Formula 1: Why might Kimi Raikkonen miss Belgian Grand Prix?
By Asher Fair
Marcus Ericsson is on call to potentially replace Kimi Raikkonen in this Sunday’s Formula 1 race, the Belgian Grand Prix. Why is this the case?
When news broke that full-time Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson would be missing this Sunday afternoon’s Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway to be on call for Alfa Romeo Racing at Sunday’s Formula 1 race, the Belgian Grand Prix, at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, many fans assumed only one thing.
They assumed that the 28-year-old Swede, the Swiss team’s reserve and test driver, would be replacing the underperforming Antonio Giovinazzi.
Giovinazzi has struggled through the first 12 races of his rookie season, scoring only one point as a result of a 10th place finish in the Austrian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, teammate Kimi Raikkonen has scored 31 points on eight top 10 finishes and sits in eighth place as the second “best of the rest” driver in the standings.
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However, this is not the case.
Instead, Ericsson is on call to potentially replace Raikkonen in this 44-lap race around the 19-turn, 4.352-mile (7.004-kilometer) Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps road course in Stavelot, Belgium
Why is this the case?
Formula 1 has been on its annual summer break since the Hungarian Grand Prix nearly four weeks ago. During this summer break, the 39-year-old Finn reportedly sustained an injury.
As of now, Raikkonen is still slated to compete in this race. However, regarding why this may change, here is what he had to say, according to Motorsport.
"“I pulled a muscle and we will see how it is. We need to have some back-up plan. In my head it should be fine but you never know. It would be stupid not to have our third driver in case I couldn’t be driving, then it is the worst case scenario. There is a reason why every team has a third driver. It is a normal story. It is a difficult situation for him also because he had a race, but that is how it is.”"
When asked to give specifics about his injury happened, he gave a rather broad answer — or really, a non-answer.
"“Sport. It is dangerous. I always said it is more dangerous – drinking is probably safer. Usually you don’t get injured, you just get a hangover.”"
Typical Kimi.
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Will Kimi Raikkonen compete in this Sunday’s Formula 1 race, or will the Belgian Grand Prix be Marcus Ericsson’s first race of the 2019 season? Tune in to ESPN2 at 9:05 a.m. ET for the live broadcast of this race from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to find out.