Hamilton predicts McLaren-Ferrari title battle

[davewilson]

Bahrain, UAE - Formula 1 rookie Lewis Hamilton is expecting his McLaren team and Ferrari to be the main title contenders in the 2007 season.

"At some tests we are top and here in Bahrain Ferrari has been very strong," the 22-year-old Briton said on the second day of the final pre-season test on Wednesday.

"I think Ferrari has a programme that is different to ours. We don't know what fuel (load) they are running, you don't know what fuel we are running, so it's difficult to say who is quicker.

"But I think Ferrari and McLaren are the two main competitors for the title
'I think Ferrari has a programme that is different to ours'

Ferrari's Felipe Massa was quickest on both days with team mate Kimi Raikkonen next on the time sheets 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 on the desert circuit on Tuesday.

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

"It was important to run again and I was focused on getting the jobs done, to minimise the amount of lost time," said the Finnish rookie who has replaced double World champion Fernando Alonso. - Reuters

The stig