Imola proves form no fluke, says Sauber boss

But even so, rookie Raikkonen said he was not satisfied because he could have been even higher.

The Swiss team is third in the world championship standings after finishing in the points three times in the first three races.

Lead driver Nick Heidfeld, who starts 12th in Imola, is fourth in the drivers' championship after taking the team on to the podium at the last round in Brazil.

But he was outgunned for the first time this season by the 21-year-old Finn, who starts his fourth Grand Prix from 10th place.

"This confirms our performances in the first three races were no flash in the pan," said Sauber. "I am happy with another top 10 qualifying position, which is always our clear goal. It underlines the competitiveness of the C20 on yet another track."

Even Sauber was pleasantly surprised by his team's performance because he predicted before the weekend that the lack of a testing budget meant they would start to lose ground to their wealthier rivals as the European season kicked off.

Heidfeld was left puzzled at having fallen behind his inexperienced team mate.

"I still had some brake balance problems and lost time in the last sector," he said. "I just don't understand where the speed went after the car was so good yesterday and again this morning."

In Saturday morning practice he was sixth and Raikkonen fourth quickest.

"A top 10 is good but I'm not happy because I could have been even higher - maybe eighth or ninth," said Raikkonen. "On my last run, things were looking good, but I braked a little late for the last corner and ran over the kerb and lost three or four-tenths.

"But these things happen - the car is very good and doing everything I want it to."