A Ferrari team mechanic has suffered a double leg fracture after being struck by Kimi Raikkonen’s car following a botched tyre change during an action-packed Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
Raikkonen came in for his second tyre change of the race after 36 of 57 laps, but the left rear tyre was not secured properly. Raikkonen was given the green light to go but it was an unsafe release and, as he pulled away, his car hit one of the mechanics.
Ferrari later tweeted that the mechanic, named only as Francesco, likely sustained a ‘shinbone and fibula fracture.’
The injured pitman lies on the ground after he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen
The pitman received medical attention in the aftermath of the incident
Raikkonen had entered the pits to try and put pressure on Mercedes
Raikkonen’s car came to a halt a few metres later and he took off the steering wheel and dejectedly threw it into the cockpit. As he walked back through the team garage, the Finnish driver swiped away a water bottle in frustration.
It was an astonishing error of judgment from the Ferrari team, who had also been fined €5,000 (£4,365) for an unsafe pit release during practice on Friday.
Raikkonen was arguably not to blame as he only had a split-second to react to the green light following the tyre change, which usually takes less than three seconds.
‘I don’t see what happens,’ Raikkonen said after the race. ‘My job is to go when the light is green.
Raikkonen enters the pit lane and prepares to make the stop during the Bahrain Grand Prix
The Ferrari mechanics immediately raise the alarm following the horrific incident in Sakhir
The Finn’s car came to a halt a few metres later and he was forced out of Sunday’s race
‘Unfortunately he got hurt but my job is to go when the light goes green. I don’t know more than that. I didn’t finish the race so it is not great.’
Raikkonen’s team-mate Sebastian Vettel made it two straight F1 wins after victory at the season-opening Australian GP two weeks ago, sealing his 49th career win on his 200th race start.
But celebrations were muted.
‘A bit sad because one of our mechanics got injured,’ Vettel said. ‘A mixed day overall.’
Raikkonen undertook a pit stop but an unexpected incident occurred
Raikkonen accidentally made contact with one of the Ferrari mechanics
The mechanic felt the force of the vehicle and was taken to hospital for treatment
It was an entertaining race with Vettel holding off a thrilling late challenge from Valtteri Bottas to win the Bahrain Grand Prix and extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton at the World Championship summit.
Hamilton, who started only ninth, completed the podium places after Raikkonen retired following the nasty collision with one of his own mechanics during a pit stop.
The mechanic will continue to be assessed following the incident which was not out of place during a chaotic race under the floodlights of the Sakhir circuit.
Vettel was on a different strategy to both the Mercedes cars but he masterfully managed his less durable tyres over the line to finish half a second clear of Bottas and claim his second win in as many grands prix.
Shortly afterwards Raikkonen had to retire from the race due to a tyre problem
Raikkonen was given the green light to leave the Ferrari garage before the incident occurred
The Ferrari mechanic was knocked to the ground in the unfortunate incident
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