• British GP - Race

Raikkonen 'bruised' after high-speed Silverstone crash

ESPN Staff
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Kimi Raikkonen managed to avoid serious injury after his frightening first-lap Silverstone crash but remains a doubt for next week's test at the British circuit.

Raikkonen ran wide coming into the Wellington Straight while fighting Esteban Gutierrez, but hit a bump on his return to the track and spun into the barrier before being hit by Felipe Massa. He had to be helped from his stricken car and appeared to be limping, with Ferrari later confirming Raikkonen took a hard knock to the ankle and bruising on the knee.

A Ferrari spokesperson said: "He got a big hit, he got out which is a good sign. He has some bruises and is now in the medical centre. The bruises are on his knees and ankle and he will be back very soon.'

Ferrari confirmed Raikkonen will be fit in time for the next round in Germany, but team principal Marco Mattiacci said the team is waiting to assess his fitness ahead of the test at Silverstone - which he was due to drive at on one of the two days.

"Kimi is ok. We checked several times and we will take a decision about the test, and what to do with the test, so we still have to take a decision. I want to be 100% sure that he will be fine. But there is no major issue at the moment."

If Raikkonen is unable to compete in the test then it is possible that development driver Pedro de la Rosa could step into the car, or that Fernando Alonso covers both days. Raikkonen said his crash was not caused by any mechanical issue with the car.

"Unfortunately, my race today ended on the first lap, after I had managed to get away well, making up enough ground to be fighting for eleventh place. At Turn 5, I went off the track and while trying to get back on, I must have hit a kerb. I then lost control of the car and ended in the barriers.

"It's a real shame because yesterday, the feeling I had on track had improved and I was determined to do my utmost to bring home some points. I am really very disappointed with how things went today, but now I want to put this incident behind me and just concentrate on the next race in Germany."

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