VIDEO: First red flag of 2019 goes to... Kimi Raikkonen!

Joas van Wingerden
Monday 18 February 2019 09:18

Months of anticipation, a week of car reveals, bottled anticipation and excitement and then finally Formula 1 cars were released onto the track for preseason testing… only to be promptly recalled to the pits when Kimi Raikkonen put his Alfa Romeo into the gravel just five minutes into the test.

Both car and driver were unharmed by a short excursion beyond track limits.

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Beached Kimi . #F1Testing #F1 #Formula1 @circuitdebcncat

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) on Feb 18, 2019 at 2:03am PST

Follow @GPFansGlobal on Instagram for behind-the-scenes access from across the testing fortnight.

Raikkonen and new teammate Antonio Giovinazzi had just revealed Alfa's 2019 car as the Sauber-owned team looks to make continued progress in 2019.

Kimi back to box! #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/MupiyrY8qA — Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (@Circuitcat_eng) February 18, 2019

The Finn will take duties throughout the first day of testing, presumably hoping to fare a little better than his start as the hours tick by.

MORE: LIVE! F1 Preseason Testing Day One
MORE: Alfa Romeo reveal 2019 F1 car in Barcelona