Mar.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso on Thursday said Kimi Raikkonen's winning pace in Australia a week ago is not a worry.

Both the Spaniard and Raikkonen's Lotus managed to finish ahead of Sebastian Vettel in Melbourne, after the Red Bulls dominated qualifying.

"The (race) pace of the Lotus was very good, but nothing we cannot do," Alonso is quoted by Spanish media reports including El Confidential newspaper.

"They (Lotus and Raikkonen) had a very clean race with no traffic, and I think this time (in Malaysia) we can be closer to them," added the 31-year-old, who counts Sepang among his very favourite layouts.

As for the pace of his 2012 championship rival Vettel, who qualified on pole in Melbourne but finished just third, Alonso said: "Their pace was very different from qualifying to the race.

"For them this will be a very important weekend to see what happens, but that's not our problem. We will just try to do our best and then see what the others have done."

According to reports by Finnish broadcaster MTV3, Lotus could even take a step forward in Malaysia, after a new passive double-DRS system was spotted on the black and red E21.

The broadcaster's Ossi Oikarinen noted: "A few teams tested it in the winter, but there is a question mark because it is quite a complicated system.

"It would be quite useful in Malaysia, China and Monza."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games