Raikkonen Thinks Positive after Losing Lead

Kimi Raikkonen remained optimistic despite surrendering his Formula One Championship lead to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher at the Canadian Grand Prix today.

"Today's result is no disaster at all and the gap to Michael is only three points with plenty more races to go," the 23-year-old McLaren driver said in a team statement after finishing sixth.

World Champion Schumacher won the race, leapfrogging Raikkonen with 54 points to the Finn's 51 to go top for the first time this season. Raikkonen started the race from the pitlane after failing to register a qualifying time on Saturday and had to fight his way through the field with a full fuel load.

"After 10-15 laps, the team told me to save my brakes so I was not able to push and if you don't push you don't gain places," said Raikkonen. "The whole team and myself look forward to fighting back at the next race."

He also lost a rear tyre on the 33rd of the 70 laps, fortunately just before the pitlane entry, and limped in on a bare rim. Team boss Ron Dennis said the puncture cost Raikkonen fifth place while Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug remained confident for the future.

"Our lap times during the race were competitive and three points away from the top at the halfway point of the season are not a lot," he said.

Raikkonen's teammate David Coulthard was less fortunate, retiring on lap 48 with a gearbox problem.