• Austrian GP - Qualifying

First corner flummoxes Raikkonen

Laurence Edmondson at the Red Bull Ring
June 21, 2014 « Massa surprised by 'emotional' pole | Hamilton spin costs Rosberg shot at pole »
Kimi Raikkonen struggled to get the first corner right in qualifying © Getty Images
Enlarge

Kimi Raikkonen said his struggles during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix stemmed from the first corner of the lap where he was struggling to get his Ferrari hooked up.

Raikkonen qualified eighth but in Q3 failed to set a competitive time after struggling to nail the opening corner of the lap. He was disappointed not to get the best from the car, but said the problems were rooted in the same issues he has been having all season with the tyres.

"I was struggling with the first corner a lot, I couldn't get it right," he said. "I knew I had three laps so I tried to do it again but on the last lap I just locked an outside wheel for some reason and flatspotted the front left. It was pretty much done at that point. So it was about the first corner and after that I lost a lot of time there with a lot of vibrations in a straight line and I just did the lap to get a time.

"It was disappointing and difficult to get a single lap together the whole weekend. The speed wasn't too bad if I'd put a lap together but it's just been a big struggle to do that. In the end it wasn't a complete disaster but not where I want to be."

However, Raikkonen is confident he will be more competitive in the race.

"It's better in the race to get the tyres working. That seems to be difficult for me [over one lap] and it's not just this weekend, but it seems to get a bit more easy in the race."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close