Kimi Raikkonen says he and Ferrari need to be patient after a disappointing first half to their 2016 Formula One season, with the Finn still confident of race wins this year.
Tipped as Mercedes’s nearest rival on the eve of the current campaign, the Scuderia enter this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix having failed to taste victory and under pressure from Red Bull.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has been recently ramping up the pressure on Maranello to deliver, while team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said the squad “cannot fail” in Budapest.
“We can always improve, we know what our weaknesses are,” said Raikkonen, who was confirmed at Ferrari for 2017 two weeks ago. “We’re working on them but things don’t happen overnight and take time to fix.
“We need some patience but, for sure, in terms of package, what we have now is better than what we had at the start of the year but the others have also made good steps forward.
“There are many races to go, hopefully we can turn things around and we’ll fight until the end, until it’s possible. Hopefully we’ll get some good points and podiums and we’ll keep fighting.”
Raikkonen is currently the highest-placed non-Mercedes driver in the championship, a fact that brings little comfort to the 2007 world champion.
“I’m third but that’s not what we’re here for. We’re here to win races and fight for the championship but, like I said, it’s still far from over but we have to be realistic – we need to start winning races and beat both Mercedes.
“Luckily they keep fighting each other and we gain some points and I’m sure there will be races where we’ll be very strong and beat them.
“I’m sure we’re all disappointed; we’re all suffering when we’re not winning but it doesn't help.”
Romain Grosjean column: Safety car starts and summer breaks
Chris Medland's 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix preview
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