The reigning world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, has apologised to the Force India driver, Adrian Sutil, after ending the chance of his best finish this season in Sunday’s race.
Sutil was in fourth place as the safety car came into the pits with Raikkonen behind him as they exited the tunnel. Raikkonen made a mistake as they entered the chicane and slammed into the back of Sutil, ending the Force India drivers race with only a few laps left to run.
Sutil was inconsolable after the race and the team boss Colin Kolles told Autosport “After the race he was in tears, but it was not only him, there were a lot of people. I told him ‘You are the hero of the race’. That’s my opinion and I think people will recognise this.”
Raikkonen finished in ninth place for the Ferrari team and said “I said I am sorry for him and his team because, probably, they are not going to be often in the position to score a fourth position. Plus it was Monaco, so it was harder for him than for me. But it was a racing incident and I could not go anywhere. There wasn’t much space and I could not slow down.”
He added “It was just a racing incident. I just locked the rear brakes on the bump and you cannot really slow the car after that. There was nowhere to go, and not enough space to try to avoid him. Basically, I just think my brakes were a bit too cold and I locked the rear. I nearly lost the car but unfortunately I hit him - and it is sad for them. I feel sorry for him, but I could not do anything. I tried to slow down, but there was nowhere to go and nowhere to slow down - and I lost fifth place.”
Raikkonen has now lost the lead in the championship points and follows Lewis Hamilton by three points followed by Felipe Massa.
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