Raikkonen encouraged by China win

The advantage has swung between McLaren and Ferrari all season, and with Raikkonen needing to win at Interlagos with Lewis Hamilton lower than fifth and Fernando Alonso lower than second to become champion, his title chances depend on Ferrari holding the upper hand at the finale.

The Finn said he had been buoyed by both his Shanghai win, and his charge from last to third at Fuji.

"I was really happy on Sunday night: we couldn't get the maximum in China and Japan, but we showed that we were able to win both of the races, which was very important in view of the race in Brazil," he said.

"The situation seemed to be compromised after the race at Fuji, but in Shanghai we managed to put things straight. Now we have new hope to win the title and it's good to know that we can go to Sao Paulo and try our luck.

"It would have been better if also Alonso would have not made it, but Hamilton's retirement, his first in this season, was very important.

"We have to go on working the way we did at the last two races. We have to give our best to try to have another double win. We do have the possibility, as you could see. If we manage to do the same at Interlagos everything depends on what our competitors can do."

Although Raikkonen's title hopes remain remote, he was optimistic that he could at least get up to second in the championship.

"Anything can happen in the race," he said. "There are more possibilities to pick up on Alonso."

He added that his delight at victory in Shanghai was still tempered by frustration over the controversy at Fuji - where Ferrari started on intermediate tyres having not received the race control email mandating extreme wet tyres.

"At the end I was asked if that was the most beautiful victory with Ferrari: undeniably it was a very difficult one; the first one on a wet track; and it was really a great feeling," Raikkonen said.

"It could have been even better if there hadn't been the bitter aftertaste from what had happened at Fuji, with the rules handed out by the FIA without us having been informed."

But he was very satisfied that he was responsible for Ferrari's 200th win in Formula One.

"I played only a small part in this great history, but I'm very proud to be a part of this legendary team," said Raikkonen. "200 wins show how strong Ferrari really is."