Raikkonen Predicts Competitive Weekend

Kimi Raikkonen is expecting to be competitive at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after topping the times in Friday's practice.

Raikkonen's lap of 1:44.701 in the second session was fastest at Spa-Francorchamps, back on the Formula One calendar after a one-year absence because of a tobacco advertising ban. The McLaren driver, last year's Championship runner-up to Michael Schumacher, has endured a poor season having retired from seven of the 13 Grands Prix.

Raikkonen was cautious but confident that he will be strong this weekend.

"I feel that it has gone well today, I wasn't completely happy with the car this morning, but the team worked on it, and it was much improved this afternoon," said the Finn. "We have completed our tyre evaluation programme, and we are happy with how the tyres are working.

"However, it is always very difficult to judge how things will go for the rest of the weekend as a lot will depend on the weather, but we feel that the car will perform well on this track."

Raikkonen's teammate David Coulthard did not enjoy such a good day and finished down in sixth place.

"Not the perfect start for the weekend for me, but the session went without incident for the team, and we managed to achieve all our evaluations," said Coulthard. "It is great to be back in Spa, and I am looking forward to challenging on the track again tomorrow."