Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says Kimi Raikkonen’s drive to second place at the Bahrain Grand Prix was “absolutely spectacular”, but adds that the Finn's bad start was probably his fault.
Raikkonen quickly became the Scuderia’s only hope in Sakhir after team-mate Sebastian Vettel had to pull over with an engine failure on the formation lap.
Despite a poor start that saw him drop from third to fifth on the opening lap, the 2007 world champion was able to recover to secure his first podium of the season. Raikkonen’s strong pace had a bittersweet taste for Arrivabene, who was left to contemplate what might have been if Vettel had not retired.
“Concerning the race, we have two points of view,” the Ferrari team boss said. “One is that I am not happy at all, because I think with this strategy and looking at the performance of Kimi, maybe – because in the race things are not always certain – we would have been able to do a very, very good with Sebastian.
“I think the way Kimi drove during the race was spectacular, absolutely spectacular, because if you look at the overtake on the outside of the corner with Ricciardo, he reminded me of the drivers of old when they were battling and they were brave. It was very, very good.”
Raikkonen himself readily admitted that his sluggish getaway denied him a shot at claiming a first win in Bahrain. Two weeks after both Ferraris had enjoyed a tremendous launch in Australia, Arrivabene hinted that the issue came from the driver.
“Kimi had a bit of a problem at the start and I think that penalised him quite a lot because he had to overtake three guys before him. Maybe, and I underline maybe, he compromised the victory of the race.
“I heard that most probably the finger was slippery on the paddle. This is what he said, but it’s something that could happen and it has happened. The tyres were spinning and we lost a bit of time. What he did afterwards, I have to say, was unbelievable.”
On Vettel’s engine problem, Arrivabene only had few details to communicate in the immediate aftermath of the race.
“The guys are looking at it. It looks like a valve or an injector, this is what I have heard.
“They need to inspect the engine. This is the first brief they have given to me. They need to inspect it and see.”
RACE REPORT: Rosberg beats Raikkonen to win in Bahrain
AS IT HAPPENED: Bahrain Grand Prix
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