Source: Ferrari Media

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Raikkonen defends Ferrari for second pit-stop

Raikkonen defends Ferrari for second pit-stop

23-07-2018 10:00
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Bobby Vincent

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen defends his side after their decision to make the Finn pit for a second time when the Safety Car was out.

Raikkonen was trying a different approach, as he was the first to pit in Hockenheim, as early as lap 14.

Ferrari saw a chance for one final charge and brought Raikkonen into the pits when the Safety Car was out following Sebastian Vettel's crash.

However, the tyre change didn't see much of an advantage gained for the 2007 World Champion.

Raikkonen believed that the two Mercedes drivers were better suited to the slightly damp conditions yesterday and has claimed there is no way of telling what effect the decision to come back in had.

He was asked whether he regretted his team's decision to bring him in, and Raikkonen replied: "No, it's always easy to say afterwards but honestly, we don't know what would happen if we stay out.

"I'm 100% sure that the ultras worked better plus I had very used tyres at that point already but I cannot five an answer if it would have been just fine or a complete disaster, so that's always an unknown and you try to weigh up the differences and hope that the new tyres will give you some grip to come back.

"Obviously, we knew that the Mercedes will be on one of the some aged tyres but they seemed to be the right decision in those conditions so I don't have an answer, I don't think anybody would have an answer what the end result if we stayed out or not.

"Who knows? That's how it goes," Raikkonen added.