Kimi Raikkonen wrapped up his preparations for the Chinese Grand Prix by posting the fastest time in final practice in Shanghai on Saturday, handing McLaren a boost in their push for the constructors’ title.
The Finn powered round the Shanghai International Circuit in 1:33,212, pipping teammate Juan Pablo Montoya to put McLaren in the driving seat in the last race of the season.
World champion Fernando Alonso steered his Renault to third, with teammate Giancarlo Fisichella fourth.
Just two points separate McLaren and Renault in the constructors’ standings, and Raikkonen has made it clear his team badly wants the championship after being beaten to the drivers’ title by Alonso.
The rivalry between the pair has re-energised formula one this year after five seasons of domination by Michael Schumacher, and it continued in Saturday’s two practice sessions, setting up a thrilling finale on Sunday.
Scot David Coulthard in a Red Bull posted the fifth-fastest time ahead of Rubens Barrichello, racing for the last time in a Ferrari before switching to BAR-Honda next year.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher, the Brazilian’s teammate, was eighth.
Jenson Button showed the potential of BAR-Honda with an encouraging seventh, while the top 10 was rounded out by Antonio Pizzonia in a Williams and his teammate Mark Webber.
Raikkonen led a McLaren one-two in the morning’s first practice session, setting a time of 1:34,253 to beat Montoya by the narrowest of margins.
The Renault pair of Fisichella and Alonso were third and fourth respectively. — Sapa-AFP