Crying Hamilton should 'do ballet' - Raikkonen's wife steps into Silverstone row

Kimi Raikkonen's wife appeared to wade into the row between Mercedes and Ferrari following the British Grand Prix, saying that poor losers should "do ballet" after Lewis Hamilton led insinuations from the Silver Arrows that Raikkonen had deliberately crashed into him at Silverstone.

Hamilton's bid for a fifth consecutive win on home soil, and record-breaking sixth overall, was dashed on the first lap when Raikkonen pitched him into a spin with contact at turn three.

The reigning champion had made a slow start from pole position, falling behind eventual race-winner Sebastian Vettel and team-mate Valtteri Bottas, but his immediate focus post-race after salvaging second place were "interesting tactics" from the red cars - with little doubt left as to his meaning.

Toto Wolff went one further, claiming that a question must be asked of Raikkonen was being "deliberate or incompetent", with Ferrari lashing out at the claims.

Raikkonen accepted fault for the collision, for which he received a 10-second penalty, but was unmoved on suggestions that he had caused it intentionally, and his wife Minttu had her say in thinly veiled fashion.

In an Instagram post which has since been deleted, she wrote: "If you cry like a girl when you lose, do ballet. #justsaying"

Kimi's wife, Minttu, with a message... for Lewis Hamilton? pic.twitter.com/L8PgmezGLE — Nate Saunders (@natesaundersF1) July 9, 2018

Although Hamilton said "I don't have any problems with Kimi" in the post-race press conference, the recriminations are sure to run and run before the German Grand Prix in two weeks' time.

Having fallen eight points behind Vettel in the drivers' championship, Hamilton was quick to point out that his thoughts were painted by a similar incident in France two races prior between Vettel and Bottas, for which Vettel received a five-second penalty.

He said: "All I'd say is that it's now two races that the Ferraris have taken out one of the Mercedes, and a five-second penalty and a ten-second penalty doesn't appear to feel… ultimately it spoils the race.

"It's a lot of points that ultimately Valtteri and I have lost in those two scenarios. And, of course, it is a race situation.

"I couldn't see behind me but we've just to work hard to try to position ourselves better so that we are not exposed to the red cars – because who knows when that's going to happen again.

"We've got to make sure that we work hard together as a team to try to lock-out the front row and make sure that we're fully ahead of these guys."