Raikkonen leads final Australian GP practice

MELBOURNE, Mar 17 (Reuters) Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen asserted his status as heir to Michael Schumacher with the fastest time in final Australian Grand Prix practice today.

The Finn, stepping into the shoes of the retired seven times world champion at the beginning of a new era for Formula One and the Italian team, lapped the Albert Park circuit in one minute 26.064 seconds.

Renault's Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, winner in Melbourne in 2005, was second on the timesheets and 0.390 slower with McLaren's 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton third fastest.

In a big surprise, his compatriot Anthony Davidson was fourth quickest in the new Honda-powered Super Aguri, a car that has already triggered a controversy with rivals openly questioning its legality because of the close similarities with last year's Honda.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa was fifth and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld sixth, ahead of McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Fisichella's time suggested champion Renault would be more competitive in qualifying for the season-opener than looked the case yesterday, when both their cars were halted by fuel pressure problems.

REUTERS SAM BST0951