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Ferrari boss: 'We've thrown away a podium'

MONTREAL, Canada - Maurizio Arrivabene struggled to hide his anger toward Kimi Raikkonen after the 2015 Canadian F1 GP.

With Sebastian Vettel struggling due to reliability problems and a penalty, Ferrari's podium challenge was left to team mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is pushing to have his contract extended for 2016.

Boss Arrivabene already had the Finn on notice to up his game in qualifying, and Raikkonen was on course for a sure podium in Montreal when he spun.

ANGRY AT KIMI

Arrivabene said: "It may be a case of contributory negligence as he said the same thing happened last year."

Indeed, Raikkonen suggested the problem might be related to a post-pitstop engine setting issue, but he insisted "something odd" happened rather than a basic driving error.

When asked for his first thoughts after the race, Arrivabene could not contain his fury.

Asked by Sky Italia to give his thoughts, he said: "I'd better not say what I am thinking right know. We've thrown away a podium, that's the truth.

"There are no excuses - the podium may seem boring now but being off the podium is even worse."

NEW FERRARI AT MONTREAL

Ferrari is said to have added almost 22kW with its Canada engine upgrade. Arrivabene said: "No excuses, I expected us to be better with the update, but instead we are further back."

Worse still for Raikkonen, one of his chief rivals for the 2016 Ferrari seat - Williams' Valtteri Bottas - inherited the podium place.

The spin was also in the presence of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, who was asked about Raikkonen's future just before the start of the race.

Marchionne said: "First, we have the pleasure to see him race, and from there we will decide."

Asked if he thought he could even have challenged the two Mercedes with a normal grid position, German Vettel answered: "Unfortunately we will never know.

"But we didn't expect any miracles with this update.  In some races we are closer, but in others further away, as Mercedes are not stupid and they also make progress."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2015 F1 season – fresh reports every day.

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