LONDON, England (CNN) -- Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen says he has never had such a "great lust" to win as he seeks redemption at the French Grand Prix.


Raikkonen, who has failed to finish in the points in the last two races, said he had put his difficulties in Monaco and Montreal behind him.

"I don't carry bad thoughts with me, because that would just make me lose time, as you can't change the result anyway.

"I don't remember when I had such a great lust for winning."

However, he admitted being disappointed with first crashing out in Monaco and then being shunted out -- by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton -- in Montreal.

"The last two races were a disappointment, caused by different problems. But I know that Ferrari has taken a great leap forward on this track [Magny-Cours] compared to last year.

"It's a shame that the points we were able to gain [to date] do not reflect our real potential, but I think that'll we'll be very competitive on the upcoming street tracks at Valencia and Singapore."

The Finn believed Magny-Cours would provide a much different race than in Montreal.

"The smooth surface of the French track, its demanding corners and the quick changes of direction will underline the characteristics of the F2008.

"It was here in France last year that my season practically started all over again, and that is what I need now after the two races with no points."

Raikkonen said although Hamilton was starting 10th on the grid -- his penalty for crashing into the Finn in Montreal -- McLaren could not be underestimated.

"We have to give our best to keep them behind."

Meanwhile, Renault's Fernando Alonso also said Montreal had been a frustrating experience.

"It's clear we missed an opportunity to score some big points, but we must remain positive and keep moving forward.

"Our level of performance there showed the progress the team has made and we must continue our efforts because we can see the rewards."


Alonso said Magny-Cours provided some specific challenges.

"There are some quick corners and direction changes... the temperature is usually quite high, so you have to find a set-up that allows you to make the most of the tires and optimize the general balance of the car."