Raikkonen defends recent qualifiers

Kimi Raikkonen has defended his recent poor performance in Grand Prix qualifiers, insisting that a driver does not "get worse in just a few sessions" and that he and his team at Ferrari are working hard to try and improve the situation.

The Finn enjoyed a strong start to the 2018 campaign, but in recent races he has failed to make a positive impact in Q3, often making mistakes to allow other drivers a stronger position on the grid.

Raikkonen admits that he does not know what the issue is currently, and remains confident in his ability.

"I don't know why it's been more difficult in the last qualifying sessions compared to the first ones, but we are working to improve the situation," he said at the Circuit Paul Ricard this past weekend.

"You do not get worse in just a few sessions."

Raikkonen has not been in contention for a championship in a while and indeed has not even won a Grand Prix in a while, but he reckons that victories, whether they come or not, do not change the way he makes decisions behind the wheel.

"It does not affect the way I drive," the Ferrari man continued.

"I've already won in the past and I don't see why I can't win again. Okay, I haven't won for a while, but when you win, you're not a different driver."