New Sepang challenge for winning Ferrari

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

MELBOURNE (AFP) — Australian Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen says the steamy weather and long stretches of Malaysia's Sepang circuit will test Ferrari's ability to maintain their early-season Formula One dominance.

The Flying Finn, in his first race for Ferrari as Michael Schumacher's replacement, dictated Sunday's season-opening 58-lap Melbourne race off the pole to comfortably hold off McLaren pair, world champion Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

The F1 circus heads to Kuala Lumpur for the second race on the 17-race schedule on April 8, with Ferrari the team to beat after Raikkonen's commanding victory in Australia.

It was Raikkonen's first victory in Melbourne after three podium finishes with his former McLaren team, but his Ferrari car was clearly...