Kimi Raikkonen defends Valtteri Bottas overtake

Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Ferrari walks across the paddock during practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on April 17, 2015
© Getty Images
Kimi Raikkonen defends his attempt to pass Valtteri Bottas near the end of the Russian Grand Prix, which cost the Finn a 30-second penalty.

Kimi Raikkonen has claimed that his late overtake on Valtteri Bottas was a good opportunity and not "something completely crazy".

The former world champion was given a 30-second penalty for the incident, which saw the Ferrari driver collide with Bottas before the end of the Russian Grand Prix.

However, Raikkonen has defended his move and has suggested that he did all he could to avoid a collision.

He told reporters: "In the final stages, I tried to overtake Valtteri in the same place I had passed him earlier in the race, I had a good run in turn 3 and in the next one there would have been enough space, so I decided to go for it.

"I don't know if he was not expecting me at all or if he did not see me, but once I decided to go there was no way I could back off.

"I tried to turn inside as much as I could, but there was no way to go and in the end we collided. It is an unfortunate thing for us and them, nobody wants to have an accident even if it's part of racing. It's really a shame, but my move was based on a good chance and not something completely crazy."

Raikkonen's teammate Sebastian Vettel finished second in Sochi.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Formula One Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on September 27, 2015
Read Next:
Result: Hamilton wins Russian Grand Prix
>