• Lotus news

Raikkonen hopes for Lotus recovery

Kimi Raikkonen struggled - particularly in qualifying - at Spa and Monza © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Race:
• Singapore Grand Prix

Kimi Raikkonen is hoping that a return to high-downforce circuits will yield better form for Lotus.

Having finished second to Lewis Hamilton in Hungary - holding off championship leader Sebastian Vettel in the process - Raikkonen has failed to score points in either of the last two races in Spa and Monza having qualified in eighth and 11th places respectively. With the E21 not usually strong on low-downforce circuits Raikkonen said he's optimistic about his chances in Singapore.

"After these two weekends with zero points it's nice to get back to a circuit we expect to be more suited to our car," Raikkonen said. "We seem to go better at high downforce circuits that's for sure. The car actually worked surprisingly well at Monza during the race so it was a shame we lost so much time at the start. After getting the new nose, our race pace was not too bad."

However, Raikkonen admitted the last two races had all but ended his title hopes.

"You don't win Championships by not scoring points. We've had two races where we haven't scored which is not ideal. We're here to race and score as many points as we can. Of course, that's what everyone is trying to do so we just have to keep pushing and hope that we have some pretty good races for the rest of the year, then we'll see where we end up in the standings."

With Singapore marking the first race for Raikkonen since his return to Ferrari was announced, he said it won't affect his performances for Lotus.

"Hopefully it means I won't be asked so much where I'm driving next year, but maybe it means more questions. For my racing this season it doesn't make any difference. I'll keep pushing at every race to get the best result I can."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.