F1 drivers called to order after Räikkönen’s crash

Formula 1 drivers have been asked to rejoin the track safely. This recommendation, made by Charlie Whiting during the drivers’ briefing at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, followed Kimi Räikkönen’s accident at the British Grand Prix.

The Finn, after going too wide at Aintree corner, returned to the track at high speed on the Wellington straight, lost control of his Ferrari F14-T on the curb, before crashing into the safety barrier and rejoining the middle of the pack.

For this maneuver, Räikkönen was not penalized, much to the dismay of some observers like Niki Lauda and Jo Ramirez, who believed it was a dangerous action. The reason given by the FIA was that the Ferrari driver had slightly slowed down before returning, and such behavior would have been that of any driver.

However, Charlie Whiting reportedly acknowledged during the meeting between race management and the drivers that Iceman was lucky to get away without a penalty because the sporting regulations state that the driver must rejoin the track in a safe manner. The Briton believed that Kimi Räikkönen’s return to the track was on the verge of legality.

Asked by Autosport, the FIA delegate shared his point of view. “There is no policy change, the standard policy is written in the rules, any driver who leaves the track can rejoin but must do so safely and without gaining an advantage,” he recalled, before explaining: “My opinion was that Kimi did not re-enter safely and needed to be more cautious.”

« All drivers were reminded that when they return by crossing through grass, they should be cautious and cannot expect it to be as flat as a football field. It’s simply not doable, » he concluded.

In a survey conducted on Motors Inside the day after the British Grand Prix, 52.3% of the voters considered that Kimi Räikkönen returned to the track too quickly, while 37.8% thought otherwise. This survey gathered 257 voters.