Highlights

Raikkonen confident of Monaco fightback

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-05-23 13:22

Formula One title contender Kimi Raikkonen is confident he can get the best out of his Ferrari in Monaco this weekend after being eclipsed by team mate Felipe Massa in the last two races.

"Each time I get in the car I am learning more and more about the tyres," the Finn said on his Web site (www.kimiraikkonen.com) on Tuesday.

"They are very different from the tyres I used last year. Fernando (Alonso), like me, is driving for a new team and different tyres," he added.

"From what I have read he basically is saying similar things."

Raikkonen moved from McLaren to Ferrari at the end of last season, replacing retired seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, while double world champion Fernando Alonso switched from Renault to McLaren.

Both drivers are adapting to Bridgestone tyres after the departure of Michelin, unlike Brazilian Massa who was at Ferrari last year and has won the last two races.

Raikkonen, winner in Monaco in 2005 with McLaren, said testing in the south of France last week had been 'very positive'.

"I am feeling more comfortable with the car," he said.

The Finn won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on his Ferrari debut but retired at the last race in Spain and is eight points behind McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton after four rounds.

Raikkonen said he was looking forward to Monaco as his favourite race and the greatest challenge of the year.

"I love to take a challenge," he said. "The more challenging it is, the more I love it. I always look forward to the Monaco Grand Prix.

"I will do my best and hopefully it is good enough to get the result I want. The qualifying has not been going in a way I would like it to go. We have worked hard to improve the situation and hopefully now we will get it right."