Kimi Raikkonen revived Ferrari's spirits on Saturday with the fastest time in free practice for Sunday's European Grand Prix at the new Valencia street circuit.

The world champion had vowed to improve his practice and qualifying performances to boost his title challenge and kept his word with a best lap of one minute and 39.477 seconds to outpace Renault's local hero Fernando Alonso.

Raikkonen and team-mate Felipe Massa were the fastest for much of the afternoon but the Brazilian was outpaced in the closing stages by Alonso and then Jenson Button's Honda.

"I like driving this track," said Raikkonen, whose team are determined to end a run of three wins in a row for McLaren this weekend.

"It is different to other street circuits we have had and yesterday, when I walked it, I thought it would be fun. Today just confirmed that impression for me."

"They have done a really good job. We have got off to a good start, but it is too early to say where we are in relation to the opposition. I think overtaking will be difficult, as always."

Raikkonen is second in the drivers' championship with 57 points behind Briton Lewis Hamilton who has 62.