Kimi Raikkonen reckons Ferrari would have had a much stronger Interlagos qualifying session had the weather not improved.

The Finn ended up fifth on the grid, but had been second in Q1, when the weather was at its worst.

Raikkonen felt the car was less competitive when the field switched to intermediate tyres following the long stoppage in the middle of the session.

"With the inters the car is not so easy as with full wet tyres," he said. "If it stayed in full wet condition then probably we would have been in a better position.

"Hopefully tomorrow we can fight for a podium. We know the car is missing grip, but I am happy because it is a good position."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali added that the team cannot get complacent about its chances in the battle for third in the constructors' championship despite main rival McLaren's disastrous session.