Formula One news
Räikkönen silences critics with second place
23 May 2009 / Results / PhotosKimi Räikkönen's worldwide contingent of fans was delighted to see the Finn back at the sharp end of a Formula One grid as the 2007 World Champion claimed second position in Monte-Carlo's qualifying session. Despite the improvement, however, the Ferrari driver couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed to miss out in the top spot by just twenty-five hundredths of a second.
With sixth place in Bahrain his only points finish so far this season, 29-year-old Räikkönen was both relieved and satisfied have qualified on the front row in Monaco for the second consecutive year. "Second place is a nice result but I'm disappointed that I missed out on pole by a few hundredths," he admitted. "Here, there is a much bigger difference between starting from first or second place. The car has improved and that can be seen from the performance level; today we felt ever more comfortable as the track's grip level improved bit by bit. I had some difficulties on the first run in Q1 but then things got better all the time."
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| Räikkönen's front row grid slot brought red back to the press conference for the first time since Brazil 2008 |
The 'Iceman' eventually chose not to respond to Jenson Button's quicker effort in the dying seconds of the session. "In the end, I had the possibility of doing another lap but I went wide at the first corner," Räikkönen explained. "I don't know if I could have done a better time. Tomorrow's race will be long and tough - the start will be very important and on the short straight here.
"The KERS will definitely be a help, but not as much as elsewhere. All the same, it's good to be back in the fight for the top places and I will give it my best shot to try and win because that's the only thing that matters."
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