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Raikkonen believes Melbourne will show where Alfa really are

Raikkonen believes Melbourne will show where Alfa really are

03-03-2019 09:15
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Bobby Vincent

Kimi Raikkonen admitted Alfa Romeo Racing cannot take too much away from pre-season testing in Barcelona, with the Finn believing Melbourne will show his new team where they really stand in terms of performance.

Raikkonen recorded 132 laps on the final day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with his new team.

Alfa Romeo experimented with several different set-ups and tyre compounds over the testing period and the 39-year-old has claimed him and his team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi know what the car's strenghts are.

"Today was our last day of testing. We got to know the car over the past two weeks and know where our strengths lie," Raikkonen explained.

The team formerly known as Sauber have produced an impressive package for 2019, it seems, and many have tipped them to compete with the likes of Renault and Haas for the "best of the rest" spot this upcoming season. But Raikkonen is staying grounded about his expectations from his new team.

"We will see where we really are when we arrive in Melbourne," the former Ferrari man continued. "I look forward to our first race together there."

Alfa Romeo are preparing for a season of all-changes, with a brand new name as well as two brand new drivers competing for them in Raikkonen and former Ferrari test driver Giovinazzi.