Raikkonen 'scared to move' in incident which forced Bottas into gravel

Kimi Raikkonen admitted he was "scared to move" in an incident during Friday's second practice session which forced Valtteri Bottas to take evasive action around the Ferrari. Raikkonen avoided further action from the FIA over the incident, having protested his innocence.

Bottas took to the gravel at turn three early in FP2 when Raikkonen was on the racing line, but on a cool-down lap and carrying little speed into the corner.

The Ferrari veteran immediately took to team radio to ask why he was not informed his countryman was closing in, and later reflected on a momentary concern.

"I didn't see anything, that's the problem," Raikkonen said. "I knew he was somewhere there but I could not see him at all. Obviously the team tried to tell me, but the call came quite late when they told me.

"I saw the smoke and I knew he was somewhere, but I couldn't see him at all, so I was scared to move either way.

Heart in mouth moment there... ????#VB77 skates across the gravel at Turn 3 but keeps W09 pointing in the right direction. Phew!#DrivenByEachOther #AusGP pic.twitter.com/47peJmCmOz — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) March 23, 2018

"For sure it was not ideal for him but I couldn't move because I couldn't see him."

Bottas said of the incident: "He was on a cool-down lap and I was expecting him to move out of the way. But he stayed on the line and when I got close to him I had a lock up."

Despite his numerous excursions off the track, Bottas ended the day third fastest behind Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

"It wasn't too bad, but we can do better, for sure," he said.

"We tried a few things and they seemed to improve here and there. The feeling is different from what we had in winter testing but it's a completely different circuit. It was a normal Friday.

"We have a lot of things to put exactly right and a lot of things we're wondering what is the best way to go, but those are normal things, especially in the beginning of the year, when we are trying things and trying to figure out the best way to go forward."