In Bahrain, Rikknen suffered electronic problems during Friday practice and a rear suspension break during the first qualifying session, which forced him back to 22nd place on the grid. Nevertheless he drove through the field, ending third behind Alonso and Michael Schumacher. In Malaysia, Rikknen was hit from behind by Red Bull Racing’s Christian Klien on the very first lap. The impact caused a left rear suspension failure resulting in Rikknen retiring from the race.
Having started the year clearly behind Renault, McLaren improved in Australia, where Rikknen finished second after flat spotting a tyre and losing a wing end-plate, causing him to fall off the pace somewhat around the midpoint of the race. Chasing down Alonso during the final stages of the race, he did however achieve the fastest lap of the race on the final lap, finishing only 1.8 seconds behind the Spaniard. At the San Marino Grand Prix a bad choice of strategy and a mistake from Rikknen in qualifying (8th) saw the McLarens get caught in traffic in the early part of the race allowing Michael Schumacher and Alonso to get away at the front. Rikknen eventually finished 5th, with team mate Montoya ahead...
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