Alfa Romeo F1 team unsure problems solved despite Raikkonen result

Kimi Raikkonen matched his best result of 2019 by finishing seventh in last weekend's French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, gaining a spot from Daniel Ricciardo when the Renault driver was penalised after their fraught last lap battle.

Until that result, Alfa had not scored any points since the Azerbaijan GP at the end of April.

"It's a great feeling for the team, because you're also pushing hard when you're not in the points," Vasseur told Autosport.

"It was a bit frustrating, because sometimes the pace was there and we did mistakes. So to be back is a great feeling, and a good reward for the job done."

But Vasseur admitted the team is not confident that it has solved the tyre issues behind its previous loss of form.

"Sometimes on Sunday evening you have the feeling that you understand something, the next Friday, you are nowhere," he said.

"We have to stay calm, and take it a little bit easy, and have a good analysis.

"I'm not sure that we sorted out all the issues and the questions we have with the tyres so far.

"Now we have a couple of updates coming - for Austria a small one, and a big one in Silverstone, then a small one in Germany and a big one in Budapest."

Vasseur was encouraged by the form of Antonio Giovinazzi, who made Q3 in France but struggled in the race as he was one of only two drivers stuck on the soft tyres for the first stint after using them in Q2. He fell to 16th.

"To start with the soft was difficult, and then he was out of the sequence," Vasseur admitted.

"But then we have to keep in mind the positive point that he was in Q3.

"Picking up the pace takes time, but if he is able to do a good job in qualifying, the next step will be the rest.

"It was probably the worst situation to be P9 or P10 with the softs.

"It won't be always like this, if he can be in Q3 with the same tyres as the other ones, it will be good."