Spanish GP - Ferrari - PreviewAfter winning two of the three races so far this year, the Ferrari duo of
Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa are looking forward to getting back on track this coming weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix. With one win and two third positions, Raikkonen
finds himself tied at the top of the championship standings with
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton on 22 points. Massa, with a win last time out in Bahrain and a sixth and fifth place finish is fourth in the standings with 17 points.
Ferrari proved especially strong in testing at the Spanish Grand Prix venue with both Raikkonen and Massa stating that the team have made a big step forward with the handling and balance of the F2007 package. Trailing McLaren Mercedes by five points in the constructors' championship, winning in Spain is the aim for both Raikkonen and Massa.
Kimi Raikkonen"More than ever I can't wait to get back on the track, also because the test session at the Catalunya was really positive. We were able to improve the F2007 considerably, because the new components work really well and the car is now much closer to my style of driving. I'm much more optimistic now: we can attack the best way possible, as my friend Markku Alen usually says.
It's true that you never know how competitive you really are compared to the other teams during the test sessions; obviously for that we have to wait for the qualifying and the race; but the lap times give us some hints. As I already said over the last weeks, we have to improve the performance in qualifying. It was not really easy for me to get all the potential out of the car on a single lap, because we never managed to prepare it at the best. Now I'm really happy about the steps forward: although it's really difficult to overtake another car, even when it's slower, it makes things a lot easier when you want to win, when you can start from the front."
"To be in the front row and to win on the Catalunya circuit you need the best aerodynamics possible and a really good set-up: the whole package has to work the best way possible; after the tests I can see that the team has done some excellent work. The new chicane has made the track a little bit slower, but that applies to all of us: it's still a very demanding track, for cars and drivers. Last February we had a good test session and we managed to make the set-up even better now, also thanks to the new components, which give me a very positive feeling. All in all the car is much better to drive now."
"We come to Spain to win; and we'll do the best to accomplish this goal. It is a hard-fought championship and it is always important to gain as many points as possible. The best part of the season is yet to start: summer is coming and we race in Europe. Now I can even follow the important part of the ice hockey season, because I'm a really big fan. Over the last days I watched all the games of the world championship in Moscow and also the playoff in the Stanley Cup, where my friend Teemu Selanne plays for the Mighty Ducks from Anaheim: the Finnish national team and my friend are doing really well and I’m really happy about that. I also did some exercises on ice, but also on the green, as the golf season is about to start: my swing is ready!"
Felipe Massa
"I have had a busy time since returning to Europe from Brazil, where I went after the Bahrain Grand Prix. The first appointment was back in the cockpit of the F2007 for testing at the Catalunya circuit where we race this coming Sunday. For me, it was a successful test as we have definitely made some improvements to the car, which was always planned for this first session after the opening three races outside Europe. The team has worked very hard and the reward is a good step forward, especially on the aerodynamic side. The actual results and lap times were good, but you have to remember that in testing it is quite difficult to get a really one hundred percent understanding of what the other teams have achieved. The most important thing is that we have made a step forward and this weekend we will see how it compares to our rivals."
"Apart from the new aero package, which includes a new engine cover, front wing and modified side pods, we have also come up with some changes to the mechanical side of the car, and that led to us seeing improvements in the set-up of the car. The aero package was the more significant change, but these other elements are also very important. The result of these changes is that the car is not only quick, but also more consistent."
"I am looking forward to the Spanish Grand Prix. As you may know, they have modified the circuit and this will be the first time we actually race on the changed layout. I have to say from the point of view of just driving pleasure, the new version is worse than the old, because there are more slow corners and slow chicanes. That is not what we racing drivers like. But, I have to admit that from the point of view of making the racing exciting, for making a spectacle, it is a good idea, as there will be more overtaking opportunities at the end of the straight, as you no longer have a very quick corner. So for the show, I think it is better now. Of course, I can be optimistic about the Spanish Grand Prix: I won the last race, we had a good test at the same circuit that hosts the race and even though it is never easy to win races, I can be confident. Within the team, we just want to keep the momentum going forward and everyone is working very hard in every area to achieve that."
Source Ferrari
