Thursday 5 November 2015 11:44, UK
F1's fighting Finns were at it again in the Mexican GP as Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas collided for the second time in three races.
In a role reversal of their duel from Russia, when Bottas came off worse when a podium place was at stake on the last lap, Raikkonen dropped out this time with suspension damage after neither driver chose to yield.
Battling for fifth position coming onto the backstraight, Bottas took the outside line around Turn Four to be on the inside for the next right-hander, and the Williams and Ferrari then met at the apex of the corner.
Bottas continued unscathed, but Raikkonen was out of the race on the spot. Unlike in Sochi, when Raikkonen was deemed to be the guilty party, stewards in Mexico could find no clear fault on this occasion.
"I was trying to overtaking him at Turn Five and we collided," said Bottas. "It was a shame it ended like that but there was nothing I could do."
Asked if he should hold clear-the-air talks with his compatriot, Bottas replied: "I'm not sure there's anything to say."
A deadpan Raikkonen put the crash down as a racing incident, telling Sky Sports F1: "We touched and I lost a wheel and I end the race. That is life."
Pressed if he thought it was Bottas' fault he added: "It is racing. I haven't seen the pictures, but the end result wasn't ideal for me."
