F1: Raikkonen calls backmarkers 'crazy'

Kimi Raikkonen has described Formula 1 backmarkers as "crazy" after struggling to clear traffic during the Japanese Grand Prix.

Raikkonen was among those who complained about being held up during the race over team radio, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen among those also requesting more blue flags.

Raikkonen admitted Suzuka's narrow and sweeping layout is particularly tricky for lapping cars, but believes backmarkers have a responsibility to get out of the way quickly.

"Every track is different but the fact is when you have blue flags, certain people slow down and let you pass," said Raikkonen. "Then they are one lap down and I understand sometimes they have their own fight but it's not difficult to let people past.

"You are always going to lose time but you are one lap down, so it's a part of racing.

"Obviously a circuit like this it affects more and you end up following people and some of them were just crazy. You end up following one lap behind them so it could be better. But I don't think it would've changed our race it was more where we started."

Related Stories

Teammate Vettel's frustration with the backmarkers grew as he tried to chase down Lewis Hamilton for the final podium position. But after the race, Vettel admitted he was simply unlucky and there was no one at fault.

"It's frustrating inside the car, I got the feeling every time I got to the car ahead," said Vettel. "The people in front couldn't have done any better really because there is a lot of consecutive corners.

"If you are in that part of the track, you can't expect the car in front to move over but equally you are losing a lot of time. If it is happening on the straights, it's a different story.

"We weren't on the lucky side today. In general, it's not easy being lapped to let the cars pass."

Originally on Autosport.com