DRS issue forced Raikkonen into Spa DNF

Kimi Raikkonen saw his streak of Formula 1 podium finishes end after being forced to retire from Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix due to a DRS issue caused by damage from the Turn 1 crash.

Four-time Spa winner Raikkonen started sixth on the grid, but was unable to extend his run of podiums dating back five races to the French Grand Prix in June after being forced to retire from the race.

Raikkonen suffered a puncture after being hit by Daniel Ricciardo at Turn 1 on the opening lap, who in turn had been struck from behind by Fernando Alonso’s flying McLaren.

After limping back to the pits, Raikkonen returned to the race running down the order, but ultimately parked his car up after DRS stayed open on his rear wing, causing a safety concern.

“The DRS kept opening itself, so there was nothing else we could do,” Raikkonen said.

“Somebody hit me on the rear and I had a lot of damage also on the floor and rear wing, as I needed to do the full lap with a flat tyre.

“Then it ended up being so bad that the DRS opened itself all the time, so obviously there was no point in carrying on.

“If you carry on like that you cannot get anything out of the race, just going off, and even on the straights you cannot go at full speed.”

Asked if he was disappointed to have lost the chance for a good result, Raikkonen said incidents like that were part and parcel of starting in the thick of the pack.

“It is what you get when you’ve got a bad qualifying. People start doing things that obviously don’t work very well,” Raikkonen said.

“I got hit and that’s it.”