Kimi Raikkonen admits that the Lotus F1 team could have been closer to the top of the F1 points tables, but insists that luck has nothing to do with it.

The Finn, who returned to the top flight this season after two years away in the World Rally Championship, currently lies fifth in the drivers' standings, while Lotus moved ahead of McLaren into third overall after the British Grand Prix. Although the points margins are tight, Raikkonen was his usual phlegmatic self when asked to assess his season so far.

"Well, I am in fifth position so, for sure, it could be better - but also worse," he told the official F1 website, "It is what it is and, of course, we try to do better - and hopefully it will work out more pleasingly in the second half of the season. But, then, who knows if this is going to happen? I want to do good races and then let's see where it gets me."

The 2007 world champion has finished on the podium three times in the nine races held so far, taking second place in both Bahrain and Valencia and third in Barcelona, leaving him nine points behind Lewis Hamilton in the individual standings, but is happier to see Lotus in amongst the expected frontrunners in the teams' championship.


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