Kimi Raikkonen was delighted after he and Ferrari enjoyed their best qualifying session of the season in Monaco and gave themselves real hope of challenging for victory. The former world champion qualified second in Monte Carlo, beaten only by the world championship leader Jenson Button in his Brawn. But with Ferrari running the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) which should allow a speed boost off the startline, the Finnish driver has a real chance of leading into the first corner at a track where it is very difficult, if nigh on impossible, to overtake unless the driver ahead makes a mistake.
"The car is the same here so we have done well and I am pretty happy to be second now after what has happened since the start of the season," said Raikkonen. "I made a mistake on my lap when I had a moment at the first corner, but it is good to be on the front row again. "It is nice too to fight for victory, I hope, tomorrow." Ferrari have struggled this season, having picked up only six points from the opening five races of the season.
But developments to the car in Spain saw improved pace, and that progress has continued in Monaco with Raikkonen earning Ferrari their first front-row starting position of the year. His teammate Felipe Massa will start from fifth place, although the Brazilian suffered a scare in the first part of qualifying. He lost control coming into the Swimming Pool section, and although he damaged his nose cone, he was able to return to the pitlane.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
