Kimi focusing on qualifying performances

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen says that qualifying is key to success in this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The Finn is second in the Drivers Championship and hasn’t grabbed pole since the French Grand Prix in 2008. However, apart from the first race of the season, the former Ferrari World Champion, has stood on the podium every other time.

“We have to focus on qualifying. It’s a difficult place to race as it’s so narrow and passing is nearly impossible. I was stuck behind Rubens [Barrichello] in 2009 and we had KERS then, but you just couldn’t get past,” he said.

“We’ll have to see how the tyres perform and if there are any good strategies to be made, but the most important thing is to qualify well. It’s difficult to know how good the car will be in Monaco as you can’t simulate its characteristics; certainly not at any of the circuits we’ve visited so far this year anyway. We can say the E21’s been fast everywhere else so let’s hope it’s also fast there.”

Raikkonen last won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2005 and admits it would be great to win again.

“I’ve only managed to get it right once before and you really experience the greatest feeling you can get by winning it. My win in 2005 ranks up there with my most memorable, so to win it again would be just as special.“

However, the last time he raced in Monte Carlo, a frustrating steering issue meant he only finished ninth and the Finn is desperate to avoid similar circumstances.

“We certainly won’t make the mistakes we made last time. There were a few things we didn’t do right over the weekend and we suffered because of that. Sometimes that’s the way it goes, but the important thing is not to make the same mistakes again.“