Raikkonen frustrated by problems

After starting ninth, the former world champion ran comfortably in the points all afternoon before retiring on lap 36 with an engine problem.

"I don't know exactly [what the problem was], but it was some issue with the engine," Raikkonen told BBC TV. "I had a loss of power and then I had to stop because the engine would have broken down anyway. It's a shame."

Prior to his retirement, Raikkonen was involved in a controversial incident with Force India driver Adrian Sutil at the first corner, which the race stewards announced they would investigate after the race.

As the impressive Sutil left the pitlane, Raikkonen attempted to go around the outside of the German, but made contact with his rival, breaking his rival's front wing and dropping the former down the order to 15th by the finish.

Raikkonen denied any wrongdoing though, calling it a racing incident.

"I don't think it was anybody's fault," he added. "It was just a normal racing incident. Unfortunately we touched, but I don't know what I can do, because I was on the outside and cannot see everything in this situation."