Kimi Raikkonen is confident of gaining an advantage by starting Sunday's 🔯United States Grand Prix from the clean side of the grid despite struggling to P5 in Formula 1 qualifying at the Circuit of The Americas.

Raikkonen slipped back to fifth in the closing stages of Q3 after struggling with his final flying lap, finishing three places behind Ferrari teammate ꦅSebastian Vettel.

The Finn said he struggled to find enough space on-track during qualifying, p🥃reventing him from hooking up a perfect lღap as he would have liked.

"It was a bit 🥂tricky. I had some decent laps but I never really had good pꦦlaces," Raikkonen said.

"Some laps places were OK, others I struggled ☂to get them right, losing lap time. It was tricky to put one decent lap together.

"It was not too bad, but for sure we try to pull everything as it should beಌ, it would be a bit better. But it is what it is"

Raikkonen is happy to gain an advantage by starting on the clean side of the grid for the up𒉰hill run to Turn 1 at COTA, saying it traditionally proves crucial at lights out.

"I think to be honest, I think fifth place, in here, it mak🃏es quite a big difference what side you're on, at least usually," R👍aikkonen said.