Why I love Raikkonen and hate Hamilton.
Adapted from STRaikkonen is F1's fastest this season PARIS: Who is the fastest driver in Formula One this season?
Surprisingly, it is neither McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who has a seven-point lead in the drivers' standings with three races remaining, nor second-placed Felipe Massa of Ferrari, who has 77 points.
The plaudits go to Kimi Raikkonen, despite the Finn failing to win a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, all the way back in April.
The world champion crashed out in Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix, but not before setting his 10th fastest lap in 15 grands prix this year.
That saw the 28-year-old Ferrari ace equal both his own record with McLaren in 2005 and Michael Schumacher's 2004 tally with Ferrari.
All he needs is one more fastest lap before season's end to make the achievement his own, reported Crashnet.
Along with Singapore, Raikkonen's fastest laps this year have come in Spain, Turkey, Monaco, Canada, France, Britain, Hungary, Belgium and Italy.
The other five have been shared among Heikki Kovalainen (two), Nick Heidfeld (two) and Massa (one).
Hamilton, meanwhile, has been criticised by the German press after claiming: 'I know that I am as good as Ayrton Senna was.'
Broadcaster RTL called the 23-year-old Briton a 'megalomaniac' for comparing himself with the legendary late triple world champion, having not won a single world title yet.
That could change this season, with McLaren insisting they will not squander the chance of winning the drivers' title.
Last year, Hamilton had a 17-point advantage with two races to go - but he slid into the pit lane gravel in Shanghai, before further mistakes in Brazil saw Raikkonen grab the title by a single point.
'We wanted to win and pushed too hard when we didn't need to,' team boss Martin Whitmarsh said. 'Championships aren't won like that.' The next race is in Japan next week.
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6:49 pm
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