Kimi Raikkonen has apologised to Force India's Adrian Sutil after bringing the young German's Monaco dream crashing down to earth with just a handful of laps to run.

The pair were running fourth and fifth, Sutil ahead, as the race resumed after the second safety car period, only for the world champion to make an error coming out of the tunnel and slam into the back of the Ferrari-engined Force India at the entrance to the chicane. Although Raikkonen was able to resume, eventually finishing ninth, out of the points, after pitting for a new front wing, Sutil's race was over with suspension and diffuser damage.
“I said I am sorry for him and his team because, probably, they are not going to be often in the position to score a fourth position," Raikkonen was quoted by AFP, “Plus it was in Monaco, so it was harder for him than for me. But it was a racing incident and I could not go anywhere. There wasn't much space and I could not slow down."

Indeed, the accident was not due to Raikkonen running too hot into the braking zone, or misjudging an overtaking attempt. The Ferrari snapped into a tankslapper at the crest before the road falls away to the chicane, and the world champion was unable to prevent it from hitting the back of Sutil's car. The incident bore similarities to David Coulthard's qualifying shunt, where the Scot had his Red Bull veer right into the barriers - on a completely dry track - writing off its right-hand side and sending DC spearing down the escape road with little retardation

“It was just a racing incident," the Finn repeated, "I just locked the rear brakes on the bump and you cannot really slow the car after that. There was nowhere to go, and not enough space to try and avoid him. Basically, I just think my brakes were a bit too cold and I locked the rear.
[via Crash]