The Circuit of the Americas was giving another satisfaction to Kimi Raikkonen, three years after his success at the wheel of Ferrari, in what became his 21st and last seal in Formula 1. In the 2021 edition, the Finn was managing to finish in the points with Alfa Romeo, but a mistake made a few laps from the end he relegated him to 13th place.
A flaw that compromised a United States Grand Prix, however positive for the 2008 world champion, protagonist of a comeback from 15th to 10th place and above all of a close duel with Fernando Alonso, characterized by the controversy over the maneuver of Iceman: on lap 16, the Spaniard from Alpine had in fact attempted to overtake number 7, pushing the latter towards the outside. At the same time, Raikkonen did not give in to the opponent’s lunge, resisting the attack and outclassing the Asturian using the external escape route, also coming into contact with the two-world champion. A move, that of the Finn, considered correct by the stewards, who did not force the Alfa Romeo standard bearer to give up the position to number 14.
Interviewed by formula1.com, the 42-year-old from the Swiss team commented on his performance in Austin, focusing on the episode that saw him starring with Alonso: “I felt the car very well during the first part of the race – the former Ferrari driver analyzed – and then there was a little contact with I believe that it was a Renault, or an Alpine, and with Alonso. We damaged part of the fund, but it was nothing serious. At the same time, however, I felt that the tires were wearing out faster than in the first stint. In the end I tried to hold out until the end, even though the rear tires were badly damaged. I was confident in the pace of the car – he added – but it didn’t help. It was a race similar to others we have already experienced, in which we got very close to the goal without reaching it ”.
A pointless result also for the second Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi, with the Apulian protagonist in turn of another duel with Alonso: “I tried to keep him behind me as long as possible – explained the pilot from Martina Franca, 11th at the finish – but, in the end, it was faster. It was a good race, just as it was good to fight with a champion like him. Once again we went very close to the points, and it was probably in the second stint that we paid the highest price, as we couldn’t get the tires to work well. However, we did an excellent team game – he concluded – letting Kimi pass at a time when he could give more, and it almost proved to be the right choice ”.
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