F1 champ doubts he can defend title

ESPOO, Finland, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Reigning Formula One points champion Kimi Raikkonen said he doesn't think he will be able to defend his 2007 title.

With four races remaining in the 2008 F1 season, the Ferrari driver trails McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by 21 points.

The deficit could increase to 27 points if Hamilton is successful in his appeal Monday of a demotion to third place after an apparent first place finish and a 25-point penalty for cutting a chicane (s-curve) and gaining an advantage on Raikkonen, who was leading, with three laps to go at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium on Sept. 12.

"This sport can be really hard to digest," Raikkonen said on his Web site. "You push and you give it your all but nothing seems to go your way. It's been a long time now without a win for me and the list of races without points is growing."

Raikkonen hasn't won since April 27 at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.