Raikkonen driving for perfection

Kimi Raikkonen insists perfection is the only way Ferrari will emerge victorious this season.

Raikkonen feels he could have won all three races to date of the current Formula One season, but has had to settle for two thirds in the last two races after taking the flag in Australia.

It has left the Finn in a three-way tie at the top of the drivers’ championship standings alongside McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen believes the nip-and-tuck-battle between the Ferraris and McLarens, with team-mate Felipe Massa just five points down after his win in Bahrain, will continue for the year.

If that is to be the case, the 27-year-old knows there can be no mistakes over the remainder of the season if he is to win the title.

“Twenty two points are a good amount, but I think I could have got all the available points,” claimed Raikkonen.

“I am sure we can be stronger if we manage to optimise the performance of the car, and I hope we start doing at the next test session.

“Even if all the teams will have new things, we can be sure that the fight will still be very tight. At the moment, there are at least two cars and four drivers at the same level, so it’s going to be busy out there.

“For the fans it will definitely be exciting and spectacular, and for our part, we cannot afford to make the slightest slip up if we want to win.”

Key for Raikkonen is an improvement in the car’s qualifying set-up because after taking pole and going on to to win in Australia, he lined up third in Malaysia and Bahrain.

Raikkonen was not particularly happy with how events unfolded at the Sakhir circuit.

“We picked up a lot of points, but we could have done even better,” said Raikkonen.

"We were unable to get as much out of the car as we would have liked. It was not quite the way I wanted, and we did not do everything perfectly.

“I would say it can’t be denied the main problem is in qualifying. Our race pace is good and we can go up against anyone, but over the single lap we are not there yet.

“And if you are not up with the front runners right from the start then you can say goodbye to the chance of winning.”