• Indian Grand Prix

Raikkonen not expecting comeback in title chase

ESPN Staff
October 25, 2012 « 'I won't pull over for anyone' - Webber | Alonso talks up title chances »
Kimi Raikkonen: "We have a chance but it's not like 2007 when we had a car that we knew could win races" © Sutton Images
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Kimi Raikkonen has not ruled out winning the title but says Lotus needs to improve the car, starting at this weekend's India Grand Prix, to stand any chance of catching the leaders.

Raikkonen is currently third in the standings but 48 points shy of championship leader Sebastian Vettel. In 2007 he overcame an 18-point deficit under the old points system (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) with four races to go, but said a similar comeback is unlikely this year.

"We have a chance but it's not like 2007 when we had a car that we knew could win races and right now we are not the fastest car," Raikkonen said. "We need more help to win it but we will keep trying and hopefully we will achieve it. If we can improve the car over the next few races you never know.

Raikkonen came close to winning at the Bahrain and Hungarian Grands Prix earlier this year but said Lotus slipped off the pace after the summer break.

"I think in Spa we had some signs but then we have seen this year that one race you can be very good and the next race not so strong. For some reason after the summer break some of the top teams have been much more consistent and we have to have a good car. We improved it in the last race again but not in the level that maybe the others managed in a bigger team."

However, overall he said he is happy with the way his comeback season has gone.

"I'm happy. If you had told me before the season that I have this many points and this many podiums I would have taken it. But of course when you do some good race you always want more and more and then you are disappointed if you are not doing better. It could have been better but it could have been much worse also."

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