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"We will definitely try to win the Drivers'
and Constructors' Championship again," said Kimi Raikkonen
this afternoon as he met journalists at the
Fiorano track for the presentation of the
F2008. |
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At the
conference room of the Fiorano race track Kimi Raikkonen
this afternoon met the accredited journalists at the presentation of
the F2008. They immediately asked him about things,
which will be of huge importance, when the new season
starts in Australia next March. Asked about his
expectations for 2008 Kimi said: "We will definitely try
to win the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship
again. We have to see how the test sessions and the
first Grands Prix of the season will go. The most
dangerous competitors? McLaren will be there for sure.
And then there's BMW. It will be a difficult year. It's
my second year at Ferrari. I can feel that everything is
going really well. I know the people I am working with
and I really like the team."
There is a new car and the rules have changed a lot
compared to the last season. What are his impressions
behind the wheel of the new car and as far as the new
rules are concerned? "We have already tested the new
system before Christmas. There is no traction control
anymore. And we have to adapt to this fact, which is
quite something. There are also other control systems
missing, which we were still using during the last year.
But we are really satisfied with the new car and its
modifications. The cockpit of the F2008 is tighter and
also the car is smaller. We have to be ready for these
changes."
As far as the competition is concerned, Kimi said that
there could be major changes compared to the year 2007,
when Ferrari and McLaren were ahead, as there are many
teams with improved single-seaters this year. In the
first races of 2008 one will see what surprises there
may be.
Kimi was also asked if he might modify his driving
style, because there is no traction control in the car
anymore, which is especially important when coming out
of the corners. Kimi said: "Without a doubt I'll become
better. Because now I know what the team wants from me.
But as long as you're not racing, you don't know what
will happen."
As far as the personal security is concerned, after Kimi
won his first World Championship title, he said: "I am
not feeling too safe. I have waited for this moment for
many years. Maybe this year will not be too difficult to
get along. But I do not feel too safe. If I'll have more
fun without the traction control? It will be much more
complex to drive, that's for sure. Especially on wet
tracks. But it will be also much more fun."
A journalist asked the Finnish driver what he expects
from the future and from the upcoming season: "That's
quite difficult to tell now. I have still two years left
and if I go on having fun, I'll stay here. I really like
Formula One and I have a brilliant team. We'll see. We
want to start really well into a great season. We want
to win again the world titles and we want to avoid
retirements. This is the main feature to win against
McLaren. That is how it was and that is how it will be
in the future."
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