Kimi Raikkonen says he doesn't regret his collision with Valtteri Bottas in the Russian Grand Prix and would attempt the same move again given the chance.
On the final lap of the race in Sochi, Raikkonen attempted to pass Bottas down the inside in to Turn 4, but attempted the move from a long way back and Bottas turned in to the apex. With Raikkonen unable to avoid contact, he hit the Williams and sent it in to the barriers, a collision which earned Raikkonen a post-race time penalty and demoted him to eighth place.
Asked about the incident on Thursday in Austin, Raikkonen says he still believes he was right to attempt the move.
"Well it hasn’t changed," Raikkonen said. "Obviously there were some discussions and penalties given to me, but I would still do it tomorrow again, that doesn’t change the story.
"Unfortunately, we came together in the end and we both lost a bit, but that’s life, that’s racing. I don’t feel bad about it and if somebody feels that, it’s up to them. It’s OK for me. Like I said, I would still do the same thing next time and maybe it goes better."
With Bottas saying he wouldn't leave the door open twice having been passed by Raikkonen at the same point earlier in the race, Raikkonen said contact was inevitable once Bottas tried to turn in.
"I saw it in the end but obviously once you’ve decided to go there… I tried to brake and turn in as much as I can but there’s no way to avoid it. That’s why… what can you do? Once you go there you do it or not. Once I saw that he’s coming… I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t expect or didn’t see me.
"I tried to slow down and turn in but you know, in the end if there’s no space there’s no space. We’re going to collide. It’s an unfortunate thing but it’s a part of racing. You get penalised sometimes, sometimes not. We are here to race, it’s pointless to cry afterwards. I’m sure that people like it more like that than just following each other, so… it’s part of the thing."
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