Qualifying cost me Hungary win - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen blamed a mistake in qualifying for costing him victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix rather than not being allowed to pass Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel started from pole position in an all-Ferrari front row at the Hungaroring, with Raikkonen pointing to an error at the chicane as ending his hopes of securing pole. In the race the Finn was never more than 3.4s adrift of his teammate and closed in as Vettel suffered from a steering problem, but was unable to overtake and had to defend from Lewis Hamilton at one stage as Vettel's slow pace allowed Mercedes to close in.

Despite missing out on victory, Raikkonen says he was clear to attack Vettel if he wanted – despite team radio messages suggesting he wanted to be allowed through due to his better pace – but pointed to qualifying as his big missed opportunity.

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"Obviously, we know as teammates what we have to do," Raikkonen said. "I had a pretty good run into the first corner on the first lap but being teammates... we can fight but we probably leave a bit more space and not going to force the issue as maybe against somebody else.

"At the end it was obviously for a one-two and I can only look what I did [in qualifying] and complain to myself I was not in a very good chance to win the race. But nevertheless my car was good and, as I said, we had a plan as a team and it was a fair game.

"Seb was first [on Saturday] and he got away first and obviously the aim was whichever way we finish we're going to finish one-two. That's the aim."

Although philosophical after the race, Raikkonen admitted he was put in an "awkward place" with Hamilton being allowed to close in due to the pace at the front.

"The whole race, basically, I was following Sebastian and hoping that he goes as fast as he can but not saving tires because then there was a Mercedes catching me. Once you are in the middle it's a bit of an awkward place, because if you get a bad exit in the last corner or something the guy behind you with the DRS might get you with a good run. But actually maybe [that only happened] once when I got a little bit sideways.

"I must say the car was great. I was just, basically, following my own rear wing – same looking at least. Obviously I want to win but great for the team."