Raikkonen taking nothing for granted

The Finn currently has 19 points with a win and a second place from the last two races, but is conscious that fortunes can turn around quickly having retired from the Barcelona event a year ago with an electrical failure.

"It is nice but the season is only a few races old," the world champion said in the Thursday press conference. "There is a long way to go, it doesn't matter if you are leading now if you cannot keep it up. So far it has been okay.

"For sure the start of the season could have been better but we are leading the points so we have to be happy.

"Last year we didn't finish, and only did nine laps in the race," he added. "I cannot remember all the things that happened here, not usually good results. It can turn around, this year we can be strong and lead the race."

Raikkonen's teammate Felipe Massa expressed himself happy with the latest developments to the F2008 during testing at Barcelona last week, including a radical air vent on the car's nose, which is set to receive its race debut in Spain.

But Raikkonen remains circumspect, having failed get any proper dry running with the car.

"I don't have a clear picture about it because I only did four or five laps in the dry and it was a bit damp, I think the team are happy how we improved the car," he said. "We brought some new parts so it should be better... for sure the car should be better than at previous races.

"I have been here in the dry conditions and every time you improve the car it should make it better. We, for sure, have some work to do but we can be faster."

Raikkonen's closest challenger in the driver's championship after three races is BMW's Nick Heidfeld, three points behind.

Asked whether the Munich manufacturer has overtaken McLaren to become Ferrari's closest rivals, the Finn responded: "They were second best in the last race so for sure they are there, it all depends from race to race.

"If you look at the last races they are similar and we are ahead of them, I don't know how it is going to be here," he added. "It is going to be close between all three teams."