Raikkonen stays positive

CANADIAN GRAND PRIX

Raikkonen survived a puncture to finish sixth

Full race report

Photos from Montreal

Kimi Raikkonen remained optimistic despite surrendering his Formula One championship lead to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen, who started the race from the pitlane after qualifying last, was powerless to prevent Schumacher claiming his fourth victory of the season.

But he survived a puncture to claim sixth place, leaving him three points adrift of Schumacher in the drivers' standings at the season's halfway point.

"Today's result is no disaster at all and the gap to Michael is only three points with plenty more races to go," said Raikkonen.

The pace of the car was enough to win the race and we will therefore maintain our low-risk strategy for the introduction of the MP4-18

McLaren boss Ron Dennis

Schumi criticises points system

Raikkonen was forced to fight his way through the field with a full fuel load after the team opted for a one-stop strategy.

"After 10-15 laps, the team told me to save my brakes so I was not able to push and if you don't push you don't gain places," said Raikkonen.

"The whole team and myself look forward to fighting back at the next race."

CONSTRUCTORS' STANDINGS

Ferrari 85 points

McLaren 76

Williams 64

Renault 47

McLaren boss Ron Dennis watched as the normally reliable MP4-17 car suffered gear selection problems and forced Raikkonen's team-mate David Coulthard out of the race early.

Coulthard's retirement on lap 48 saw McLaren lose their position at the top of the constructors' standings to Ferrari.

But Dennis insisted that the new MP4-18, which will be tested at Jerez in Spain next week, will not be rushed into action, with the British Grand Prix the likely debut for the machine.

"The pace of the car was enough to win the race, and we will therefore maintain our low-risk strategy for the introduction of the MP4-18," said Dennis.