Raikkonen says Ferrari must now work to improve reliability
Thursday 14 April 2016 09:46, UK
Kimi Raikkonen says Ferrari should take heart from the fact their "speed is there", despite reliability problems meaning they are already playing catch-up to Mercedes in the World Championship.
Ferrari have finished on the podium at each of the opening two races but power unit-related failures mean they are yet to get two cars to the chequered flag.
Mercedes, meanwhile, won both races and already hold a 50-point lead over their Italian rivals in the Constructors' Championship.
But despite Ferrari's early-season concerns, Raikkonen, who finished second in Bahrain, is pleased with the SF16-H's competitiveness - although acknowledges the car's reliability must improve.
"We are still positive with what the team has built over the winter, it hasn't changed," said Raikkonen in the Drivers' Press Conference ahead of the Chinese GP.
"It hasn't been an ideal first two races as a team - we've had two podiums but two non-finishes, and that's not what we want.
"Obviously there is quite a bit of work to be done on that side, but the speed is there. It's not in qualifying exactly if you take the last race, but until then it was pretty okay. We just have to improve it and make it even better."
Having seemingly cut Mercedes' pace advantage, Raikkonen says "the car has improved in all areas" and they now have to push the development even further.
"The engine has improved, the car itself, and it's still not as good as we want it to be, but it is definitely a good car and we go from there," the Finn added.
Ferrari's chances of challenging Mercedes in Bahrain have been boosted by the news Lewis Hamilton - the pole-setter in Australia and Bahrain and winner of the last two Chinese GPs - will start no higher than sixth in Shanghai this weekend after a gearbox change penalty.
The potential for a more unpredictable weekend has also been heightened by the fact rain is forecast for Saturday's qualifying day. However, the famously phlegmatic Raikkonen said: "We have had quite often here some rain, so it's nothing new. We had it in Australia.
"If it rains in qualifying and practice it changes the game a little bit, but I don't think it will affect the final result an awful lot. It will be more exciting, more difficult, but we will see how it pans out."
Watch the Chinese GP weekend - LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 7am on Sunday, with build-up underway from 5.30am. Or watch without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.
