Kimi Raikkonen says pole is not important to claim victory in 2012 Spanish GP – Formula 1 news
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen has said that it is not important to secure pole position in order to claim victory in 2012 Spanish Grand Prix which is to be held at Circuit de Catalunya on May 13 as the rules have been changed this year.
The Finnish driver has won the Spanish GP twice before his return in F1. However, he said that he is not sure what will happen this time as it is very hard to predict anything before the start of the race weekend.
“The rules are different so you don't have to be on the pole now,” he said. “We'll try; I don't know how we will go. It's very difficult to say before the weekend starts.”
Nevertheless, he expressed that they can achieve victory if they will be able to perform well during the weekend for which they will try to make the best of the efforts. He added that they need to have some new parts in E20 for the race ahead.
“Always the teams are very close so if everything goes smoothly I think we can be up there, but small difficulties in some areas and you're suddenly much further back. We'll try and do everything right. We should have some new parts and we'll see what happens,”
he said.
Even though he secured an amazing second podium finish in the fourth race at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir and ended just 3 seconds behind the defending champion, Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing. However, he asserted that he didn’t feel contended
with his performance as he had the chance to win the Bahrain GP.
“I think once you get so close you are not happy with second,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said that it was a good weekend for his team as his teammate, Romain Grosjean also showed an impressive performance and stood at third podium.
It will be important to mention that according to their team principal, Eric Boullier, they are no more a second class team. Moreover, they have emerged as one of the most consistent and competent teams in this season so far and have got the potential to
challenge the championship title with their experienced and talented pair of drivers.
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