Raikkonen battles on

Kimi Raikkonen has vowed not to give up on his dream of becoming Formula One world champion.

The Ferrari star now trails McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton by 15 points in the drivers’ standings after Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Raikkonen managed to claim a point for eighth place from 16th on the grid after a mistake in qualifying compromised his starting position at the Monte Carlo street circuit.

After a brilliant start to his career with the Maranello marque with victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, not much has gone Raikkonen’s way since.

Yet with 12 races remaining in the calendar, he also appreciates the cause is far from lost.

“We knew we were facing an uphill battle and that’s how things turned out,” Raikkonen said.

“I made a good start, quickly moving up to 12th, but from then on I was nearly always in traffic, never getting a chance to overtake.

“I never had a clear track ahead of me and it was only thanks to the strategy that I was able to make up some more places and get into the points, but I couldn’t do any better.

“Obviously the situation in the classification is now a bit more complicated. But there is still a long way to go in the championship and I am not the sort to give up.”

Team-mate Felipe Massa was forced to settle for a distant third, finishing almost 70 seconds adrift of McLaren’s processional one-two, with Alonso victorious ahead of Hamilton.

The duo are locked on 38 points, although Alonso has the edge in light of his two race victories, with Massa five points adrift.

As far as Massa is concerned, there was nothing more he could do to affect a result that leaves Ferrari still without a win in the Principality since 2001.

“McLaren showed incredible pace,” said Massa.

“I think if I had pushed 150% on the limit, the result would have been the same in the end. There was nothing I could do, except to hope for some mistake or something like that, or maybe a retirement.

“By halfway, given the situation, I just concentrated on bringing the car home and finishing third to score as many points as possible. I am just happy to be on the podium.

“The gap is a little bigger now, but five points is nothing in a championship like this, which is still very open. When we go to the next races (in America and Canada) I am sure our car will be more competitive.

“Last year, Renault and McLaren were very quick here in Monaco and in Canada, while we were very strong in Indianapolis.

“This time we are confident in our package for Canada and Indy, so hopefully we can have a great car there and try the best to be out in front.”