Torrid race for Raikkonen

World champion eventually earns point after up-and-down afternoon

Last updated: 17th March 2008

kimi raikkonen ferrari australian gp 16/3/2008

Raikkonen: Not that good a race

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Kimi Raikkonen was in a philosophical mood following his and Ferrari's abysmal performance at the Australian Grand Prix.

The world champion immediately showed his class in Melbourne by slicing through the pack from 15th position on the grid to eighth place on the opening lap.

However, his race later unravelled when he outbraked himself whilst battling for second position with McLaren-Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen.

Attempting to pass his fellow Finn after a second safety car period at Albert Park, Raikkonen instead went off into the gravel before returning to the track in 12th and last place.

Later, fighting with Toyota's Timo Glock for 10th place, he spun once again after putting a wheel on the grass.

And Raikkonen's misery was then compounded when an engine problem ended his race with five laps to go.

Boost

He did however receive a slight boost in the form of eighth place and a championship point when Honda's Rubens Barrichello was disqualified from sixth place for a pitlane infringement.

Ferrari's worst start to a season since 1992 was completed when team-mate Felipe Massa retired after a collision with Red Bull's David Coulthard.

Raikkonen is already looking ahead to next Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, but admitted that failing to finish the season opener was a major blow.

"I don't know what happened to engine we need to have a look but I went off when I tried to get past Kovalainen and did a spin and all sorts of things happened," he said.

"But in the end all those things don't matter if you don't finish the race so I hope we get that one point like we should and then we will go for the next race and try to do better. This is only the first race."

Faith

The 28-year-old also explained that he has faith in Ferrari and their F2008 car despite the poor showing.

"The car itself was good when we were able to run on our own so I think we have a good car but not that good a race here," he added.

"For sure this is not the best way to start, but we have plenty of races left and every point we can score is a bonus."