Formula 1 contracts tend to have strict clauses in them which prevents drivers from risking themselves in dangerous activities.
Max Verstappen has admitted previously that he is banned from participating in ‘dangerous sports’ by Red Bull – anything which may threaten his participation in Formula 1.
Some choose not to care about such details, including Kimi Raikkonen who once admitted while he was at Ferrari that although there may have been clauses, he does what he wants.
Rarely do such things happen, with injuries in training most common. Both Mark Webber and Lance Stroll have suffered broken bones in pre-season accidents that forced them to miss races.
Modern Formula 1 isn’t without danger. Oscar Piastri broke his rib during the British Grand Prix last season and the life of a driver means they’re always under some sort of risk.
Natalie Pinkham ‘seriously’ upset Renault by chasing a car with Kimi Raikkonen
Ahead of the 2013 campaign, Lotus Renault harboured hopes of a title challenge with Raikkonen after a promising end to 2012.
They won the opening race of the season at the Australian Grand Prix and put the grid on notice with some impressive pace.
Disaster could have struck in a pre-season filming event with Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham, after a funny moment on the ice.
READ MORE: The origins of Kimi Raikkonen’s infamous nickname that took Ron Dennis ‘a lot of time’ to create
Struggling to control a rally car on the ice in Moscow, she crashed, prompting a severe response from Lotus Renault.
“Seriously, that was ridiculous because actually at the time, obviously I wrote the car off,” she told the Red Flags Podcast. “Renault which were the team at the time were like ‘Get out of the car, you are driving a world champion, get out!’.
“They got seriously p—– off with me. Understandably, but I was like ‘I did ask for help’. Kimi was like ‘Relax, don’t worry about it.’ He was super chill.”
Why Kimi Raikkonen was ‘very happy’ after Ferrari cancelled his F1 contract
At the time of his accident with Pinkham, Raikkonen had not long returned to Formula 1 after two years away competing in the World Rally Championship.
Raikkonen was very happy when Ferrari cancelled his F1 contract in 2009 because it meant he got paid not to drive.
READ MORE: Kimi Raikkonen’s ‘scary’ verdict on Max Verstappen after he won his first Formula 1 race in 2016
He had lost a lot of interest by then and needed some time away. When he eventually returned in 2012, it looked like he had never left.
Raikkonen ‘never said a thing’ in Formula 1 driver briefings and it’s just part of who he was. The Finn was there to drive and do as little of everything else as he could.
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