How did it feel coming back to Formula 1 after two years away? Did you find it easy getting into the groove with a new car, new tyres and the DRS?
Raikkonen: To be honest it didnt feel any different to when I last raced. There have been a few rule changes but the racing itself is very similar. The DRS is easier to use in the race than in practice or qualifying because there are only certain places you can activate it, whereas in the other sessions people will try to push the limits of how early they can use it which can easily lead to a mistake if you are too aggressive.
I wouldnt say the cars themselves have changed that much. Obviously they are different to when I was last racing in 2009, but every year the teams must design a new car so its like starting over again each season. The tyres seem fine so far as well, so overall its all been a fairly smooth.
You came on the radio asking the team about the blue flags; what happened there?
Raikkonen: Nothing at all really, I was just wondering what was going on as they kept showing me the flags but I knew the gap to the leader was nowhere near a whole lap! I assumed it was for the car behind that Id just overtaken but it seemed to go on for a while, so I was trying to find out why they were still waving at me!
Given your performance today and where Romain managed to qualify yesterday, how much potential do you feel the E20 has?
Raikkonen: Like I said throughout testing and yesterday as well, the car feels very good. Today I was mostly stuck in traffic so it didnt show so much, and who knows what might have happened if we had a better grid slot, but there is a lot of speed in the car. We just need to avoid putting ourselves in a position like we were in after qualifying yesterday.
With round 1 now done and dusted, what are your thoughts moving on to Malaysia?
Raikkonen: Im happy to get the first race out of the way. Well be trying to improve our performance in Malaysia for sure. We dont know how the car will behave there but its been good everywhere so far so hopefully itll be the same again. Itll be hot and humid which is a challenge but we have a good car, so as long as we dont make the same kind of mistakes again in qualifying I think we have a chance to fight for podiums. Well have to wait and see.
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