Kimi Raikkonen slams 'pointless' Belgian GP yellow flag penalty

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen believes his 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow under double waved yellow flags in the Belgian Grand Prix was "pointless"

The stewards ruled that Raikkonen "made no attempt to significantly reduce his speed" when he passed yellow flags for Max Verstappen's stricken Red Bull on the Kemmel Straight early in the race.

Raikkonen said he did not lift but he did not think it was necessary as the car was behind the barrier.

"I knew there was a yellow flag but the car was at least halfway behind the barrier on the straight," he said.

"I didn't go faster but I didn't lift on the straight.

"In my view it was pointless to get penalised for that.

"I completely understand if he was by the side of the circuit, on the proper side and there is people working on it.

"But this is what happened and I would be surprised if everybody else lifted."

Raikkonen dropped from fourth to seventh after taking the penalty but was able to easily pass Esteban Ocon and then Nico Hulkenberg.

He then went three-abreast on the Kemmel Straight with Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas after the safety car restart, with Ricciardo and Raikkonen passing Bottas for third and fourth respectively.

"On the restart I got a really good tow from two cars and then Ricciardo was on one side, Bottas was in the middle and I just had just enough speed to get next to Bottas, I managed to go on the inside," Raikkonen said.

"I got one car. After that I never really had the speed advantage over the Red Bull.

"They were surprisingly strong in race conditions compared to what they have been the whole weekend.

"They had good speed in the right places always and good lap times but at least I got one place back."

shares
comments

Lewis Hamilton's power mode error helped him win Belgian Grand Prix

Sergio Perez hits back at Ocon's 'tried to kill me' claim at Spa

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Damien Smith

Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Belgian GP
GP Racing

When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jonathan Noble

The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

How football has posed difficult questions for F1

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip

How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip

Subscribe