Raikkonen backs three teams in title race

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen believes three teams are in the race to claim Formula One's crown this season.

After two grands prix McLaren lead the constructors' championship with 24 points, followed by BMW with 19 and Ferrari 11.

Meanwhile, Raikkonen is second to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship with BMW's Nick Heidfeld third.

Raikkonen, ahead of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, said this season was going to be just as tight as 2007 when he led Ferrari to victory in the final race.

"Now it's the battle between three teams instead of two. Ferrari and McLaren have won the first two races, but let's not forget that BMW have had two second places."

BMW's team director Mario Theissen said they were aiming to win a race.

"That's a fairly ambitious goal and we're sticking to it. In the first two races we managed to open up the two-way battle. We were faster than one of the two top teams on each occasion, but one shouldn't draw any premature conclusions. We're still not on a par with Ferrari and McLaren."

Theissen said drivers Heidfeld and Robert Kubica had what it takes to claim a win for BMW.

"Both of them have prepared single-mindedly for the new season... they also know that it takes more than just a few fast laps."

He said the team still had "several arrows in our quiver."

"The next major step is planned for the European curtain-raiser in Barcelona. For us one thing is clear: risking a major concept leap in the winter has paid off."

However, Ferrari could have an advantage over its rivals in Bahrain after they were one of only two teams -- the other being Toyota -- to test at the circuit during the winter.

"Obviously our test in February does not harm us. But, of course, now it is different weather, a different circuit and our car is different, too," Raikkonen said.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli was upbeat about their chances of building on his fourth place in Malaysia.

"We have shown that the new car is a big improvement and we are able to challenge for the top six.

"We had a productive test in Bahrain in February so I expect to be competitive and score more points."

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh was unconcerned about Ferrari and Toyota's head start.

"Of course we would have liked to test in Bahrain but we do have to prioritize where we spend our time... we have good data from running at the Bahrain track in previous years so we are confident it will not prove too much of a disadvantage."

Renault's Alonso, however, remains less enthusiastic about their chances after a slow start to the season.

"We know that our level of performance at the moment is not at the level of the leading teams, but we are working hard to move forward and close the gap," he said.

"We don't know exactly where we stand. Although we know that we are behind Ferrari, McLaren and BMW."

Renault, fifth in the constructors' championship, face a strong challenge to their traditional position near the top of Formula One's pile from Williams, Toyota and Red Bull.

Williams' Nico Rosberg believes they can keep pushing the top teams.

"We've already learnt a lot from the past two races and we will make progress going into these next few... Bahrain is one of my favorite tracks and I've had some great results there." E-mail to a friend

All About Kimi Raikkonen • Mario Theissen • Jarno Trulli • Martin Whitmarsh • Fernando Alonso • Robert Kubica • Nick Heidfeld • Nico Rosberg • Lewis Hamilton