Ferrari lighten Raikkonen's load

Kimi Raikkonen is set to kick his title campaign into high gear this weekend in Spain armed with a lighter - and hopefully quicker - Ferrari F60.

The 2007 World Champion helped Ferrari avoid their worst-ever start to a Formula One season when he netted the team's first Championship points in Bahrain two weeks ago.

But, 28 points behind Championship leader Jenson Button and 47 adrift of Brawn GP in the Constructors' battle, the Finn concedes this year's titles are quickly slipping away from Ferrari.
"We have to be realistic because, as far as the Championships are concerned, the situation is difficult," said Raikkonen.

"We'll give it everything to catch up, to improve the car race after race, but we have to start winning and then we'll see what happens."

One of the steps Ferrari have taken to give their Finnish driver the best chance of glory is to give him a lighter chassis than what his team-mate Felipe Massa uses.

"The reason only Raikkonen will use it is that... his natural physique and height means he weighs more than Felipe Massa and therefore it is more of a challenge to accommodate the additional weight of the KERS system on his car," the team told their website.

Added to that the Scuderia will also be debuting a new aerodynamic package, which includes the controversial rear diffuser, at this weekend's Spanish GP.

"It is only a first attempt at designing a part that was not part of the initial design, but is now a required element following the new clarification of the rules," said the team.

"The engineers have had to redesign much of the electronics and hydraulics systems at the rear end of the car, in order to relocate components to make way for the new diffuser," the team said.
"This redesign has been a more complicated procedure than designing, producing and fitting the diffuser itself."