By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble Wednesday

The Finn is now out of the world championship battle after a season of mixed fortunes, but believes that the troubles he has had this year should not carry over into 2009 - especially with him and the team understanding the reason behind their problems.

"For sure I've had other moments like this in the past. It's part of the game," Raikkonen said in an interview with Italian magazine Autosprint.

"Then you happen to have a good result and so, from one week to the next, the same people that were saying you were incapable start talking differently about you all of a sudden... It's not the first time.

"Obviously I'd like to have more results and avoid making mistakes, but it happens sometimes. I prefer it to happen this season, which hasn't been a good one anyway, rather than next year.

"In order to get results you need to have everything you need, but sometimes this doesn't happen. Last year we went through a similar patch and we came out of it.

"This year there have been problems, perhaps originating from certain decisions, and when we went back it was too late. Maybe this has cost us the season, but at least we've learned something for next year."

Raikkonen claims that changes made to the car over the course of the season did not help him as much as teammate Felipe Massa, which is why stepping back to an old concept from the Belgian Grand Prix marked a turning point for his campaign.

"Well, we changed the car a bit, and probably this wasn't good for me," he said. "So we went back, I think at Spa, and things went much better. But at that point we were already behind, it was too late.

"However I feel good with the car at least, even though it isn't always the way I'd like it to be. Sometimes it goes well, other times it's difficult to make it consistent performance-wise.

"But what we've learned will be useful next year too. I know we'll have different cars and tyres, but certain things remain the same."

When asked about his feelings on the championship battle, Raikkonen said: "Hamilton is in a better position points-wise, but things can change quickly. Who knows, maybe the others will crash again, like on Sunday.

"I wouldn't have bet on my chances to win the title last year. It would be nice for Felipe and for the team, if he could do it. But for me, for my points table, it doesn't change things anymore."