Kimi Räikkönen has accepted that he needs to display an improved performance across one-lap at the Sochi Autodrom, in order to exploit the full potential of the Ferrari SF70-H.
Team-mate Sebastian Vettel leads the standings courtesy of two wins and a second-place so far this year, achieved through two front-row grid spots (in Australia and China) and a third-placed start (in Bahrain).
Räikkönen, however, qualified fourth in Australia and China, slowest of the Mercedes/Ferrari quartet, and in Bahrain was shuffled down to fifth spot by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.
The Finn has conceded that he needs to lock down a higher starting spot in order to enhance his prospects for achieving a strong race result, having taken 34 points to Vettel’s 68 so far this year.
“I’m more happy now than I probably was at the first race,” Räikkönen said of his feeling with the SF70-H.
“But in the last race it was pretty good, I was happy with it, but qualifying not so, in the race itself was good.
“We had an average Saturday, the starting place was not very good, [then I had a] pretty bad first lap, I couldn’t really get past Felipe [Massa] at the beginning.
"The feeling has been pretty good, but I need to qualify in a better position to be able to use its speed.”
Championship leader Vettel stressed that Ferrari has to “focus on every single step,” as it bids to end Mercedes’ perfect record at the Sochi Autodrom this weekend.
“Of course we had an excellent start to the season, but Mercedes are still very strong,” he said.
“It should be an interesting race; I like the track and it’s not an easy one. It’s difficult to have everything in one lap and there’s always a couple of things to look out for.
“Tomorrow will be an important day. We are happy with where we are and about the races we’ve had so far, but especially this year we have to focus on every single step.”
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