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Formula 1 today 17 years ago: Kimi frustration baptism after cancellation
Formula 1 today 17 years ago: Kimi frustration baptism after cancellation
Kimi Räikkönen made a virtue of necessity at the Formula 1 race in Monaco in 2006. After a capital engine damage to his McLaren-Mercedes, he stepped back to the pits – and swayed off the path. Instead of TV interviews, there was a few beers with his Finnish friends on the yacht. The unpleasant part of his job was allowed to wait.
Formula 1 today 17 years ago: Kimi Räikkönen fled to yacht
After Schumacher’s transfer of sentences, everything indicated an easy victory for Fernando Alonso in Monaco. After all, the Spaniard, with the supposedly best package, now started from Pole – with the Williams by Mark Webber as a shielding service against the McLaren of Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya on P2.
But already in round two the Finn had passed the casino past the Australian and opened the hunt for Alonso. The Iceman was almost consistent in the Renault’s gearbox – until a safety car phase on lap 49 became a fancy. Not only did the Safety Car come to the strategic for the McLaren pilot, it got much worse.
Without the cooling ride, a pit stop alone delivers greater potential for overheating, then follows a stroll behind the Safety Car, it becomes even more dangerous. This is exactly what happened in Monte Carlo in 2006, when everyone used the SC for a time-saving stop. But the McLaren, who is still susceptible to defects, did not play a part. After lap 50, Räikkönen rolled out with a smoked rear before porters. A defective heat shield on the exhaust pipe of the MP4-21 had become a foolish down to the Finn. Again – that had already happened in training on Thursday before!
In addition, it was only the next countless damage, which had already cost Räikkönen the chance to title in the previous year, which now ruined once again, this time much earlier in the season. With almost 40 points behind winner and World Championship leader Alonso, Räikkönen left the seventh season race in the Principality. How did he depart? Maybe by yacht? At any rate, the Iceman operated there immediately after his retirement frustration.
And with immediately we mean immediately. Nothing there’s analysis, McLaren’s debriefing or interviews – after the defect, Räikkönen climbed out of his broken car, marched in front of a magnificent flower backdrop over a well-kept piece of Monaco lawn, then through the tunnel, past the harbour harass and from there straight towards the famous marina. Moments later, the cameras caught the Finns – now with their own chest – just there. With friends from Finland and beer (also from Finland?) on a yacht. Frustration à la Iceman.
McLaren banged for Räikkönen – rightly
“It is always very disappointing if you don’t reach the goal. But it is particularly hard if you have such a good chance of victory as I did in Monte Carlo,” later explained this curious action. Whether he was already at Ferrari in his thought? “It’s nice if people think I’m the best driver. But I want the title and ride for the racing team, which offers me the best possibilities for it,” said Räikkönen mysteriously.
Mercedes Sport head Norbert Haug apparently already swallows the evil. “In the current situation, we are not talking about the title. But if we take another step forward in the performance, Kimi may be convinced that you shouldn’t leave the team too early.” But it did the same. A year later, Räikkönen drove for the Scuderia, winning the first race and became world champion – against McLaren.
Formula 1 today six years ago: Räikkönen’s victory stolen?
The 28. May, Kimi Räikkönen, Monaco and a lot of frustration – that appears to be somehow part together. On this date, there was still a story that the Iceman didn’t like. This time, however, it was at Ferrari instead of McLaren, more precisely in the Finn’s second term at the Scuderia.
For the first time since the GP in 2008 (!), Räikkönen started the Pole from a Formula 1 race in Monaco in 2017. Especially there the ideal starting point to grab the first victory since Australia in 2013. But it should be done otherwise – and that, for vice could, anything but tingling.
For half the race everything ran according to plan. By lap 33, Räikkönen led a normal procession in Monaco ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Then he headed for the box, falling behind Daniel Ricciardo. Vettel, however, allowed Ferrari to drive much longer. The German came to the only service five laps after his team-mate – and suddenly turned back onto the track through this overcut from Räikkönen. This did not change to the end.
Räikkönen seemed like an oil pillar on the podium – with even more stone mimics as general. Because he was annoyed by a hidden team order? After all, Ferrari had also sent him in two overcircumctions after his stop. “Of course it wasn’t ideal to get back on the track behind an overlap car and of course that definitely didn’t help me,” argued Räikkönen. While the experts were divided on the part of the team order, Räikkönen himself remained used to being used, only his frustration showed.
