Third, Räikkönen returns to the championship

Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) is definitely an optimal form; after two podiums in the last two events, the Finn repeated with a third place at the Brazilian Grand Prix contested on the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. A reward that came at the end of a day without pitfalls.

Author of the third best performance in qualifying on Saturday, the one nicknamed "Iceman" kept a cool head during the first hectometers to preserve his rank. What followed turned out to be more complicated, with the car's behavior hardly to the taste of its driver. “I had slight balance issues throughout my first stint. Fortunately everything improved after my passage through the pit lane. There car evolved optimally. »

During the second half of the effort, Kimi Räikkönen resisted the return of an impatient Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) to narrowly preserve the last step of the podium. “I could actually catch the riders in front of me, (Sebastian) Hag and (Valtteri) Bottas. But it was impossible for me to overtake them, because on this track, if you ride at the same pace as your rivals, you won't find an opportunity. »

The 2007 world champion has never been worried by his British rival. “Lewis got closer, but I was also behind Bottas, I wasn't nervous, especially since I managed to come out of the last corner well. »

In the Drivers' Championship, Kimi Räikkönen is seven points behind Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull, 6th). 4th position now seems within reach before the final meeting of the year in Abu Dhabi.