Raikkonen: 'I think Sainz was pissed off and trying to play games'

On the third day of testing in Bahrain, Kimi Raikkonen and Carlos Sainz had a moment at turn ten where the two just missed each other. Raikkonen explained his side of the story.

Raikkonen driving slowly

Sainz tried to set a fast lap at the end of the session but ran into a slow Raikkonen in turn ten. Footage showed Sainz taking the inside bend but Raikkonnen also turning inwards so the cars almost hit each other.

Sainz was clearly not happy with the Finn's action and continued to drive by Raikkonen during the inlap to express his displeasure. Raikkonen himself, however, was oblivious to the situation. "I don't think we hit each other, I don't know," Raikkonen explained on Motorsport.com.

Pissed off Sainz

"I had zero idea he was there, and then I saw him at the last moment, and I pulled to the right. But I don't know," continued the Alfa Romeo driver. "I think he was pissed and trying to play games. Anyway, I doubt we touched. I didn't feel it."

Good winter test for Alfa Romeo

Despite this minor incident, Raikkonen and Alfa Romeo had an excellent winter test. The Finn finished the final day with the highest number of laps driven (166) and the fourth fastest time.

However, Raikkonen wouldn't be Raikkonen to consider it all quite sober. "It's just testing, so you never know what the others are doing, but purely by feeling it's definitely better than last year", he said. "I think the feeling with the car is a bit better. We'll see in a couple of weeks where we end up."