Raikkonen’s chances of a podium on Sunday, never mind a win, are looking in doubt with the Ferrari driver lining up sixth for a Grand Prix where overtaking is virtually null and void.
Doing his best to deflect attention from what was a dire showing in qualifying for the second race in a row, Raikkonen insists that had it not been for a mistake on his final flying lap, he would have been right up alongside his team-mate.
“I made a mistake on my final flying lap which cost me time, and that followed on from not having got a great lap on my previous attempt, which explains why I’m sixth,” explained the 28-year-old.
“Of course I am not happy and, starting from the third row, my race will be an uphill struggle.”
Raikkonen, who faces on-going speculation about his future with Ferrari with some commentators suggesting he might retire as early as the end of the season, made clear his determination to fight back in Sunday’s race.
“I will try and make the most of this situation, given that the car today was not that bad,” he affirmed.
“We are going through a bit of a difficult time but we mustn’t give up: all we need to do is put together all the pieces of the jigsaw and then the results will come to us again.”