Formula One news

Monza race was pain in the neck - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen saw his chance to cut two points out of Lewis Hamilton's championship lead disappear, and instead the gap grew to 18 points after the McLaren driver muscled past the Ferrari in the final stages of the Italian Grand Prix.

"The car wasn't too bad, the first stint was ok and we were heavier than the McLarens so we knew they'd pull away," said Raikkonen who was on a one-stop strategy in contrast to McLarens two-stops.

However, the Finn was contending with a far more serious problem in the cockpit - a stiff neck following his high-speed crash at Ascari yesterday morning.

"Probably the biggest problem for me was that I couldn't keep my neck upright under braking," Raikkonen explained. "The pain was an issue after yesterday, but that's how it goes sometimes."

more news

• 20 Aug.
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  • Valencia technical preview
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• 19 Aug.
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  • Glock still smiling after Hungarian podium
  • Piquet targets top ten qualifying slot
  • Toyota confidence high for Valencia
• 18 Aug.
  • Alonso promises extra for second home race
  • Trulli hopeful of fighting for podium
  • BMW boss hoping to revive campaign
  • Brawn hopeful having done Valencia homework
  • Kubica ready to get down to business
• 17 Aug.
  • McLaren boss relies on methodical approach
  • Heidfeld unconcerned by new venue
• 16 Aug.
  • Button excited for Valencia debut
  • Kovalainen - win doesn't change much
• 15 Aug.
  • Heidfeld expects challenging track in Valencia
  • Trulli set for streets of Rotterdam
  • Hamilton puts focus on consistently scoring points
• 14 Aug.
  • Raikkonen set for Finnish stamps
  • Red Bull goal is fourth
  • Berger: Vettel will win the championship one day
• 13 Aug.
  • Former Renault aero guru passes away
  • McLaren will rotate staff next year
• 12 Aug.
  • Rosberg will stick with Williams
  • Alonso's sneak preview of Valencia
• 11 Aug.
  • Bourdais: It's difficult getting used to the car
  • New gearbox is Force India's final update
  • Theissen: Friday sessions in Valencia will be busy
• 10 Aug.
  • Coulthard wants to ban refuelling
  • Heidfeld calls for less testing and more races
• 09 Aug.
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  • BMW planning several improvements over break
• 08 Aug.
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  • Background: Who will race where in 2009?
  • Williams closing in on problems
• 07 Aug.
  • Theissen: Performance in Hungary was unexpected
  • Massa trying to forget Hungary
  • Glock couldn't believe his eyes
• 06 Aug.
  • Raikkonen unhappy despite return to podium

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