Raikkonen deserved to win, say Ferrari

By Alan Baldwin

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - Ferrari commiserated with their Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen on Sunday after a Belgian Grand Prix that left his title hopes looking slimmer than ever.

The Finn spun and crashed out on the penultimate lap while fighting McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton for the lead on a wet track.

Hamilton was later punished by stewards, who stripped him of victory for cutting the chicane and gaining an advantage.

The demotion to third place, with Ferrari's Felipe Massa taking the win, left Hamilton on 76 points with the Brazilian on 74. Raikkonen, without a win since April, slipped to fourth overall on 57.

"We are very disappointed for Kimi, who had driven a great race and deserved the win, especially at this rather difficult time," said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

The Finn had won the previous three Belgian Grands Prix at his favourite circuit and had led from the second lap until rain fell in the closing minutes.

"I came here to win and I came close," he said. "In the final laps the track conditions were very critical and unfortunately I ran wide.

"The arrival of the rain definitely didn't help. In these conditions, if you are in front you have to be more cautious as you don't know how much grip you'll find in each braking area.