04/06/2014
NEWS STORY
As he looks forward to his 200th Grand prix, Kimi Raikkonen insists he is as competitive as ever.
Putting the misery of Monaco behind him, the Finn, who looked likely to score his first podium result of the season in the Pricipality, is now looking ahead to Montreal where he will equal the legendary Alain Prost as the fourteenth most experienced F1 driver of all time.
"I've been told this weekend's Canadian GP will be my 200th Grand Prix, which shows how time flies", the Finn told his team's website. "I'll still be racing flat out and the numbers don't really change anything, but I'm sure it's a milestone I will look back on with pride in years to come.
"Apart from this being my 200th race, I'm not here just to make up the numbers," he continued, "and getting a good result in Montreal would give us a better reason to celebrate.
"The Canadian race is one of the most challenging of the season and a track where you have to get everything just right in terms of the car set-up. We have some upgrades for this weekend, but of course the other teams have not been standing still, so the order should not have changed much. Hopefully we can close the gap a bit and get the best result of the season so far for my 200th race, which would be great for the whole team."
The Finn, who made his debut with Sauber back in 2001 - finishing 6th in his maiden Grand Prix - is also the oldest driver on the 2014 grid, three months and two days older than the sport's other 'elder statesman, Jenson Button.
Chris Balfe