Kimi Raikkonen says he never felt threatened by compatriot Valtteri Bottas as the leading pack was just “cruising around” at Formula 1's Monaco Grand Prix.
Raikkonen maintained fourth position throughout the race but Mercedes rival Bottas remained within a couple of seconds for much of the second stint, having initially dropped back.
Raikkonen, though, was unflustered by Bottas’ presence and their positions were ultimately preserved through to the chequered flag.
“Qualifying dictates most of the things, and honestly not an awful lot happened,” he said.
“The start is kind another deciding part and then everybody was just driving behind each other.
“The guy that is immediately in front of you dictates the speed and it needs to be a massive mistake or issue to get past him.
“That’s pretty much what happened – we ended up driving 78 laps just around, finish the race.
“[Bottas] tried a few times to get close, but, like I said, we were all –or at least for me – cruising around and if I couldn’t get past [Lewis] Hamilton, then he wasn’t going to pass me.
“I could speed up when I needed and I don’t think whatever tyres we or them might have been in, it wouldn’t make a difference.
“It wasn’t like we were dead slow, we were slow because we chose to be and there was no chance to pass the guy in front. We could get the speed up when we needed.”
Raikkonen holds fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship, having amassed 60 points.
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