Kimi Raikkonen accepted responsibility for the first-lap clash involving Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1’s British Grand Prix, and says he deserved a penalty.
Hamilton bogged down from pole position and was passed by Sebastian Vettel off the line, while Valtteri Bottas relegated his team-mate to third through Abbey.
Hamilton and Raikkonen approached Village together but the Finn locked up and slid into the side of the Mercedes, spinning the reigning World Champion, who dropped to the rear of the field.
Hamilton recovered to second place while Raikkonen took third spot, having been handed a 10-second time penalty, which he served at his first pit stop.
Raikkonen was also issued with two penalty points for causing the contact.
“Obviously at the third corner I locked the wheel and was behind the car so ended up hitting Lewis on the rear corner,” said Raikkonen.
“Obviously he spun, my bad, but that’s how it goes sometimes. But it was not a straightforward race.
“It was my mistake so that’s fine, I deserve it. I took the 10 seconds and kept fighting, that’s how it goes.”
Raikkonen dropped to fifth position during the second Safety Car period but profited from a brake-by-wire problem for Max Verstappen to overhaul the Red Bull driver, before passing compatriot Valtteri Bottas.
Raikkonen holds third position in the championship, 55 points behind Vettel.
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