Kimi’s Column – Pre Belgium GP

It was not that kind of a weekend that I expected at Monza. Not at all. It was difficult all the time. We went there to challenge for a win. We knew beforehand that we had to gamble, but we were only interested in winning this race.

The fact is that the McLaren goes very fast in Monza. We knew that already before the test session there. I was with them for five years and every time the car was competitive at Monza. Last year it was a bad car, but I was able to go very quickly over the kerbs at Monza and I claimed the pole position.

This race, obviously, was already over for me after the practise session on Saturday morning. What happened and why it happened, I do not know. I just approached the Ascari corner and came to the braking a little under 300kph. I locked the rear brakes and the rear took off on the bumpy spot. With that sort of speed, there is nothing you can do, nothing at all.

It went to the right, which is a shame because this time that side was taken. It went onto the grass and after that there was nothing to do, but wait for the impact. And it hurt, it hurt very hard.

My neck was stiff, probably the most stiff it’s ever been. We did everything we could but there was not enough time to recover properly. It is always like that after a shunt like this. The next day is the worst. This time was the day of the race. A couple of days more and it would have been a completely different story for me.

For sure this race at Monza was the most painful race I’ve ever had. It is difficult, when you’re not able to keep your head up. Obviously, while braking you cannot see the corners in the normal way. But we lost, simply because we were not quick enough through the whole weekend. We could have been second, but I was not able to hold that position. I saw Hamilton coming close in the straight. I couldn’t simply brake later than I did as he was attacking with fresh soft rubber.

I was not at my best. After the race I had to take some painkillers, and now I have been taking it easy. It’s good that there is enough time to rest for a couple of days.

I will be 100% fit while we go to Beligum on Thursday. That is my favourite circuit. It is just a great place. I love Spa. I loved it before the changes made to the track and I still love it as it is now.

We had a good test there in July. Now that we go back to normal circuits, Ferrari will be much stronger again compared to the last race in Monza and also Montreal, both being similar tracks.

Spa offers very challenging-high-speed corners. We will do our very best to win this race. I have been in the middle of the podium in the last two races there and I wish to be there again this year.