Raikkonen expects BMW to win races

Kimi Raikkonen is expecting BMW Sauber to win races this year as he predicts a `long and tough` battle for the world championship.

The Ferrari driver moved to the head of the drivers` standings with second place in Bahrain last weekend.

And, although managing to overtake and beat pole position man Robert Kubica, he is mindful of the major threat BMW are now posing.

“The BMWs were very close,” Raikkonen told Ferrari`s official website. “I managed to pass Kubica, when he had some trouble: this was an important moment, because his race rhythm was very good.

“In the end I already said that in this season it will be very hard to gain every single place. It will be a very long and tough championship. I wouldn`t be surprised if BMW won some races this year.

“There will be Grands Prix where we will be stronger and others where they will have an advantage; the same is true for McLaren, who remain very competitive.”

Raikkonen admits he was disappointed to have been beaten by teammate Felipe Massa in Bahrain, but said he had little reason to be too unhappy after moving to the lead of the drivers` standings.

“I want to win races and fight for the title: coming in second left me a bit disappointed,” he said. “Sometimes certain weekends are just like that and the one in Bahrain was one of them.

“For one reason or the other, the Sakhir circuit does not seem to be very favourable to me. But there`s still some satisfaction at the end of this Grand Prix: I`m leading the drivers` championship. When we think about how many points we gained in Melbourne this is a great result.”

8.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ BMW, Raikkonen    ▪ www.autosport.com