The Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen was in fifth place behind Adrian Sutil when he lost control of his car and hit Sutil’s Force India car from behind with just a few laps remaining.
The impact caused serious damage to Sutil’s car and eliminated him from the race and left him in tears. Raikkonen drove back to the pits for repairs to his car and then finished ninth.
Raikkonen said: “I am sorry for him and his team because probably they are not going to be often in the position to score a fourth position. Plus it was in Monaco. So it was harder for him than for me, but it was a racing incident and I could not go anywhere. There wasn’t much space and I could not slow down. It was just a racing incident. I just locked the rear brakes on the bump and you cannot really slow the car after that. There was nowhere to go, and not enough space to try and avoid him.
“Basically I just think my brakes were a bit too cold and I locked the rear. I nearly lost the car but unfortunately I hit him - and it is sad for them.
“So, I feel sorry for him, but I could not do anything. I tried to slow down but there was nowhere to go and nowhere to slow down - and I lost fifth place.”
The German driver retired with damage to the rear of his car following the collision under braking for the chicane after the final Safety Car period.
“It’s a really a shame, we were really close. Then Kimi crashed into my rear and destroyed my whole race. It was the best race of my whole career and it is really a shame - I can’t say any more about it. I am so really disappointed.” Sutil said.
“I knew that in the race we had a chance. I knew from my performance last year that I am really strong here and after the first lap in the race I knew I liked the conditions and I was catching cars. I took it easy, just to try not to go off or something then when I got the chance I really pushed. I did fastest laps in the race and it was great. I was really doing good. It’s just so disappointing that in the last few laps all my work was over.”
Force India subsequently lodged a complaint about Raikkonen in the stewards’ office in Monaco but Sutil appeared to have forgiven the Ferrari driver following an apology from him.
“Yes, Kimi did apologise to me. After the race he came to me and said ‘I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.’ Anyway, it’s racing and incidents like this do happen. It only shows you how the sport can be,” Sutil said, philosophically.
Incidentally, team owner Vijay Mallya was not so sure of an apology coming from Raikkonen.
“In this cut-throat world of Formula One, I’m not sure whether there is any room for things like an apology. But as a world champion, I surely expected Raikkonen to drive safe and responsibly. I’m not sure of the circumstances in which he rammed into the back of Sutil’s car,” said a dejected Mallya.
Sutil also rued that a top-five finish could have raised the perfect toast to his friendship with eventual winner Lewis Hamilton.
