Flu-Hit Raikkonen Chasing Victory in Austria

Formula One Championship leader Kimi Raikkonen says he still rates his chances of victory at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the A1-Ring despite having come down with a flu.

Raikkonen is just four points ahead of World Champion Michael Schumacher, who took victory with Ferrari's new car, the F2003-GA, in Spain 11 days ago, while the Finn crashed out at the start of the race.

"It's difficult to say how good the others will be here, but I think we have a good chance of winning this race," said Raikkonen. "The last race was a disaster in terms of points, but anyone can have a crash. I don't get that upset about it."

Raikkonen is focused on stopping Ferrari driver Schumacher from landing a record sixth World Championship this year, but the young Finn accepts his own chance of glory will come if he does fail to hold onto his lead.

"Of course we will try to win the Championship but it will be difficult," added Raikkonen. "I want to win races and the title, but if it doesn't happen this year it's not the end of the world. Just so long as it does happen at some stage in my career."

The 23-year-old Finn still fancies his chances against the might of Ferrari's new car, which he says was not as fast as many feared it would be in Spain.

"I thought it would be quicker than it was," said Raikkonen. "It's hard to say just how quick they can make it go, but there were a lot of big stories about how fast it would be. It wasn't that much quicker than the others."

McLaren are expected to test their new car, the MP4-18, at the Paul Ricard circuit in France next week before putting it into action against Ferrari's F2003-GA. But Raikkonen believes the team were right to start this season with last year's car.

"To go with the old car was a good choice - we're leading the Championship," said Raikkonen. "We just need to make sure our new car has the pace and is reliable enough before we race it. We are 100 per cent confident it will be much quicker."