Raikkonen welcomes third for team

The 2007 world champion started from the front row and ran within a handful of seconds of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn for most of the race, giving Ferrari its first podium finish since last year's Brazilian Grand Prix.

"We need to be happy with this result, given the way the team started the season," said the Finn.

"Of course in the bigger picture I'm not happy with third place - I'm disappointed. But, in this situation, for the team it's a good result."

Raikkonen had expected to challenge pole-sitter Jenson Button for the lead into Ste Devote on the opening lap, due to the Finn having a lighter car and the added advantage of KERS under acceleration.

Instead though, he lost a position to Barrichello, and was unable to improve his position over the course of the race.

"It is not the first time I have been in second place and lost position at the start," Raikkonen added. "It is very slippery on that side [of the track], and they were on the soft tyres at the start, so that definitely didn't help us.

"Then I had a little bit longer second stint, but in the second pitstop, Rubens got a long way ahead. I don't know what happened there.

"We're still not where we want to be - we have many things to do to be able to fight for first position - but the people are working very hard at the factory and we have improved the car quite a lot at least."