Räikkönen and Corona sick, stepping on pole position
Stand: 5:08 p.m.
Kimi Raikkonen took part in the second free practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix. Then the corona infection was discovered in the Finn
Quelle: dpa/Hasan Bratic
Despite his vaccination, Kimi Raikkonen became infected with the corona virus. The Finn has to pass for the Formula 1 weekend in the Netherlands and will be replaced by Robert Kubica. The Germans disappoint in qualifying, the local hero takes pole.
EA corona infection in Formula 1 record driver Kimi Räikkönen brings Robert Kubica his first race outing for almost two years. The Pole will replace the former Finnish world champion in an Alfa Romeo for the rest of the Grand Prix weekend in Zandvoort. The world association approved the exchange. Previously, Raikkonen had been found to be infected with the virus in the course of regular corona tests. The 41-year-old therefore missed the World Cup run in the Netherlands. It is unclear whether he can start the Italian Grand Prix in Monza in a week.
Max Verstappen will start from first place on Sunday. The Dutchman stormed into pole position in qualifying. The Red Bull driver was successful in qualifying on the Dutch North Sea coast with a sovereign performance. World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton came in second, ahead of his Mercedes colleague Valtteri Bottas. Verstappen is starting from the very beginning for the tenth time in his Formula 1 career. Before the 13th round of the season on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky and in the WELT live ticker), the 23-year-old is only three points behind Hamilton in the overall standings. Sebastian Vettel in 17th and Mick Schumacher in 19th were already eliminated in the first round
Driven by the Dutch fans, Verstappen raced to pole position
What: REUTERS
Raikkonen is symptom-free
Raikkonen showed no symptoms and was “in a good mood”, it said. The Finn went into self-isolation in his hotel. Other team members are not affected. However, Williams team boss Jost Capito is also going into quarantine for the time being because the 62-year-old German ate with Raikkonen on Friday evening. Williams assured that this was purely a precautionary measure. Capito adhered to the rules of distance when meeting Raikkonen, but would still not come to the paddock for the rest of the weekend.
The 2007 world champion is already the seventh Formula 1 driver to be infected with Corona. Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Lewis Hamilton also missed out on racing in the preseason. Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were also affected. A number of top officials such as Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll and Raikkonen’s team boss Frederic Vasseur have also tested positive in recent months.
Kimi Räikkönen ended his career in Formula 1 after the season
Source: dpa / Sebastian Gollnow
Raikkonen announced his departure at the end of the season on Wednesday evening. The former champion has contested more Formula 1 races than any other driver, and by the end of the year it could be more than 350 Grand Prix. According to team boss Vasseur, Raikkonen is vaccinated against Corona. “He feels good and of course was disappointed with the situation,” said Vasseur on Sky.
Kubica’s representative has been Alfa’s replacement pilot since the previous season. He had previously driven for the Williams racing team. The 36-year-old was considered an outstanding talent at the beginning of his Formula 1 career, but had a serious accident in a private rally in 2011. Despite permanent damage to his right hand, he fought his way back into motorsport and even into the premier class. So far he has contested 97 Grand Prix in Formula 1.
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