A frustrated Kimi Raikkonen has called on Ferrari chiefs to boot out the gremlins if he is to have any hope of winning the Formula One world title this year.

Raikkonen's bid for a third successive victory ended with his car sustaining a hydraulics problem in yesterday's rain-hit European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in Germany.

The Finn has now failed to finish in two of this year's 10 races, in comparison to rivals McLaren who have had both cars complete every grand prix.

The one positive for Raikkonen is for the first time this season, a McLaren failed to finish in the points yesterday, and crucially for the 27-year-old it was leader Lewis Hamilton.

It means the gap between Hamilton and Raikkonen remains 18 points, but now with just seven races remaining.

Raikkonen knows, though, he cannot afford further problems, and is calling on Ferrari to crack their reliability issues.

"I am very disappointed," said Raikkonen, who had started on pole, and who was running third when he retired on lap 35.

"I was in a good position immediately behind Felipe (Massa) and (Fernando) Alonso, and the car was very quick. I was convinced I could win.

"But gradually the hydraulic system began to malfunction, I began to lose time, and then I was forced to stop.

"But this knock back does not mean I feel like giving up the fight, even if there is now one less race in which to compete.

"The gap to the leader remains the same and anything can happen in the seven remaining races.

"We have a very competitive car, but clearly we have to improve on the reliability front."

Ferrari boss Jean Todt has promised the team will do all they can to aid Raikkonen's cause, and that of team-mate Massa, who lost a wheel-to-wheel duel with Alonso to finish second.

"The result should not be described as anything other than disappointing," added Todt.

"We had a very competitive car and we were starting from first and third places, but we are going home with just eight points.

"Felipe missed out on a win he richly deserved, losing out in the very last moments when the track was wet again.

"Unfortunately, he had vibrations with his rain tyres which made the car difficult to drive.

"As for Kimi, we are very disappointed for him, and now we have to find out the cause. Again it shows that you do not go far without reliability.

"But there is still a long way to go in this season and anything could yet happen in the seven remaining races."

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