F1: Raikkonen happy but cautious

[Plex]

Kimi Raikkonen remains cautious about Ferrari's form ahead of the start of the season despite the Italian squad setting the pace during the final preseason test in Bahrain.

Ferrari are appear the team to beat, with just two weeks to go before the 2007 season kicks off in Australia, after a dominant display in Sakhir, where the majority of the teams completed their programmes before the first race.

But despite Ferrari's apparent form, Raikkonen wants to wait until the Melbourne race before getting his hopes up, although he admits he is feeling confident in the new F2007 car.

"I think the new car is very good," said Raikkonen at the end of testing in Bahrain. "It seems to look OK here at least. It is difficult to say what the others are doing so we have to wait and see in Melbourne.

"We are happy with the way the car works. Like I said before, hopefully it is quick enough. We are very positive. We just have to wait for the first race to see where we are, but so far we are happy with what has been happening. Let's wait and see.

"With the new package it was very positive. Generally we are happy with how things work, so that is the main thing," added Raikkonen, whose team tested a new aerodynamic package during the final days of the test.

Although he is keeping his feet on the ground, the Finn, in his first season with Ferrari, reiterated his intention of going for the title.

"For sure we'll try to win the championship, and win as many races as we can, going to the first race in the best way we can," he added.

Autosport