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Adapted from GMM
Lotus' relationship with the departing Kimi Raikkonen may have imploded in India on Sunday, as the Finn clashed on track with his charging teammate Romain Grosjean.
For most of the season, Raikkonen has been the dominant force at Lotus. But lately, the Frenchman has had the edge. This became obvious in India, where Raikkonen refused to let the faster Grosjean by.
The 2007 champ allowed him through, but only after they touched.
The team's engineering boss Alan Permane admitted to British broadcaster Sky that Raikkonen's behaviour was "disappointing".
And there was a colourful exchange on the radio in the heat of the battle, with one team member saying on the radio: "Kimi, get out of the f***ing way".
Raikkonen replied: "Don't f***ing shout at me."
NBC pit reporter Will Buxton said afterwards on Twitter: "Tell you what I'd do. I'd stick Davide Valsecchi in the car for the final three (races). Just for fun."
Meanwhile, Ferrari, arguably only the fourth-quickest team in pitlane, after Red Bull, Mercedes and Raikkonen's current employer, Lotus, is not worried about its returning drivers' run of poor form.
"I'm not the slightest bit worried," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, "but of course I have been following him this season.
"He has already gained our respect based on what he has been doing in his current team," the Italian added.
"He is now coming to us, and I look forward to getting to work with him again," said Domenicali, referring to Raikkonen's first Ferrari tenure between 2007 and 2009.
Lotus' relationship with the departing Kimi Raikkonen may have imploded in India on Sunday, as the Finn clashed on track with his charging teammate Romain Grosjean.
For most of the season, Raikkonen has been the dominant force at Lotus. But lately, the Frenchman has had the edge. This became obvious in India, where Raikkonen refused to let the faster Grosjean by.
The 2007 champ allowed him through, but only after they touched.
 |
| Romain Grosjean has been drinking more champagne than Raikkonen lately (Photo: GEPA pictures) |
The team's engineering boss Alan Permane admitted to British broadcaster Sky that Raikkonen's behaviour was "disappointing".
And there was a colourful exchange on the radio in the heat of the battle, with one team member saying on the radio: "Kimi, get out of the f***ing way".
Raikkonen replied: "Don't f***ing shout at me."
NBC pit reporter Will Buxton said afterwards on Twitter: "Tell you what I'd do. I'd stick Davide Valsecchi in the car for the final three (races). Just for fun."
Meanwhile, Ferrari, arguably only the fourth-quickest team in pitlane, after Red Bull, Mercedes and Raikkonen's current employer, Lotus, is not worried about its returning drivers' run of poor form.
"I'm not the slightest bit worried," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, "but of course I have been following him this season.
 |
| Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2) |
"He has already gained our respect based on what he has been doing in his current team," the Italian added.
"He is now coming to us, and I look forward to getting to work with him again," said Domenicali, referring to Raikkonen's first Ferrari tenure between 2007 and 2009.