Kimi Räikkönen reminded on Thursday that we have seen many surprising turns in the F1 championship serie. Therefore Kimi isn't yet ready to declare Button as a champion in spite of his lead.

How well do you believe the car fits Instanbul's Otodrom-track?

Räikkönen: It's hard to say how our present car fits this circuit but Felipe Massa has won here 3 times and I have won once so our car has worked well here earlier. Hopefully this time too. We have a few new parts and we'll see how well they work tomorrow.

Could one say that so far you have the best chances of winning the race?

Räikkönen: In the last race in Monaco I had a chance if I would have managed to get the pole. So far we haven't yet driven here so it's hard to say if this is possibly the best place to win a race. We can be strong here but we'll find out later if it's enough.

Still you have made progress all the time?

Räikkönen: The car was already in Barcelona better than before and Monaco went well too so at least we have made progress when it comes to performance. Now the car has little by little started to be much closer to the top than it was in the beginning of the season.

Does the car feel much different after all these changes than before?

Räikkönen: It doesn't feel much different even though we have more downforce now. When we got the new floor to the car it made the biggest difference. Other than that it behaves pretty much like it behaved before but it has more traction so you can drive faster. In the beginning of the season the car felt good to drive but when there is no traction it's seen in the laptimes. So the only thing that has changed is that you can now take the corners with a much faster speed.

How important is this race when thinking of the championship?

Räikkönen: We have developed for the better all the time but we aren't stil on the level where we want to be. When it comes to the championship battle it's good to be realistic because we are much behind the lead in points.

Which one is in your opinion in a better position when thinking about the championship, Brawn GP or Red Bull?

Räikkönen: Brawn has very reliable cars and they would have to face quite big problems before the others would have a chance to catch them. It's very unlikely. On the other hand we saw really surprising turns in F1 last season so one should never stop trying. We at least do eveything in our power so that we would win races and that way put a little extra pressure on them. Of course we still have a chance but a very small one if we are realistic. Red Bull might have slightly better chances in catching Brawn.

When you won the WDC in 2007 you came from behind, pretty far away from the lead. Do you still think that there would be hope for a similar rise?

Räikkönen: Always when there is a mathematical possibility to win the championship, hope is alive. Or maybe you shouldn't talk about hope, rather that there is a small existing possibility. Of course you can also hope for the best result. The fact still is that we should win quite many races and they would have to fail and that doesn't sound realistic.

Will you now drive more for the honor than for the championship?

Räikkönen: It's natural for the team that we try to win as many races as possible and score as many points as possible. That is our goal number 1.

How certain is it that you will drive in F1 next year?

Räikkönen: Well, I think I will drive next year too. We have a contract and no matter how many different stories are told about other things, they are just stories. We'll see next year who drives in which team.

Many assume that the next season is your last season in F1. Is it possible that you would negotiate for continuing after that?

Räikkönen: Everything is always possible. As long as I enjoy this work and have a good place to work, it's always possible. I haven't yet decided anything and I don't even have to think about it yet. We'll see where F1 is going.