Flying Finn is toast of Monaco

KIMI RAIKKONEN joined the elite winners of the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday and turned up the pressure on early-season drivers’ championship leader Fernando Alonso when he secured victory on the streets of the Mediterranean principality.

Finn Raikkonen started from his third consecutive pole position, led from start to finish and established himself as the man most likely to stop the young Spaniard from becoming the youngest driver in history to seize the drivers’ crown in succession to veteran German Michael Schumacher of Ferrari.

“It was very nice,” said the shy young Nordic driver with characteristic understatement. “But of course it is a special race. A few years ago I got so close but I couldn’t get past Montoya at that time, but now finally it happened so I am very happy.