Confirmed: Kimi Raikkonen pulls leg muscle ahead of Belgium Grand Prix weekend

2c76baafb3f4220194992be777199712b9bc750f

13:45, 29 Aug 2019

Kimi Raikkonen has pulled a leg muscle ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix but will drive the Alfa Romeo during practice on Friday. Marcus Ericsson is at Spa-Francorchamps ready to replace Raikkonen should he be unable to continue after practice.

According to the BBC's Andrew Benson, Raikkonen believes he'll be "fine" but it's "better to have a back-up" just in case. The Ice Man has scored all but one of Alfa Romeo's 32 points during the 2019 F1 season.

With the team themselves tweeting this morning that Ericsson had arrived, initial rumours suggested that Antonio Giovinazzi was going to be replaced, but those rumours have no died out.

Andrew Benson

@andrewbensonf1

·Follow

The Ericsson mystery resolved - Raikkonen has pulled a muscle in his left leg and was not completely sure he could race. “Better to have a back-up,” he says. “But it should be fine.” Says he’ll find out tomorrow in practice but was very clear he didn’t think it was “a big story”

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	179
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	136
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	132
4	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	85
5	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	83
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	82
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	76
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	42
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	41
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	31
11	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	16
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Confirmed: Kimi Raikkonen pulls leg muscle ahead of Belgium Grand Prix weekend

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Mercedes confirm new-spec engines for Belgium Grand Prix

Watch: Valtteri Bottas gives first comments after signing contract extension

Verstappen urges Red Bull to keep cost cap in mind: 'We can't just do that'

F1 Today | Antonelli dominates Saturday with sprint win and pole as Verstappen falls behind

Hunter Lawrence recovers from last-lap crash to win RedBud National overall

Verstappen wants a complete reset with Red Bull: 'Something is wrong'

FIA stewards hand out grid penalty after British GP qualifying

Two drivers learn FIA verdict after Silverstone qualifying investigations

Russell reveals what held him back in Silverstone qualifying: 'We thought we found the problem this morning'

Two more drivers summoned by FIA stewards after Silverstone qualifying

Verstappen urges Red Bull to keep cost cap in mind: 'We can't just do that'

F1 Today | Antonelli dominates Saturday with sprint win and pole as Verstappen falls behind

Hunter Lawrence recovers from last-lap crash to win RedBud National overall

Verstappen wants a complete reset with Red Bull: 'Something is wrong'

Popular on GPBlog

FIA stewards hand out grid penalty after British GP qualifying

FIA launches post-Sprint investigation: driver inside the points summoned

Verstappen wants a complete reset with Red Bull: 'Something is wrong'

F1 Standings | Antonelli extends championship lead, as Russell finishes P4

Season

Mercedes confirm new-spec engines for Belgium Grand Prix

Watch: Valtteri Bottas gives first comments after signing contract extension