Highlights

Hamilton predicts McLaren-Ferrari title battle

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-03-01 10:25

Formula One rookie Lewis Hamilton expects his McLaren team and Ferrari to be the main title contenders this season.

"At some tests we are top, and here Ferrari has been very strong," the 22-year-old Briton told the Autosport Web site (www.autosport.com) on the second day of the final pre-season test in Bahrain on Wednesday.

"I think for sure they have a different programme to us, we do not know what fuel (load) they are running, you don't know what fuel we are running, so it's difficult to say who is quickest.

"But I think Ferrari and McLaren are the two main competitors for the title."

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has been quickest on both days so far, with team mate Kimi Raikkonen next on the timesheets on Tuesday.

However, Hamilton split the two Ferraris on Wednesday with Renault's Italian Giancarlo Fisichella fourth. Massa lapped in 1:30.640, Hamilton 1:31.178.

Finland's Heikki Kovalainen returned to the track in the afternoon after the team worked overnight to repair his car following a big crash at the desert circuit on Tuesday.

He set the sixth best time but completed only 30 laps.

"It was important to run again today and I was focused on getting the jobs done that we needed to, to minimise the amount of lost time," said the Finnish rookie, who replaces double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Toyota's Ralf Schumacher was also back in action after hurting his back on the kerbs on Tuesday.