Raikkonen will honour '09 Ferrari F1 deal.

So I guess FA ain't going to Ferrari next year then.

Unless Massa makes "spinning out" a frequent hobby.

raikkonen - alonso

nice to see he apologiesed for pushing over an elderly photographer.

Oh no, he didn't.

"nice to see he apologiesed for pushing over an elderly photographer."

An elderly photographer ? get a grip, he was young enough to be in Raikkonens face and trampling on his gear.

Photographers are a nuisance when drivers are trying to prepare themselves, which is why in Hockenheim only official FIA photographers are allowed to take pics at the circuit, after three of them yesterday ran across the circuit whilst cars were on track, none of them had zimmer frames by the way.

Ragged Edge

If you saw the incident I'd be pleased to learn more. Else I'll go on what I know.

The photographer in question is 56, has been doing the job for near 40 years and said he did not touch any of Kimi's stuff. Kimi, by contrast, is 27 and a professional athlete to boot. Both were there to do a job.

Pushing someone over is unacceptable behaviour in almost any situation. To do it to someone who is, presumably, weaker, is cowardly. Not to apologise is charmless.

I have a grip, thanks.

simon, you may know more than i do about the incident, but photo on another site shows the photographer with his camera a helmets width away from kimis face. he doesnt look too old either. kimi was trying to put on his helmet. i would consider that to be unacceptable intrusion.

I haven't seen the photo, so there may be provocation.
Nevertheless, I'll ask some questions
- is it acceptable to push people over?
- wouldn't apologising be the right thing to do?

Richard can you tell me what site you saw it on as i would like to see it.

Simon, and anyone else interested in the facts, there is a video, on viddler, with sound, where Mark Arnall is clearly heard telling Cahier to "mind the stuff" this is before Kimi shoves him, it also clearly shows that an umbrella was moved.

Cahier was intrusive, it's not acceptable to push anyone over, but the there are extenuating circumstances, Cahier should not have been so close that he was trampling on Kimi's gear.
As for apologising, Cahier hasn't apologised, why should Raikkonen ?. He never instigated the whole sorry affair.

Darren Heath, another Pro Snapper who was present had this to say.

"As a (respectful) photographer, one is acutely aware that there is a barrier that should not be crossed when shooting the drivers on the grid. They're in the zone, race-face-on, thinking strategy and starts. Enter into this comfort zone and you're likely to get a firm shove from a mechanic or minder – but not usually the driver.

Down he goes, a crumpled heap of man, flash guns, cables and cameras. One photographer had got too close and Kimi had taken action, firmly shoving the press man away. A tense few seconds ensued as the snapper thought to retaliate, the wound-up Finn turning away and defusing the situation."

Maybe the old guy has bad vision and didn't realize how close he was. While it maybe is not polite to push him away I would consider that part of the risk of that profession. It is not like Kimi took a swing at him. Besides isn't 56 the new 46? It was humiliating to have a little driver topple him over but it was not overtly threatening.

RALF,it was either, autosport, f1sa or planetf1. cant remember but the photo doesnt appear there now. looking at the video on f1sa, it appears to be the same photographer, who doesnt look 56 as stated above. the video shows that the photographer was so close that he must have been standing on kimis personal effects on the ground. ok, a push might have been a little over the mark, but it would appear that the snapper was very intrusive and warranted some action. look how abrupt some drivers are to brundle, on the grid.kimi was no worse than them.

Let us say the photographer was acting paparazzi style... He is lucky he is still in business.... You want an intrusive picture you pay dear for it....

While I agree that people should avoid physical contact unless absolutely necessary, it is sometimes unfortunately the only solution. In such an event no apology is necessary, and the other details about how old or young, thin or fat, man or woman, etc. don't get considered much because it happens without notice or time to evaluate. Given the situation, what with drivers trying to prepare and focus just before the race, when someone enters their personal space uninvited it is clearly an invasion. I can understand Kimi's reaction. I've been in a similar situation when I was young, when an older person invaded my space. I'm not proud of my reaction but he got what was coming to him.