Raikkonen wants homage in Catalunya

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen is determined to maintain his perfect podium record this season by grabbing a top-three place at the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time this weekend.

The 23-year-old Finn is certain to still be leading the championship whatever happens at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday, given his 13-point lead over McLaren team-mate David Coulthard.

Raikkonen, who has finished on the podium in all four races so far, including a maiden win in Malaysia, wants to extend that start and boost his bid to become the youngest world champion in history.

“Although my record there is not my best, I am looking to improve on it this year,” said Raikkonen, who was eighth in Barcelona for Sauber in 2001 but failed to finish in his first outing with McLaren-Mercedes at the track last year.

“I am looking forward to the Spanish Grand Prix, it is a circuit I enjoy driving on, and it is a good feeling to be entering the fifth race of the season leading the championship.”

McLaren have an enviable record on the track, with Raikkonen’s predecessor and countryman Mika Hakkinen claiming a hat-trick of victories between 1998 and 2000.

Coulthard finished second each time and the Scot has been fifth and third for the past two years.

He was also sixth in 1997, having failed to finish on his first three attempts.

But Raikkonen can expect to see his title lead come under a fierce challenge in the next few races from Michael Schumacher, who will get his hands on Ferrari’s new car for the first time this weekend.

The five-time champion, who scored his first win of the season at the last race at Imola, is confident he can make a winning start in the F2003-GA then go on a run of successes as he did with last year’s car.

“It will be a good challenge for the F2003-GA, which is a fantastic car,” said Schumacher, who is 14 points adrift of Raikkonen.

“My aim is to match the performance of the F2002 the first time out: that is a victory.

“At Imola I had the impression that we could repeat last year’s trend: that our form could take off with the start of the European races.”

Schumacher also has an incredible record in Spain, finishing in the points on all 12 previous visits, triumphing four times, including for the past two years.