Raikkonen expected Sauber to feel completely different to Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he believed getting in his new Sauber car would feel completely different to the Ferrari he drove for the 2018 season.

Raikkonen tested his new Sauber machine for the first time in Abu Dhabi last week. Speaking at the FIA Gala press conference on Friday; Raikkonen described the two cars as "very similar".

"It felt very similar to what I'm used to," Raikkonen admitted. "Obviously it's a different car, (different) looking, a bit different wheels and stuff. But to be honest it wasn't all a different feeling. I probably expected a bigger difference.

"We just tested the tyres, we didn't do any set-up work, just drove the car, did laps and tried to see what is what. I think as a first experience it was OK."

Raikkonen has already driven for Sauber in the past and he was talking about some of the team, behind-the-scenes, are still there from his spell in 2001.

"I don't know the exact number, obviously at the factory I met some guys that we met a few years ago," the Finn added. "My memory is bad but I can remember everybody so it's nice to see."

The 39-year-old is hoping for a strong return season with Sauber, claiming the Swiss team has everything in place to be competitive in 2019.

"I think they have all of the tools," he said. "They have a great wind tunnel, they have everything to build a great car. Obviously we have a Ferrari engine, so we know what we are going to get. I don't see any reason why we couldn't do a good job out of it. Where it's going to take us, we'll see next year."