German paper claim Kimi’s partying is affecting his driving

Ferrari drive Kimi Raikkonen is starting to take more flak over his poor form amid reports that he partied in Ibiza while team-mate Felipe Massa prepared for the European Grand Prix in Valencia. German tabloid Bild claims that the Finnish driver spent three consecutive nights on the dancefloor with friends in the Balearics, while his goody two-shoes team-mate was busy putting all his effort into working on the race simulator for the new track at Valencia.

The German rag claimed, with slightly flawed logic, that it was no surprise then that Massa won the race and Raikkonen ran over a mechanic’s foot. Throw in a few references to Kimi only going flat out at night and saving all his gas for nights out, and it doesn’t make pleasant reading for Ferrari.

The team has defended its driver though. “I have never forced matters of a personal nature with him,” team principal Stefano Domenicali said. “I don’t think his way of preparing for a grand prix has anything to do with the current situation.” In fairness, the best photo Bild came up with to illustrate the point was of Raikkonen swigging champagne on the podium!