Raikkonen: 2018 US GP F1 victory came 'quite easily'

Kimi Raikkonen says his first Formula 1 race win in over five years at the 2018 United States Grand Prix “came quite easily”.

The Finn charged to victory during a thrilling race at the Circuit of the Americas to end a drought lasting 113 races since he won the 2013 Australian Grand Prix with Lotus.

Raikkonen’s first grand prix win in the V6 hybrid era is likely to be his last in F1, with the outgoing Ferrari driver re-joining midfield contenders Sauber on a two-year deal from 2019.

“Obviously it was a good weekend,” Raikkonen said when reflecting on his victory at Austin during the end-of-season prize giving ceremony in St Petersburg.

“I think overall we had pretty decent speed all the time, and it fell into the right place.

“We had a pretty good car basically all weekend, and in the race we did the right things in the right times, and it paid off.

“It was a bit close in the end, but that’s what usually happens. It came quite easily in many ways.”

Raikkonen’s win sparked an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the F1 community, with the 39-year-old admitting he was pleased to have proven any critics wrong.

Asked if he was surprised by the reaction, Raikkonen replied: “I’m a peace-maker!

“That’s nice, but maybe it’s the only time when people are happy there. It’s not often in the F1 paddock.

“Obviously I was happy for myself and the team. It was a while we had to wait. It was good.”