Raikkonen still wary of McLaren threat

Kimi Raikkonen isn`t ready to rule out McLaren as Ferrari`s main rival this season, despite BMW being his closest challenger in the last two races.

BMW have finished on the podium at every race this season and had both cars ahead of the two McLarens at Bahrain two weeks ago.

But the reigning champion thinks their positions could easily be reversed during the next three races at very different circuits.

“Barcelona is one of the most difficult circuits for cars, then after here it`s Turkey and the Monaco, and it can be a different story again,” he said.

“Hopefully we can keep the upper hand we`ve had in the last two races, and BMW were stronger than McLaren at the previous race, so you never know. But we`ll have to see what they`ve done here in testing.”

Raikkonen also believes Lewis Hamilton`s poor form at the last two races is a result of the McLaren slipping back into the clutches of BMW.

“If you don`t have as a good a package as you had last year, then it is harder not to make a mistake,” he added. “This is what happens.”

He is also looking out for Renault to be able to join the battle at the front of the grid after Fernando Alonso set the quickest time of Wednesday`s test at Barcelona.

“I don`t have any idea what the other teams did on the other days (this week), but I heard that Renault have made a step,” he said. “You presume that if they make a step it is a step forwards.”

Raikkonen also sampled Ferrari`s new nose cone for the first time at Barcelona yesterday, but the rain that affected the test prevented him from evaluating it fully.

“I only did one run with it and that was in the rain. We tried some little things but in these conditions you don`t really feel exactly the best picture.

“But they tested it during the week and it seems to be positive. It is a little step forward so that is good.”

18.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ McLaren, Raikkonen    ▪ www.autosport.com