German GP: Kimi Raikkonen suspects Lotus' last pitstop not required

As rivals Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean came in with around 20 laps to go for new mediums, Raikkonen stayed out and assumed the lead for Lotus.

But having last pitted during the mid-race safety car, Raikkonen ultimately stopped for softs 10 laps from the finish.

He subsequently reclaimed second from Lotus team-mate Grosjean, but fell one second shy of catching Vettel for victory.

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"I could run longer and we had to think about if we should try to run until the end," said Raikkonen.

"But I had massive problem with the radio. I could hear the team but they couldn't hear me, apart from at two corners.

"I wonder if we should have gone to the end as the tyres were OK."

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Raikkonen agreed with Vettel's suggestion that the lead would have changed had the race been any longer.

"It's hard to know what would have happened in the next two laps," said the Finn.

"We had good speed. I think we would have had a big fight anyhow and probably passed him.

"We tried everything we had and failed to win, but I think for the team we had a good race. We'll keep trying."