RAIKKONEN FIT TO RACE AFTER SMASH
Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he is 100 percent fit to compete in Sunday's German Grand Prix after recovering from his horrific smash at Silverstone.
Raikkonen damaged ribs and sustained bruising to his left ankle and knee in a 150mph, 47G impact into a metal guardrail down Wellington Straight on the opening lap of the British Grand Prix.
After running wide at turn five, Aintree, as he returned to the track with the power still down, Raikkonen's Ferrari caught the lip of the circuit, sending him out of control.
After hitting the barrier, Raikkonen's car bounced off and back on to the circuit where he was also hit by Williams' Felipe Massa.
Raikkonen ultimately had to be helped from his car and limped away with the aid of a marshal ahead of being checked over at the track medical centre.
The accident and his injuries resulted in Raikkonen sitting out his planned day of testing for Ferrari at Silverstone that soon followed.
Raikkonen now insists there should be no after-effects when he returns to the cockpit of his Ferrari this weekend, starting with practice at Hockenheim on Friday.
"I had some pain, mainly in my ribs which is why I didn't do the test, but it's all gone away now, it's all fine," said Raikkonen.
"I've probably had a bigger shunt in the past - hopefully not too many more.
"As I said it hurt a little bit, but quite often you can have quite a slow accident and get badly hurt
"It was just an unfortunate thing. Nothing serious happened. It's part of the sport."
It was, however, the latest bitter blow Raikkonen has had to stomach this season following his return to Ferrari.
With a major change in the regulations for this season, Raikkonen has been left driving a car far from his liking, resulting in him comfortably being beaten by team-mate Fernando Alonso.
It has resulted in speculation Ferrari could again ditch Raikkonen a year ahead of the expiry of his contract, as they did at the end of 2009.
Raikkonen is far from concerned, yet is obviously hoping for a change in fortune, performances and results.
"I have a contract so I'm not worried about that for the future," added Raikkonen.
"As for the problems I'm sure we can fix them. How fast? Quickly I hope, but it depends on many things.
"We've at least been in every race, which is what you expect, but it has been a difficult year.
"Hopefully it will turn around at some point - it must. It cannot go much longer like this, it's not fun.
"But this kind of thing has happened to me before and we always managed to turn it around, so I have a strong belief it will turn around again.
"We have to just fix the issues and get things as I want and I'm sure we can be back where we should be.
