Sauber up to fourth as Raikkonen earns the praise

And the 21-year-old was left with praise ringing in his ears from fellow countryman Mika Hakkinen after equalling his career-best finish in Montreal.

Raikkonen, who was catapulted into motorsport's most demanding series after just 23 single-seater races, has now scored seven points and is equal seventh in the drivers' championship with 1997 title winner Jacques Villeneuve and highly rated Italian Jarno Trulli.

The three points he earned for matching his finish in Austria lifted Sauber to fourth in the constructors' standings - two points ahead of Jordan.

"I'm really pleased to finish in fourth place again," said Raikkonen, who had started seventh. "After Jos Verstappen passed me on the opening lap I settled down to a good rhythm until my rear tyres began to go off. Then Ricardo Zonta hit the back of my car on the straight. I was really lucky not to go off.

"Once we got a new set of tyres on the car it began handling really well again and I was able to pace myself easily to keep Alesi behind me in the closing stages. I think we proved again today what a good car the C20 is."

Raikkonen had two-time champion Hakkinen behind him at one stage and after a terrific scrap on the Montreal track finally had to bow to the McLaren racer, who was full of praise for the young rookie.

"I really enjoyed seeing him go flat out, particularly at the start when we were side-by-side and he was pushing really hard," said Hakkinen, who finished third. "Obviously he is a young guy and he's quite brave, but when I was following him on the track he was doing a really good job.

"Then when I overtook him in the hairpin it was a very fair game, I really enjoyed it."