• Chinese Grand Prix

Front wing damage costs Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen dropped to fourth after a poor start but recovered to finish second © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Report:
• Alonso takes first win of season in China
  

• Race:
• Chinese Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Kimi Räikkönen

• Teams:
• Lotus F1

Kimi Raikkonen said he could have gone "quite a bit faster" in the Chinese Grand Prix without front wing damage sustained in a clash with Sergio Perez.

Attempting to overtake on the outside of Turn 5, Raikkonen was forced off track by Perez and damaged his front wing against the back of the McLaren. Raikkonen admitted he was pleased with second place as a result, but believes he could have put more pressure on Fernando Alonso if it wasn't for the collision.

"I think in the end it was a pretty OK result, obviously we want to win but after a bad start the car was handling well," Raikkonen said. "Overtaking Perez I was next to him and he just pushed me on to the kerb. I tried to avoid him but I went on the grass and hit him on the rear I think and damaged the front. That didn't help but luckily it didn't affect the handling too much.

"It was a bit too much understeery but we could still fight for second place and for sure without the damage we could have been quite a bit faster. But anyhow, good points and we'll try to do better next time."

Team principal Eric Boullier said he was unsure how much quicker Raikkonen could have gone without the damage.

"We were lucky in some ways because no structural parts were touched just aerodynamic ones," he said. "It's clear that he lost a little bit of balance on the car so he had to adjust a little bit his driving to not destroy the front tyres, but it's difficult to quantify how much."

With both Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean two of many drivers under investigation after the race for using DRS under yellow flags, Boullier admitted he was unsure if his drivers would be penalised.

"I think it's just that the race got a little bit messy and people kept using DRS in the wrong parts so I think that's why they're under investigation."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.