Raikkonen - Track is 'a joke'

World Champion says track surface like "ice"

Last updated: 8th June 2008

kimi raikkonen ferrari 7/6/2008

Raikkonen: lost time

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After qualifying third for the Canadian Grand Prix, a frustrated Kimi Raikkonen labelled the track surface at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve "a joke".

The defending World Champion was almost a second slower than polesitter Lewis Hamilton, who currently leads the Finn by three points in the 2008 Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

Team-mate Felipe Massa confirmed Ferrari's malaise by qualifying only sixth, the team blaming their poor showing on an inability to get their cars' tyres up to temperature.

However, blame was also apportioned to the deteriorating track surface, with Raikkonen joining the likes of Mark Webber, David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli in speaking out against problems encountered at both Turn Seven and the hairpin Turn 10.

"The car has been good all weekend - even this morning it was very good - and then going into qualifying it was quite a joke with the circuit," Raikkonen said.

"It is always the same thing. the circuit breaks down - and you miss the corner because there is so much sand.

"It's unbelievable how much time I lost at Turn 10, lap after lap.

"The track was already beginning to break up in Q1, and I had no drive: it was like driving on ice, and I never managed to find the right line at this point.

"It's a real shame because the car was going very well, and I could have fought for pole position.

"I can't understand how things like this can happen - maybe it's down to the higher temperatures, or a repair job at this point not done properly.

"But one thing's certain: in the race tomorrow, it will be very difficult to get through here."

Not a 'true reflection'

Raikkonen nevertheless added that he is not entirely downbeat about his prospects for Sunday's race.

"The situation is not that bad," he said.

"We are quick, as could be seen all weekend long up to qualifying - and starting on the clean side of the track is definitely a good thing.

"We definitely can't claim to be happy with the result of qualifying, especially because it is not a true reflection of the potential we had."

Following qualifying, track officials announced that the hairpin bend would be resurfaced in an attempt to minimise the chances of the same thing happening during the course of the 70-lap race.