Formula One news

Räikkönen dealt another cruel hand in Germany

Kimi Räikkönen has spoken in more detail of his German Grand Prix, heading into which the Finn hoped to rewrite the history books by enjoying a positive result. Over the course of his Formula One career, the 2007 Champion has suffered from a series of unfortunate mishaps at the Nürburgring which only continued in 2009.

Kimi retired with a spectacular off due to broken suspension in 2005

There was a strong top ten finish for Sauber in 2001 before an even better podium for McLaren the following year although, having driven to an impressive first pole position and leading the race comfortably in 2003, Kimi's Mercedes engine expired to bring an end to what looked to be a second Grand Prix victory. The following year, another V10 failure saw both his engine and a result go up in smoke before a dramatic suspension breakage - due to a vibration from a flat spotted tyre - saw Räikkönen fly off the track while leading on the final lap in 2005. A result came in the shape of fourth three years ago although his 2007 race finished with hydraulics failure.

"The curse that seems to follow me in Germany struck again!" said a disbelieving Räikkönen. "I have finished both races, at Hockenheim and at the Nürburgring, only a few times and the points I could have gained would have made a difference in the championships' outcomes. On Sunday we had the chance for a good result but I left empty handed again - obviously I'm not lucky racing there."

The 'Iceman' tackles the rainstorm of two years ago

With the incident involving Adrian Sutil's Force India putting the local driver out of contention for a points finish, Kimi's own race finished on Lap 34 with a punctured radiator grill. "At a certain point, and we still don't know exactly when, debris got stuck in the radiator and perforated it," he explained. "On Lap 14 I was asked by the pit wall to lower the revs and then, after the pit-stop, I started losing performance right until the moment I had to stop." Although the incident with Sutil on the 29th lap did not damage the Ferrari, the debris entering the radiator did which led to the team retiring the car as the engine began to overheat.

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