Raikkonen: Car better in heavy rain

The Finn ended up fifth on the grid, but had been second in Q1, when the weather was at its worst.

Raikkonen felt the car was less competitive when the field switched to intermediate tyres following the long stoppage in the middle of the session.

"With the inters the car is not so easy as with full wet tyres," he said. "If it stayed in full wet condition then probably we would have been in a better position.

"Hopefully tomorrow we can fight for a podium. We know the car is missing grip, but I am happy because it is a good position."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali added that the team cannot get complacent about its chances in the battle for third in the constructors' championship despite main rival McLaren's disastrous session.

The McLaren drivers struggled with a dry set-up on the sodden track and were both eliminated in Q1, leaving them on row nine.

Although Ferrari also lost Giancarlo Fisichella in Q1 - the Italian hitting the engine kill switch with his wrist as he tried to catch an early spin - Raikkonen is starting 12 places ahead of the best McLaren.

That result gives Ferrari a chance to stretch its current two point advantage over McLaren with two races to go, but Domenicali said he was still wary of Toyota - a further 10.5 points adrift in the standings and with Jarno Trulli fourth and Kamui Kobayashi 11th.

"It is unfortunate we could not have both drivers ahead on the grid," said Domenicali.

"Tomorrow will be an important race considering where our main opponents are, but we have to keep in mind that Toyota is ahead on grid and they are close on points."