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H. Marko lashes out at Steiner: Defend Mick Schumacher
Helmut Marko believes Mick Schumacher deserves a return to Formula 1, naming two teams he thinks would consider the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. The 81-year-old Austrian lashes out at Guenther Steiner, who sacked the German at Haas F1 just under two years ago.
“Mick is one of the politest and nicest people in the whole paddock, which is a disadvantage for him. He also has the handicap of a big name,” Marko said in an interview with Sport1.de. “In sporting terms, he has already achieved a lot. He won the Formula 3 championship, he won the Formula 2 championship, that alone made him interesting for Formula 1 teams.”
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut at Haas F1 in 2021. There, he lasted two seasons. After a disappointing season in 2022, Guenther Steiner showed him the door and they opted for more experience with Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.
Marko: ‘Netflix superstar’ Steiner treated Schumacher unfairly
“As far as we were concerned, there were no sporting reasons why we never got together,” Red Bull Racing’s team advisor explained. “He was a Ferrari junior at the time, but Mercedes took him into the team [afterwards]. So he wasn’t even on the market.”
“At Haas, he was not treated fairly by Netflix superstar Guenther Steiner. That’s a fact. Once you drive outside Formula 1, it becomes a difficult story. But behind the scenes, you only hear good things about him. Toto Wolff praises him to the skies. I think Alpine and Audi are seriously considering him. I wouldn’t begrudge him, because he deserves it,” Marko said.
Verstappen and Hamilton CRASH as FIA take action in Hungary
Max Verstappen was involved in a dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton for P3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman attempted an overtake on his rival into Turn 1, going though the inside but locking up as Hamilton’s front right collided with Verstappen’s rear left.
In dramatic fashion the Red Bull was launched into the air, and was lucky to remain in the race, falling behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen has been placed under investigation by the stewards, with the FIA calling a 4.50pm UK time summons, where the sport’s governing body confirmed their findings.
F1 RECAP: Piastri claims STUNNING maiden victory as FIA announce Verstappen penalty verdict
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash in Hungary
A nightmare Hungarian GP for Max Verstappen
It was a difficult race for the champion who went wide on the opening lap, and was forced to give the position back to Lando Norris after claiming P2.
The Red Bull star accused the Brit of running him wide, and continued to deliver a series of furious radio messages to his team during the grand prix.
Verstappen’s frustrations came to the fore as he attempted to overtake Hamilton, with the pair lucky to not be embroiled in more devastating contact.
In the end Hamilton claimed P3 and a podium in Hungary, with Verstappen languishing back in fifth.
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“It’s going to be emotional for me” – Chase Briscoe on honoring Tony Stewart’s legacy
Chase Briscoe, in a recent media session, shared his emotions about racing on the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Briscoe will be driving the No. 14 car, a number famously associated with his current team owner, Tony Stewart.
Stewart won several races and the 2011 championship with this car. He also co-owns NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), which will be shutting down after this season.
NASCAR first raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 1994, which was the first race there besides the Indianapolis 500 in 1916. Since then, many different racing series have raced at IMS. As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the Brickyard 400 after three years off, Chase Briscoe, who grew up in Mitchell, Indiana, faces an emotional weekend.
“It’s going to be emotional for me, I mean full transparency I cry every year just on the ride around deal so with it being on the oval and doing it in the 14 all that it’s going to be definitely, probably emotional,” said Briscoe.
“It’s really special to be back here at home in Indiana. Every race car driver dreams of racing at Indianapolis, but for me, it’s even more special because I grew up here,” he added.
Chase Briscoe eyes playoff spot and #14 legacy
A win this weekend will help Chase Briscoe secure a spot in the 2024 Cup playoffs. It would also be a fitting end to SHR’s legacy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Briscoe has raced at the Brickyard before, twice in the Xfinity Series and won on the road course layout in 2020.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get a chance to race on the oval. So being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” Briscoe stated.
The #14 car has a special place in NASCAR history. After Stewart retired in 2016, Clint Bowyer took over and won two races in 2018. Chase Briscoe then drove the #14 in 2021 and earned his first win in 2022. Other notable racers like Fonty Flock, Hershel McGriff, and A.J. Foyt, also drove this famed car.
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