Motor racing-Podium will ease the pressure, says Raikkonen

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO, May 24 (Reuters) - Formula One champions Ferrari are still some way off winning races again but their first podium finish of the season should ease the pressure, Kimi Raikkonen said on Sunday.

"We need to be happy after a very difficult start to the season," the 2007 world champion said after finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix behind the Brawns of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa was fourth.

"The people have been working very hard at the factory and here at the circuit, so we improved the car very quickly once we realised we can do something different with the rules," said Raikkonen.

Ferrari failed to score a point in the first three races after having a different interpretation of the rules to the Brawn team run by their former technical director Ross Brawn.

After failing to get the controversial Brawn rear diffuser outlawed, Ferrari and others have had to redesign their cars accordingly.

"I think, overall, we're not fast enough really yet to fight for first place but we need to be happy; we've still got good results for the team compared to what we had in previous races this year," said Raikkonen.

"It's disappointing to finish third but good for the team and for sure we're happier now as a team and we're scoring points. We'll probably get a little more peace now from everyone as a team.

"We're coming back but it will take a while before we're exactly where we want to be but we definitely made big steps in recent months."