Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

The unique diffuser Mercedes brought to Canadian GP

Formula 1
The unique diffuser Mercedes brought to Canadian GP

Alex Marquez replacement for MotoGP Hungarian GP confirmed

MotoGP
Hungarian GP
Alex Marquez replacement for MotoGP Hungarian GP confirmed

Flying the flag: What will be F1's next new nationality?

Feature
Formula 1
Flying the flag: What will be F1's next new nationality?

Intrepid octogenarian Bradley wows as Thundersports returns at Donington Park HSCC event

National
Intrepid octogenarian Bradley wows as Thundersports returns at Donington Park HSCC event

Why the differences between the Mercedes and McLaren F1 gearboxes matter

Formula 1
Why the differences between the Mercedes and McLaren F1 gearboxes matter

What we learned from MotoGP's Italian GP

Feature
MotoGP
Italian GP
What we learned from MotoGP's Italian GP

Johansson and Brown among the stars of Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival

National
Johansson and Brown among the stars of Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival

How Evans finally overcame Ogier in Rally Japan fight to assert title authority

Feature
WRC
Rally Japan
How Evans finally overcame Ogier in Rally Japan fight to assert title authority

Raikkonen says he must improve qualifying

Kimi Raikkonen says it is crucial that he and his Ferrari team solve their qualifying problems in order to return to winning ways

The world champion started the Hungarian Grand Prix from sixth position, the same place he had started from in Germany two weeks ago.

The Finn showed good pace at the end of the race and finished in third position, although he claimed he could have done better had he not been stuck behind Fernando Alonso for so many laps.

But Raikkonen made it clear he must sort out his problems with qualifying if he is to avoid such situations.

"I think we could have done the race a little bit better but we were stuck behind Alonso," said Raikkonen. "I was stuck behind him until the second stop so it was a bit late by that point. I had a good car and I was able to catch Timo but I had to back off in one moment.

"We were a bit lucky with some of the other guys. We have the speed but if we cannot get qualifying then we will have the same problems. We have to sort it out.

"If we can be in front we can fight for wins. The guys did a good job but we need to fix the problems and for sure we can be back in the hunt for wins."

Raikkonen put second-placed Timo Glock under pressure during the final laps, but in the end the Ferrari driver had to back off and settle for third.

"Unfortunately we needed to back off. We were much faster, like with Alonso but it is so difficult. It is very difficult to get past, you need something special in one corner. Unfortunately I could not pass him. Third place in the end, after a difficult weekend for me, was a good result."

Raikkonen is now back in second place in the standings, five points behind Lewis Hamilton.

Previous article Kovalainen hopes win is first of many
Next article Hungary Sunday quotes: Williams

Top Comments

Latest news