Raikkonen is hoping to build on his good form

by - 8/21/2013 10:24:00 p.m.

After two strong second place finishes in Germany and Hungary, Kimi Raikkonen reclaimed the number two position in the World Championship but is still 38 points adrift of leader Sebastian Vettel.

With nine more races to go this season, the championship battle is heating up, with Sebastien Vettel, Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso - the top three- battling and Hamilton chasing in fourth.

The Iceman, who held off a late surge from Vettel in Hungary, has been a strong Championship contender again this year, winning the first GP of the season.


But some slow development by the Lotus Team had seen him slip to third before Germany and Hungary. He is now one point ahead of career-long rival Fernando Alonso in third.

Speaking to ESPN, Raikkonen said:"I am now back in second which was a good way to enter the summer break. I finished ahead of Seb in Hungary so obviously scored more points than him there.

"To beat him, we need to be winning races and if we keep finishing second like we've done many times this year it's probably not going to be enough for the championship, but you never know what might happen."

Raikonnen also acknowledged his recent qualifying woes.

"Obviously I keep making my life difficult on Saturdays in qualifying so then we pay a price, but we still have a good car in the race," he continued.

"Now we have tyres that are a little bit different we have to understand exactly how to use them. We made progress in Budapest so it should be easier in Spa, but that will be the same for everyone. To win, it's always better to be starting near the front."

The Iceman was last on pole in France 2008 with Ferrari, but since then for two seasons (2009 and 2012) he has gone without starting from the front.

Despite his starting position though, Raikkonen has displayed strong race pace and overtaking capacity throughout, climbing up numerous places in Hungary to keep him in the hunt.

With the second half of the season resuming in Spa - a track Raikkonen relishes-  next week, he'll  be looking to further reduce the gap between him and Vettel. The Iceman has won in Spa four times and was third on the podium last year.



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