• Bahrain Grand Prix

Ferrari felt like it was in a lower class - Raikkonen

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Kimi Raikkonen says this Ferrari felt like it was in a different class compared to the Mercedes-powered teams after a disappointing race in Bahrain.

Raikkonen finished 10th in Sunday's race as both Ferraris spent most of the race falling down the order. The F14 T clearly lacked performance on the straights, but Raikkonen said the deficit was made up of several factors

"We didn't have the speed overall," he said. "We are lacking a bit in a straightline, we are lacking a bit in downforce, but the car is not handling so badly. It's not like there is a massive problem in handling, we are just lacking the downforce and the speed and the horsepower. But we knew that and we knew it was going to be the most difficult place of the year. We have to see what we can do for the next race.

"One of the Force Indias got me on the exit of Turn 8 and it was like a different class. I was surprised, obviously he came out of the pit lane [on new tyres] but I had only done a few laps on my tyres and I carried the corner and he just came inside of me and went past. I had no answer and in the next corner he had massive traction also. So it's not just horsepower.

"With the Red Bulls we seem to be able to keep them behind on the straights more easily and then in the corners they seem to get so close and that means we are lacking a bit of downforce as well as straight-line speed."

However, Raikkonen believes Ferrari still made progress on Australia and Malaysia.

"I think we improved the car. It feels nicer and the feeling is better even though the results don't show that. There is a lot of work to do and we can only push forward and improve things, but I'm sure we can move forward at the next race."

Laurence Edmondson is deputy editor of ESPNF1

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