Italian press go hard on Kimi Raikkonen

The Italian press was merciless in its critique of reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen as the Finn lost his championship lead with a poor race at Monaco.

"Raikkonen: slow and dizzy. In some races he is simply not there," the respected sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote.

After qualifying behind his team-mate Felipe Massa on the streets of Monte Carlo, Raikkonen scored no points last Sunday after two driving errors and a general lack of pace.

The newspaper Liberta surmised that "only Felipe Massa saved Maranello's honour".

"Kimi, what was that?" the Roman publication, l'Unita, also wondered.