Raikkonen: Alfa Romeo has made a big step from 2018

Kimi Raikkonen says that Alfa Romeo has made a big step from the Sauber that he tested at the end of the 2018 season. He also says that he has had a very positive start to the pre-season testing.

Raikkonen joins Alfa Romeo after five years with Ferrari and took part in the end of season test with Sauber at the end of the 2018 season. The Swiss team enjoyed a resurgence during 2018 after cancelling their proposed engine contract with Honda, deciding to remain with Ferrari. 

After his first drive of the newly revealed C38 Raikkonen said that serious progress had been made. The Finn had an early spin on track but team principal Frederic Vasseur said that the incident had not changed the teams original plan for running at the test.

Raikkonen stated: "It's very positive, straight out we are not doing a lot with the car, try to do things here or there. It is very happy actually. The guys did a good job over the winter and we have a package we can work with. And we can get better."

"Everything feels normal and when I tried at the end of last year, the Sauber, it is a big step for sure." Referring to his early spin he added: "It is always difficult to start in the cold conditions, but apart from that, everything ran smoothly. The car feels very, very positive. It is early days but so far it is good."

Raikkonen will be back in the car on Wednesday, as teammate Antonio Giovinazzi gets behind the wheel of the C38 on Tuesday and Thursday.