A new team a new season: it's exciting! - Raikkonen

A small piece of history was made today, as Kimi Raikkonen faced the media as a Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver for the first time at an actual Grand Prix weekend. The Finn will make his Ferrari debut this weekend during the 2007 Australian Grand Prix.

And the first historic question? It was the difficult one based on suggestions that Felipe Massa has the upper hand at the moment. "We will have to wait and see what happens in the races as, in testing, it is difficult to know exactly what is going on," he replied diplomatically. "We know where we are compared to the other teams and I am pretty happy with how things have gone. If we have a good car then there will be a race between us as team-mates. I think that is good. We have a good relationship."

The Finn seemed to agree that the F2007 was going to be a front runner this year. "I am happy with the way testing went and hopefully we can be up there fighting for the wins at all the races," he claimed. "Anyway, we must wait and see, but a new team, a new season, it's exciting, even if every year is difficult no matter which team you drive for. But I think we have a good package that will allow us to fight for the championships."

After several years with his previous team, Raikkonen has had just a few short months to adapt to his new home in the pit lane. "The whole package is slightly different, but the driving style is not an issue that has affected me and I have not had to change my style," he said when asked about the essential differences between the cars. "More important has been understanding how to work with the people here as the systems are different and it takes a while to work out what you want. I think I am working well with the team now but of course with more time it will get even better. I also took a little time to get used to the tyres and this was not helped by the weather which was bad at tests, until we got to Bahrain. Now, I am comfortable with them."

And finally, how did he feel having Michael Schumacher still involved with the team, or as one journalist put it, "looking over your shoulder?" "I've only met him a few times and I do my own thing. But he was with the team for a long time and his experience can be useful to us, but not necessarily with me personally."