BUDAPEST — Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland is intent on staying cool this weekend at the normally steaming Hungaroring circuit as he looks to keep his Formula One title challenge alive.
After a series of poor results, the Ferrari ace has slipped from being championship leader — as he was after the Spanish Grand Prix — to just one of the chasing pack. After five poor races, he is seven points behind in-form Briton Lewis Hamilton, the current leader.
“It’s no secret that we’re not satisfied by how the last five races went,” said Raikkonen.
“I was particularly disappointed after the series’ races at Montreal, Magny-Cours and Silverstone. In each one I had the possibility to win, but because of one thing or another things didn’t go the right way and I lost. I never let myself be influenced by tension and I won’t start now,” he said.
Raikkonen is confident Ferrari will be strong at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix following a poor showing in Germany, where he said he had his toughest weekend this season.
“The race at Hockenheim was the most difficult moment of the season,” he said.
“I was really frustrated and disappointed that I could not find the right balance of the car, but now we’re in a much better position. We had a productive test at Jerez, especially on the second day.”
Raikkonen, along with Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa, has been in the hunt for the title all season in a battle with McLaren Mercedes-Benz and Britain’s Hamilton. The Briton heads into the race looking for a third win that would stretch his lead in the standings.
Hamilton built on his success in the British Grand Prix with a victory in Germany on July 20 and now heads the drivers’ world championship with 58 points. Massa sits second on 54 with Ferrari teammate Raikkonen third on 51 and BMW-Sauber’s Robert Kubica fourth on 48 points.
“I’m wary about making any strong predictions; yes, we were strong in the last two races, but we encountered difficulties in the two before that, so it’s impossible to call it this weekend,” said Hamilton.
Team-mate Heikki Kovalainen is preparing safe in the knowledge that he will be racing with McLaren next season.
“We are delighted to continue working with Heikki and are convinced that soon he won’t only take pole like he did recently at Silverstone but that he will achieve a similar placing in a race,” Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug said.
The searing heat at the Hungaroring is also expected to be a factor with the drivers needing to take on up to four litres more liquid than usual.
“It will be hot and tiring,” said Hamilton. Keeping focus and concentration would be vital, he said. “My approach has served me fairly well so far and I’d need to give it some serious thought before attempting to change it. Let’s just say it will be business as usual in Hungary this weekend,” he said.
After some successful tests at Jerez, Massa believes that Ferrari have ironed out any issues from the German Grand Prix and are ready once again to compete with Hamilton and McLaren. With Sapa-DPA