Formula One news

Räikkönen silences critics with second place

Kimi 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."

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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