JULY 3, 2001

On-form Raikkonen looking to maintain Sauber progress

FLYING Finn Kimi Raikkonen has said that he is looking to maintain the progress of his Sauber team and help the Swiss marque retain their current status in the constructors' championship.

Raikkonen's team-mate Nick Heidfeld secured a sixth-placed finish in Magny-Cours to score one point and keep the team ahead of rivals Jordan and British American Racing in the battle of the midfield runners.

Now Raikkonen, who finished seventh in France, is hoping that Sauber will continue to surprise the bigger outfits and remain in fourth position in the standings.

Raikkonen said: "For sure, we have scored many points this year and I hope that I can score some more for the team. We are doing well but we always want to do better. It would be nice to get fourth at the end of the season.

"It was okay for me to get from 13th to seventh in Magny Cours. It was a good battle with Frentzen and I was quicker but could not get past him.

"The qualifying wasn't good for me, I didn't set the car up properly and that stopped me from getting any more places. It would have been nice for points for me but the team got them and that is good."