Formula One news

McLaren frustrated but not dejected - chief

Raikkonen overtakes Alonso

McLaren were left feeling frustrated but not dejected after an incident-packed race for Kimi Raikkonen which meant he could finish no higher than fourth. While Montoya won the race and Raikkonen's fourth place helped McLaren close the gap to Renault by one point, Alonso's lead over Raikkonen increased to 27 points.

At the start of the Italian Grand Prix Raikkonen got stuck behind Villeneuve until the Canadian made his first pit stop. By that point Raikkonen had lost 25 seconds on Montoya.

"I think we expected Kimi to clear a few cars at the start but it got a bit tight and compact and it was difficult," said McLaren's F1 chief Martin Whitmarsh. "Kimi knew that if he made a lunge and lost a front wing it would be game over, but also he knew he had the speed to get through eventually."

"Villeneuve holding him up was deeply frustrating but Villeneuve was there, was racing and he is entitled to do that," Whitmarsh went on. "We put ourselves in that position of being behind him. On strategy we would have been a very comfortable third place, but the spin and tyre delamination cost us the podium."

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