Raikkonen: “I think we were quick enough to win”

It may well have been an opportunity missed for Ferrari on home soil as Kimi Raikkonen believes the team had the pace to win the Italian Grand Prix. The Finn was locked in a race-long battle with Lewis Hamilton but ultimately came up short in front of the Tifosi.

Speaking after the race, Raikkonen admitted that he felt the Ferrari was the faster package on the day but tyre strategy cost the team dearly in a race they really should have won.

“I think we were quick enough,” he said.

“Unfortunately our rear tyres went and it was no match. It was a losing battle from that point. I tried but it was impossible in the end unfortunately. It’s far from ideal, but this is what we’ve got today and we did our maximum.”

Raikkonen was left searching for positives after he was out of the car when a popular victory had looked on the cards in the early stages of an eventful race at Monza.

The result comes on a race weekend in which a rumoured deal for Charles Leclerc to replace the veteran was supposed to be announced by his qualifying heroics delayed that announcement which now may come before the paddock arrives in Singapore.