SUZUKA, Japan (AFP) - Outgoing Ferrari star Kimi Raikkonen warned Sunday it will be tough for the team to hang on to third place in the constructors championship despite picking up points in Japan.

The 29-year-old Finn, who is leaving the team at the end of the season so Fernando Alonso can take his position, said he did not feel confident Ferrari had the speed to hang on to third with McLaren pushing hard.

"Today the car wasn't bad, but it was not quick enough to fight for the podium," he said.

"This fourth place is useful in terms of keeping the team in third place in the constructors' championship, but it will be hard to hang onto it over the final two races. I will definitely do everything I can though."

Ferrari currently has 67 points to McLaren's 65 with two races remaining. Brawn, with 156 points, only need one more point to clinch the constructors' title ahead of second placed Red Bull.

Raikkonen, who has yet to find a team for 2010, said he was unable to make up places at the start of the race, especially the crucial first corner, but he soon settled down.

"In the first stint, when I was on hard tyres, the situation was a bit difficult, but then, once on the softs, things improved considerably," he said.

"I managed to close on (Nick) Heidfeld and pass him at the pit stop, even though, coming away from my stop, I found myself in traffic behind (Jenson) Button.

"Then there was not much to fight for to the end of the race."

His Ferrari team-mate, veteran Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, finished out of the points again, in 12th, as his bad luck and lack of success after joining from Force India continued.

"I had a better feel for the car this weekend and I think the effect from that could be seen, although maybe not in terms of the results," said Fisichella.

"Now I am looking forward to Brazil in a more confident mood. It will be important to get a slightly better start position to try and finally make it into the points."

The next race is in Brazil on October 18.