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“Maybe we need to make the car faster!”: Kimi Raikkonen lashes out at Alfa Romeo race engineer after crashing at Silverstone

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"Maybe we need to make the car faster!": Kimi Raikkonen lashes out at Alfa Romeo race engineer after crashing at Silverstone

Kimi Raikkonen was one of the most popular F1 drivers on the grid during his time in F1. Throughout his 20-year career, he treated fans to some brilliant racing action on the track, but also became famous for his personality off it.

Raikkonen was a fan favorite for his interviews and radio messages, which were perceived as funny because he is very blunt and straightforward while presenting his opinions. One such instance took place at the 2021 British GP in Silverstone, where Raikkonen didn’t hold back while giving his race engineer an earful.

Raikkonen was tussling for P10 alongside Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the closing stages of the race. The Red Bull driver and Raikkonen raced wheel to wheel for a while before the Finn was spun out of the track. This spoiled all his efforts, as he ended up not scoring any points that race. For a team like Alfa Romeo that was struggling at the back end of the grid, even a point would have been very valuable.

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Kimi Raikkonen lashes out at his race engineer after he tries to console him

Raikkonen’s spin in Silverstone was heartbreaking for him and his fans. His race engineer, Julien Simon-Chautemps tried to console him by saying that his shunt with Perez was ‘unlucky’ and it could have been a good day for him with a P10.

“It’s a shame with Perez,” Simon-Chautemps said. “I said it’s a shame with the accident with Perez. We could have maybe scored.”

Raikkonen, however, was not at all pleased with what his race engineer had to say. Instead of blaming luck, he blamed the team for providing him with a slow car. The Iceman is one of the best drivers of his generation, and was not happy with the car his disposal.

“Maybe,” Raikkonen replied. “Or maybe we need to make the car faster, simple. It is impossible to fight against them. Same this, same that and try to fight with the other cars. Come on, we got to wake up and do something!”

Raikkonen decided to retire from F1 after the end of the 2021 F1 season. He spent the last three of his career (2019-2021) with the Hinwil based outfit and the majority of that time, he scrambled for places at the back of the grid.

Also read: Michael Schumacher was once left perplexed after an unexpected chat about Indian football

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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