Raikkonen Determined Despite Disappointment

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, yet to finish a race this season, says he still has a lot of determination despite having to start Sunday's San Marino Formula One Grand Prix from the back of the grid after yet another engine problem.

The team said they had decided to change Raikkonen's engine after his first qualifying run on Saturday, when he finished ninth quickest, due to an exhaust problem. The Finn, Championship runner-up last year after taking Ferrari's Michael Schumacher to the wire, went out for an installation lap to scrub his tyres but did not complete a second timed qualifying lap.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed to experience the same sort of thing two races in a row," said Raikkonen. "However, there is nothing I can do about it and I will just go out tomorrow and do the best I can. I will have a new engine and a lot of determination, so we'll see what happens."

Raikkonen started the last Bahrain Grand Prix from the back of the grid after an engine problem. Under new rules this season, drivers are limited to one engine per weekend and any change brings with it a 10-place penalty on the grid.

Raikkonen was the first to retire during the race in Bahrain, the third round of the championship, when the Mercedes-Ilmor unit erupted in a sheet of flame. Before that he suffered a transmission failure in Malaysia and an engine failure in Australia.

Asked how he kept a driver motivated after such a run of misfortune, team boss Ron Dennis said it would not be a problem.

"Every driver who comes into Formula One knows that the nature of the sport is going to be up and down," he said. "Every driver is salaried and in our team it's a pretty good salary. But the sort of problems we have at the moment are clearly nothing to do with the drivers. I think their motivation comes from that fundamental understanding.

"They know that they have to do the best with what they've got and be patient...we will return to competitiveness probably faster than most people think."

Former champions McLaren are fifth in the Championship after three races with just four points, all scored by Briton David Coulthard.