World champion targets Spanish podium return to preserve championship lead.

Just because he carries the number one on his car and heads to the Spanish Grand Prix leading the 2008 world championship standings, Kimi Raikkonen is taking nothing for granted.

The Finn has been around long enough to know that the start of the European leg is no time to be judging title prospects and, even though Ferrari appears to hold the upper hand after the three 'flyaway' races that opened the campaign, he is wary about predicting too much.

"The situation can change very quickly in Formula One," he insisted, "That's why it's very important to collect as many points as possible in every single race: There's still a long way to go until the title, and my approach will be the usual one - giving 100 per cent, just like the whole team."

Raikkonen arrives in Barcelona for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix knowing that, while he holds the points advantage for the first time at this point of the season, the Circuit de Catalunya has never been the kindest venue for him.

"I've raced many times in Barcelona, but this time it will be special," he admits, "I'll come to Spain as the leader of the classification where, usually, I was the chaser. If I can manage to keep all the others behind me in the race that would mean that I'll keep them also behind in the championship.

"I've won once at Barcelona, in 2005, but that's my best memory of this grand prix, as that was the only time I managed to get on the podium there. I can't wait to do it again, but the Circuit de Catalunya is one of those tracks where you have to find the exact set-up for every single detail to stay ahead of the rest. All the teams have tested many times here at this circuit, so it will be difficult to have an advantage."

Raikkonen's pre-race efforts were hampered by bad weather, but he remains confident that the Scuderia will have sufficient data to provide a competitive car for a race won last season by team-mate Felipe Massa.

"The team is in good shape," he confirmed, "My participation in last week's tests was quite limited, due to the rain, but that's not a problem. I think we'll have a good performance and we can be really competitive. At least, the components are all there.

"We've had our ups and downs over the first few races, but now I expect Ferrari to stay where we were in Bahrain and Malaysia. It's going to be very close though, All the teams have introduced updates ahead of the first European race, which makes it even more interesting. We have won the last two races and that might make our competitors even hungrier to win. It's almost as if the season starts now."