Raikkonen eager to exploit Ferrari advantage in heat

Kimi Raikkonen says he’s confident Ferrari can produce an edge over its Formula 1 rivals in the hot conditions forecast for the British Grand Prix this weekend at Silverstone.

Following a strong performance from Ferrari when the temperatures rose last Sunday at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the Finnish driver finishing second and teammate Sebastian Vettel in third, the Scuderia squad produced impressive pace on Friday practice at Silverstone – a circuit usually dominated by Mercedes.

Vettel topped a Friday practice for the first time in 2018, while Raikkonen ended FP2 in fourth just behind both Mercedes drivers as the top four were split by less than half a second. Merceedes remain undefeated in both qualifying and F1 races since 2012 at the British circuit.

With hotter track and air temperatures expected to continue for this weekend at Silverstone, Raikkonen hopes it can provide a performance edge for Ferrari.

“If you look at the last race, where we came second and third and it was hot,” Raikkonen said. “It’s a different place and slightly different tyres with less rubber on it, so we’ll see on Sunday.

“But so far everything is okay and I prefer it’s warm and nice than cold and rainy.

“I think it was a normal Friday for us and for sure we have things to improve, but there wasn’t any reason for this not to be the same as any other Friday.”

Raikkonen, whose position has come under pressure at Ferrari in recent weeks with reports linking Charles Leclerc to a step up to the team, has recorded back-to-back podiums at the first two legs of Formula 1’s first-ever triple header which has seen him move up to third place in the F1 drivers’ world championship.