Raikkonen impresses down under

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Finn played down his favourite's tag on Wednesday but his time of one minute 26.461 seconds was nearly half a second quicker than the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton and served early notice he will be the man to beat at Albert Park this weekend.

Hamilton had led for a healthy portion of the 90-minute session as the cars took to the track for the first time in the 2008 season, setting a time of 1min 27.085secs.

But Raikkonen bettered his title rival's time with just over two minutes remaining before taking a further four tenths of a second off his mark.

Hamilton went under 1min 27secs at the end to trail Raikkonen by 0.487secs with a time of 1min 26.948secs, while Felipe Massa claimed third in the sister Ferrari, 10 thousandths of a second behind the Brit.

Heikki Kovalainen was fourth after posting a time of 1:27.114 to confirm the title is likely to be, as expected, a straight fight between the McLarens and Ferraris, while Mark Webber finished an encouraging fifth for Red Bull, edging out Fernando Alonso's Renault but still nearly two seconds off the pace.

Jenson Button ended a respectable 11th in his Honda after recording a best lap of 1:29.124, while David Coulthard came home in 13th.

Unsurprisingly after Super Aguri's winter woes, Anthony Davidson finished well down the field and over five seconds behind Raikkonen after completing only seven laps.

Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber came to a stop near Turn 10 as he also only completed seven laps, while Nelson Piquet Jnr briefly brought out the red flag when he spun his Renault, ending the Brazilian's session prematurely.