Steward defends Raikkonen stop/go penalty call
- Published on 28 Aug 2017 14:52
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- By: Fergal Walsh
F1 steward Mika Salo has defended his decision to penalise Kimi Raikkonen during the Belgian Grand Prix. The Finn was found guilty of failing to slow through a double-waved yellow flag zone, as Max Verstappen's car was being recovered.
Raikkonen was running in fourth place when he received the penalty and was forced to pull into the pits which dropped him down the order. However, the sheer pace of the Ferrari and the safety car allowed him to climb back up to finish fourth.
"It's a rule - it was a double yellow," the former Ferrari driver told the Finnish broadcaster C More. "We got information showing that everyone lifted the throttle with the exception of Kimi. There were people on the track side of the fence pushing the car. Anything can happen and Kimi cannot make that judgement. A rule is a rule - it's that simple."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (8)
Login to replyFreguz
Posts: 160
And Perez trying to squeeze Ocon?
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
That was ridiculous, can't believe no penalty was handed
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, that was just foul.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
clear case of double standards
kngrthr
Posts: 203
except they penalised themselves and the team pretty heavily
Barron
Posts: 625
In the Perez incident it was a classic case of natural justice. He basically punished himself his teammate and his team. The damage he did to his career will have lasting implications so I wonder if this kind of thing ever figures in Stewards' decisions?
Barron
Posts: 625
In the case of Raikkonen, after this no-one can say Stewards are biased! Finland is a small country and I think Kimi owns all the bars. Where's Mika gonna drink now?
boudy
Posts: 1,168
I with you @mcbhargav.
Double standards seem to be the way with F1 at the moment. However the grounds of safety were breached by Kimi. Can't remember when Hamilton/Bottas got an driver related penalty, they have cut corners, taken other drivers out without incurring any penalties.