader Kimi Raikkonen try and nurse his damaged car home in Sunday's European Grand Prix despite his failure to finish, team boss Ron Dennis said
The decision backfired spectacularly on the final lap when vibrations caused by a damaged front wheel caused the car's suspension to shatter, allowing Renault's Championship leader Fernando Alonso through to victory.
"Life is full of risks," said Dennis, who said the decision was "100 percent right".
"Normally, this will take a couple of hours or a couple of days to come to terms with," he added.
"I believe in my mind we made the right decision. There was not sufficient evidence it was unsteady. We did what was necessary to win - almost.
"Obviously that phenomenal vibration overloaded some suspension component. I discussed it after the race with Kimi and he is comfortable that we took the right decision. We are here to win.
"Coming third with Alonso winning would of course have been better than what we had but we are fighting for the Championship and winning is what we want to do. We took a calculated risk and paid the price."
Raikkonen had looked on course for a third victory in a row after dominating the last two rounds of the Championship and taking the lead from the start of Sunday's race.
Alonso's victory gives the Spanish driver a 32-point lead in the title race.
"It's a shit feeling," was Raikkonen's blunt reply when asked how he felt.
"I am really frustrated to retire from the race in the lead on the very last lap having dominated throughout," he added. "We lost 10 valuable points in the Championship, however we will do our very best to try and win."
It was Raikkonen's second heartbreak at the Nurburgring in three years, with an engine failure forcing him out while leading at the circuit in 2003.
The Finn had started on pole position for the first time in his career at that race and the engine failure took on huge significance when Ferrari's Michael Schumacher went on to retain the world title by two points from the Finn.
"Naturally, it's possible that this incident could end up deciding the Championship at the end of the day," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug.
Vettel gets his revenge on the track
Vettel gets his revenge on the track Vettel gets his revenge on the track
Hamilton disappointed by driving criticism
Hamilton disappointed by driving criticism Hamilton disappointed by driving criticism
Alonso says title decided off the track
Alonso says title decided off the track Alonso says title decided off the track
King eyes surprise BTCC switch after Ford test
King eyes surprise BTCC switch after Ford test King eyes surprise BTCC switch after Ford test
The Mercedes F1 side-project making waves in the America’s Cup
The Mercedes F1 side-project making waves in the America’s Cup The Mercedes F1 side-project making waves in the America’s Cup
The potential pitfalls Mercedes is working to counter in 2021
The potential pitfalls Mercedes is working to counter in 2021 The potential pitfalls Mercedes is working to counter in 2021
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Cadillac's van der Zande fears rivals "built cars to suit Le Mans only"
Cadillac's van der Zande fears rivals "built cars to suit Le Mans only" Cadillac's van der Zande fears rivals "built cars to suit Le Mans only"
Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail"
Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail" Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail"
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.