Raikkonen welcomes fourth row place

"I don't think we could have expected much more today," said Raikkonen, who admitted there is not much Ferrari can do considering the lack of development.

"We know what our potential is and we have to accept that. Here, the situation is definitely better than in Singapore, but we continue to struggle, especially with a lack of aerodynamic downforce, which makes itself felt especially in the first sector.

"Overall, the car is working well and it's nice to drive on such a demanding track as this, where the slightest error is heavily punished, as we saw today. It's a shame I didn't have new soft tyres for Q3, but we had to use them earlier to avoid being knocked out: all in all it was a good qualifying.

"Tomorrow, we will try and have a good race: it will be difficult to fight for the top spots, but we will try and we can count on having a good strategy."

His Italian team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella had another disappointing day after failing to reach Q2 for the second race in a row.

Fisichella will start from 16th position after a costly mistake in the first session cost him the time to advance into Q2.

"I am very disappointed not to have made it through to Q2," he said. "We only had this morning's free practice to prepare the car in the dry, but I think all the same, I improved my performance level, growing ever more confident in the F60.

"On my final timed lap, I made a mistake which probably cost me the time I needed to get into the next part. Tomorrow, the aim is to get into the points: I know it will be very difficult, starting from the eighth row, but with a good strategy, maybe I can do it."