Raikkonen still hoping for points finish

Kimi Raikkonen accepts a points finish is likely to be the best he can hope for in tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix, after a technical fault in qualifying appeared to sink the Finn’s chances of opening the new Formula One season with a victory.

A problem with the fuel pump shortly after completing his first lap in qualifying saw Raikkonen’s Ferrari limp back to the pits before eventually coming to a stop and being pushed back to the garage.

That brought a premature end to his afternoon, and the defending champion eventually ended up 16th – although he subsequently moved one place up the grid after Toyota’s Timo Glock was demoted twice, for changing a gear box and blocking another driver.

A disappointed Raikkonen admits a finish in the points is now all he can realistically hope for, after his misery was compounded by the sight of McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton clinching pole for the season-opening race.

“We’ll try our best to pick up some points, because it’s important to score in every race,” he said.

“These things happen, but it’s definitely not the best way to start the season.

“I’m disappointed. I had a problem with the electronic fuel pump a few corners from the end of my in-lap, which forced me to stop near the pit lane. It was impossible to get back to the garage to try and fix the problem.”

Team-mate Felipe Massa, who started from a similarly lowly position in Melbourne last year after suffering mechanical woes, claimed fourth behind BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica – and McLaren debutant Heikki Kovalainen.

The Brazilian was hampered on his final run by heavy traffic on the Albert Park circuit but is optimistic he will enjoy better fortune come race day.

“It’s not really how it looks,” he said.

“I didn’t do a lap on the last set of tyres. I was stuck behind so many cars, and we need to push our car on the out-lap.

“I didn’t have the right grip. It works for other teams, but not for us. I was confident and I think I can fight for the very top places.”

Team manager Luca Baldiserri also expects better things tomorrow.

“We knew from this winter we would struggle a bit to do quick times over a single lap. But we are competitive in terms of race pace, so we can be reasonably confident – even if Kimi faces an uphill struggle, given his grid position,” he said.

Massa was surprised at how quick BMW were after Kubica grabbed second, while the Pole revealed he thinks at least one of the Italian team’s cars will be starting the 58-lap contest in the top three.

“This shows how Formula one is changing. Kimi had a problem, and we took advantage of it,” he added.

But for a mistake in turn 12, it could have been Kubica instead of Hamilton leading the field away.

While admitting he was not completely happy with his car, the 23-year-old is delighted at the progress BMW have made.

“I think we were okay for qualifying, but conditions can change,” he said.

“I took the risk in pushing very hard on the last lap in Q3, which did not pay off as I went off in turn 12. I lost more than two-tenths, which cost me pole.

“This year’s car is pretty difficult. It’s a very quick car but it’s difficult to put in the right place in every corner. It’s very tricky to find the right balance, the right set-up.

“But if we compare the beginning of testing or even the beginning of February to now, we have gone miles forward – and if we continue the way we have started, we can be very competitive in later races.”