Kovalainen not worried by rivals' pace

The Finn, currently joint third in the championship with teammate Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica, said he has full confidence in McLaren's ability to match Ferrari for pace over the course of the season.

"We didn't get the best out of our package in Malaysia and Bahrain, and other teams didn't get the best out of theirs in Australia," he said. "I don't see a reason to get concerned.

"I still feel we have a strong package and I think I am improving all the time so I'm not concerned and I need to keep focused like before and take as many points as possible at this stage in the season.

"I have all the confidence that the team has the ability to do it and the car has the ability to do it but it's impossible to predict.

"You've got to stay positive, forget the past, look forward and we are flat out improving our package to make sure we get back on the top. That's where we want to be eventually."

The 26-year-old also reckons that BMW will be a serious contender for the rest of the season, adding that he expected the fight at the top to regularly be between three teams now.

"BMW are leading [the constructors' table] at the moment and they are as difficult to beat as anyone else," he said. They've had a very strong start to the season.

"Already in the winter, you can't discount anyone - it's going to be very close all the time and if you don't get everything out of your package, it's very easy to drop out of the top three/top five.

"It's very strong and absolutely BMW can be strong all the way through the year. I don't see any reason why not."