Raikkonen: I don't care about 2017 critics

While Sebastian Vettel emerged as a genuine contender for the drivers' world championship, Raikkonen has failed to match his team-mate's exploits so far this season.

Raikkonen, who will stay on with Ferrari for 2018, is fifth in the drivers' championship 99 points adrift of second-placed Vettel and has scored just four podiums to his team-mate's 10.

"My driving has not been too bad in my view," said Raikkonen.

"What other people think, I don't care. I know what I can do. Some days are easier than others for many reasons.

"I wouldn't been here if I didn't feel I could drive well and fast and be where I feel I should be."

Four of Vettel's podiums have been victories but Raikkonen's best result is second, having followed Vettel to the flag in Monaco and Hungary.

He has scored 12 points fewer after 16 races than last year and Raikkonen conceded his results do not necessarily back up his view.

"If you look purely at the points, I'm far from where I want to be but that's a combination of many things," he said.

"When it comes down to the team and the people I work most closely with, I'm very happy.

"But as a team, we always want to improve and that's every day.

"It doesn't matter which team you go to, there isn't a single team that isn't interested in improving things.

"Even if you win and get a one-two, there are always things you can improve.

"It's a never-ending story, especially in this sport, but in many sports.

"It's been a far from ideal year but that's how it goes.

"We try to finish it well and then turn the page, start from zero and go from there."

Ferrari has lost a haul of points in the last three races, owing to a first lap crash in Singapore that wiped out both drivers and further unreliability in Malaysia and Japan.

Raikkonen refused to get downbeat about the situation, despite the results hampering his chances of overhauling Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who he trails by 44 points, in the drivers' standings.

"We try to do our best all the time," he said. "We have to understand and fix the issues but that is part of F1.

"It's not the first time unfortunately and it will not be the last time.

"That's part of F1. We're all together and try to do better always."