Finland's Kimi Raikkonen made a triumphant start to his Ferrari
career with a pole-to-flag victory in the season-opening Australian
Grand Prix yesterday.
The 27-year-old, stepping into the seat vacated by the retired
Michael Schumacher at the Italian Formula One team, punched the air
with his fists as he crossed the line 7.2 seconds ahead of
McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso.
It was the 10th victory of Raikkonen's career and he made it
look as easy as a Sunday stroll in Albert Park as he became the
first driver to win on his Ferrari debut since Briton Nigel Mansell
in Brazil in 1989.
"We didn't need to really push as hard as we could have," he
told reporters. "My biggest problem was the radio, it stopped
working just before the start."
McLaren's 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton completed a
stunning weekend for the youngest man on the grid by overtaking
Alonso at the start and leading his first grand prix for four laps
before finishing third.
He became the 55th driver to score points in his first Formula
One race and the first to step on to the podium on his debut since
Canada's 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve finished second in
Melbourne in 1996.
He was also Formula One's youngest ever podium finisher.
Hamilton ecstatic
"I was ecstatic. I still am," said the Briton, Formula One's
first black driver.
"To lead in my first grand prix was a fantastic feeling. It's
pretty tough when you have a two-times world champion behind
you."
Alonso, champion for the past two seasons with Renault, said he
was happy with his McLaren debut.
"Obviously it's always better to win but today it was not
possible," he said.
"I think we can be pleased as well. The Ferrari was a little bit
too quick for us this weekend."
Germany's Nick Heidfeld finished fourth for BMW Sauber, ahead of
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella for champions Renault and Brazilian
Felipe Massa in sixth place for Ferrari after an engine change
forced him to start at the back of the grid.
Nico Rosberg put Williams in the points with seventh place,
ahead of their engine suppliers Toyota whose fellow-German Ralf
Schumacher took the last point in eighth place.
Sunday's race was the first season-opener since 1991 without
Ralf's older brother Michael, the seven-times world champion, on
the starting grid but Raikkonen made sure that the new era opened
with a red Ferrari at the front once more.
The Finn lapped all but the top six drivers as he cruised to his
first win since 2005.
"It's a long time since I heard the Finnish anthem," he said.
"The Italian one I have heard quite often."
Team boss Jean Todt handed him a mobile as he stood on the
podium.
"I think it was Michael, but the line was pretty bad so I
couldn't hear," said Raikkonen with a hint of a smile.
(China Daily via Agencies March 19, 2007)