Raikkonen Glad to be Back in Front

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was happy to be closer to the front of the grid after a promising qualifying performance ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver has struggled for pace and reliability since the start of the season, but today Raikkonen enjoyed a good day and qualified in fifth position, equaling his best result of the year.

"For sure this has been our best Grand Prix weekend so far this year, and it's nice to be closer to the front again," said Raikkonen. "A perfect lap might have gained us one more place on the grid, but the car and my Michelin tyres were working well.

"I think we have a good strategy for the race, but what will happen depends on what the other teams are doing strategy wise. I'm close to Michael on the starting grid and so far this year I have made some good getaways to gain quite a few places."

Raikkonen outqualified his teammate David Coulthard, eighth today, the Scot claiming he had been too conservative during his flying lap.

"My approach to my qualifying lap was much too conservative, and at the last part of the swimming pool section things were not perfect, which lost me some momentum and consequently time," he said.

"As I love this circuit I'm a little disappointed not to have qualified higher up as it's so difficult to make up positions in the race."