• Spanish Grand Prix - Qualifying

Raikkonen rues 'small mistakes'

ESPNF1 Staff
May 12, 2012 « 'We got caught with our pants down' - Webber | Hamilton expected 'great battle' »
Kimi Raikkonen is well placed after qualifying fifth © Sutton Images
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Kimi Raikkonen says a few small mistakes cost him a top three grid position but also confessed himself happy with fifth on the grid because of the car's race pace.

Raikkonen charged to second place in the Bahrain Grand Prix from a similar position and thinks another strong result could be possible as the car has usually been stronger in race trim on the Sunday.

"I think we had a chance to be in the top three but we've been fighting with the set-up quite a bit today," said Raikkonen. "We changed the car for qualifying and actually it was the correct call in the end; it was just a few small mistakes which cost me some time on my Q3 lap. We'll see how it goes tomorrow in the race; the car has usually been better on Sunday than it has been on Saturday, so if that's the case tomorrow we'll be pretty happy.

"A lot of small details will decide the race and the tyres are one aspect of course. Our long runs were promising yesterday, so we're not looking too bad. Hopefully we get a reasonable start and we can be up at the right end and go for it. I think we've got a good car and that's the main thing."

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