Kimi Raikkonen has admitted that his failure to score points in Monaco came as “a staggering blow”, but the Finn claims that he has put his Principality pain behind him ahead of Sunday’s Canadian GP.

Reigning world champion Raikkonen was replaced at the top of the Drivers’ standings by Lewis Hamilton after only managing ninth place in Monte Carlo last Sunday week.

The pressure is now on Kimi to bounce back in Montreal and, happily for Ferrari fans, he is confident of doing just that.

”Monaco has been left behind: it was a staggering blow, but there's nothing we can do about it,” he mused.

”I had a lot of trouble to find the right grip on the wet track and we have to find out how that could happened, because usually I like driving under these conditions.

”I didn't like it at all to come in ninth, hence without points. It was the first race of the season where I couldn't gain any points and we can't have another one like that, because the fight for the championship is extremely fierce.

"The preparations specifically for the Canadian GP were planned for the last day at Le Castellet, where we had some tests. Unfortunately it rained that day and we couldn't do much - but we're all on the same level now. Ferrari has a great tradition in Canada and I expect that it will be really balanced there,” he reasoned.

Indeed, Raikkonen does nothing think there will be much to choose between Ferrari and title rivals McLaren for the rest of the season.

"I said at the beginning of the season that I expect the title to be assigned at the last moment,” he pointed out.

”A third of the season has passed, we have 35 points and we are on the second place. It's more or less what I expected.

”Nothing has been won and nothing has been lost. There is no point in panicking after the race at Monaco, because compared to last year the situation is much better.

”I won't change anything in my approach for the upcoming weekend. The designated target is to win and we will give our best."