Formula One news
Räikkönen content with 'gift' for third
13 September 2009 / Results / PhotosKimi Räikkönen and all behind the Finn skipped up the order of the Italian Grand Prix by one place thanks to Lewis Hamilton's crash on the final lap at Monza. The World Champion lost control at the first Lesmo to ensure the previous Champion's fourth consecutive podium finish.
Written off by many both this year and last, Kimi Räikkönen has now enjoyed one win, one second and two third places since the Hungarian Grand Prix to close in to within 11.5 points of Mark Webber's fourth place in the Drivers' World Championship standings.
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| Räikkönen was one place away from equalling his Monza best of second |
"We got third with a gift but it doesn't matter," Räikkönen said after the race. "It is not the perfect position for me and the team but at least we scored the points we needed; we got the most out of the car this weekend - it's good for the fans and much better than finishing fourth."
As a result, Kimi ensured that a Ferrari driver appeared on the podium for the fourth consecutive year at the team's home Grand Prix. "I was in a hurry to get out because it was going to be very quick," he commented of his final pit-stop, which saw the Ferrari and Force India mechanics of Adrian Sutil going head-to-head as Kimi jumped the gun.
"The lollipop guy moved a bit - he put it up and then down," Räikkönen continued. "Luckily, the fuel rig was already out so we lost a little bit of time but not too much. - it wouldn't have been enough to beat McLaren at the pit-stop but we kept Force India behind. In the end, it didn't make much difference."
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