RenaultSport's Raikkonen sets fastest lap in Malaysia
RenaultSport's Kimi Raikkonen further proved he is not back in Formula One (F1) to make up the numbers with an impressive display in Malaysia.
The Finn was in the points for a second race in a row in his Lotus Renault - which carries RenaultSport's impressive RS27 engine - and even set the fastest lap of the day.
Raikkonen's 1:40.722 was the fastest lap in a rain-hit Grand Prix and shows he has the ability to challenge the likes of Sebastien Vettel, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton for honours this year.
Indeed, the race ace was one of a few F1 drivers to have maintained composure in the rain.
Button and Vettel, who finished first and second respectively in the season opener in Australia, had to settle for 11th and 14th this time round.
This left the door open for Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to take the chequered flag, with Sauber's Sergio Perez and McLaren's Hamilton rounding out the top three.
Red Bull's Mark Webber, who is also powered by the RS27, finished in fourth place ahead of Raikkonen.
Meanwhile, Bruno Senna, who in the Williams car is also able to rely on the RenaultSport engine, finished in sixth.
Raikkonen showed his ambition for the season by claiming he was unhappy with the result and will be looking to improve as the season goes on.
"It was my first time on the wet weather Pirellis and I didn't know how the intermediate or wet tyres would react - I had only completed one installation lap on them before. I just tried to stay on the road and push as much as I felt comfortable with," he commented.
"Overall, we seemed to have a pretty strong package again this weekend, so I'm relatively happy. A fifth today was okay, but we're always looking for better results."
Posted by Craig Salter
