Ferrari urge Raikkonen to improve restarts

The safety car had been called out following Jenson Button's opening lap incident, and at the restart leaders Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all executed perfect getaways to cross the line closely grouped together.

Raikkonen, however, failed to capitalise on the situation and was 2.4 seconds adrift of Alonso when they crossed the start-finish line.

With Ferrari confirming that he had no problem with his car, technical director Mario Almondo has admitted that the Finn needs to improve his approach to the restarts.

"If you are not first or second you can always do a better job," said Almondo about Raikkonen's restart. "I have to say that he has to think of a better way of managing this specific start and this part of the job.

"We will re-analyse things and we will do the same this weekend. It's part of the enrichment of every driver and every technician who is part of the team."

Despite Ferrari's feelings about that specific incident, the team praised Raikkonen's calm approach to racing - and believe his position as joint championship leader reflects how well he is doing.

Stefano Domenicali, sporting director, said: "Kimi's best characteristic is that he's always cool, he's always looking behind the fence.

"He's not emotionally involved, at least, apparently, because he's a thinker and so you can see that.

"If you look at the numbers, Kimi's leading the championship with the others of course. But he's there, so that's his strength."

Ferrari have also praised the way that Massa put behind him the pressures caused by his mistakes in Malaysia last weekend to claim his first victory of the season.

"Felipe's strength was to react straight away from one week ago in Malaysia," explained Domenicali. "Everyone said that Felipe was no longer a driver.

"As always you need to look on average, and I think that he reacted very, very well and that shows his character.

"I think that he's grown a lot, because he wanted to show first to himself and also to all of us who he is.

"For sure, his strength is that he had a great reaction in terms of behaviour and approach to this race."