Ferrari: Räikkönen Considers Himself Unlucky
After a mixed start to the F1 season, Kimi Räikkönen expressed his regrets over what he mainly describes as bad luck following various incidents that dashed his hopes in several Grand Prix, including the most recent one in Monaco.
Only 12th in the World Drivers’ Championship, Kimi Räikkönen is already far from a hypothetical fight for the final podium. His return with Ferrari has taken, during the first six rounds of the season, a turn that few observers expected, given how natural the battle with Fernando Alonso (3rd in the championship) appeared to be.
For the Finn, however, while he never denied the difficulties he had in fully mastering his new vehicle and its equally new systems, part of his problems and underperformances also stem from bad luck: “I often drove well, but something always went wrong during the races – like punctures because other drivers hit me – and things never completely went smoothly,” he explained to our British colleagues at Autosport.
« It’s a shame. Once again, we had a good position [in Monaco] but I had a puncture, so it’s just bad luck. Little things go wrong and make a huge difference in the end. » During the second safety car intervention, and after he had already changed tires a few laps earlier, the Finn was hit on the right rear by Max Chilton, who was then allowed to catch up with the pack to get back on the lead lap, and had to stop again, allowing all his pursuers to pass.
In Malaysia, the 2007 World Champion had already suffered a puncture following contact in the early corners with Kevin Magnussen. This misadventure repeated itself during the night Grand Prix in Bahrain.
But, for him, luck won’t do everything; finding good sensations with the F14-T will also be a key: « Once we have a good feeling with certain things, I’m sure it will be much better. But until we get the results and things are corrected, we have to keep fighting and hope to be a little luckier in the future. »
