Kimi Räikkönen considers himself lucky to finish on the podium

In view of the start of the race Kimi Räikkönen, we gave the Finn little chance of Team Ferrari to get on the podium in Baku, he who had also almost hit the wall on the lap to reach the starting grid.

Involved in a clash with Esteban Ocon (Force India) which will not result in any sanctions as decided by the stewards after the race, the 2007 world champion was forced to return to the pits to change his damaged front wing.

"Obviously I was inside and I think he probably didn't see me, underlines Räikkönen. It's sometimes hard to see. So, obviously, it turned and there I was. It wasn't the ideal start for me, but I didn't struggle after that, so I was lucky in a sense. »

Also author of contact with the wall in the last part of the straight after the restart, it was then the events of the race which would benefit "Iceman", with the collision of the two Red Bull, then his teammate's mistake Sebastian Vettel while trying to overcome Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), before the latter punctured.

“I tried to come back and at times I felt good but I fought a bit with the tires to keep them warm. I just tried to play for the long term and keep my place, waiting for problems. It paid off, but it wasn't easy.

I was just trying to go as fast as I could. The Red Bulls, looking at what they had done earlier in the race, it was almost certain that something would happen.

It's definitely a better day than yesterday but it's still... second place is not what you want but looking at where we were, you take it and we move forward from there. We know we have the speed. We just have to put things together, and I'm sure it will come. »

Discover the full report and analysis of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Baku, in AUTO issue 2163hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Thursday on newsstands.