Raikkonen: 'Handling is ok, but we're just not fast enough'

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Ferrari's qualifying performance in Hockenheim has underlined once again the Scuderia's lack of pace, and P5 was the best Kimi Raikkonen could achieve.

The Finn ended the session one nearly two tenths ahead of team mate Sebastian Vettel but had no real complaints to file over his Ferrari's performance with the exception that the SF16-H just isn't fast enough.

"The car was behaving pretty okay, I didn’t have any big issues," explained Raikkonen.

"On the last set of tyres I struggled a bit and I didn’t have the same good feeling I had with the previous one.

"We’re just not fast overall, we need to put more downforce in the car to go faster, but apart from that the handling was OK.

"It’s disappointing to be where we are, but this is how it is today. We’ll keep working and improving – that’s about it."

With Ferrari trailing Red Bull on the German grid, another tight battle could ensue between the red camp and its main rival.

"You never know how things are going to play out in the race. We try to make a good start and go from there. We just do our own thing and hopefully it play out well and we can improve the position."

Different tyre strategies should prevail among the teams at the head of the grid, but Raikkonen believes it execution will be just as important as choice.

"I don’t know what tyres the others have for the race, I don’t know exactly what we’re going to do, we’ll go through that later on and tomorrow.

"Hopefully whatever we’ll do will be correct and we play it the right way. It won’t be easy to make up places but I fully believe we know what we’re doing and I think if the speed will be there tomorrow to challenge. So we’ll see where we end up."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.