Le Mans 24-hour run on Saturday, the sender acted Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo considers that it is possible that Ferrari could soon take part in the legendary tallina competition.

Italian La Stampa newspaper interview Montezemolo was inspired to look at the Ferrari driver possible choices.

- Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa would certainly be a good job. Then, of course, the test driver Marc Gené. I would welcome a few old familiar: Jean Alesin and Michael Schumacher, Montezemolo outlined.

Ferrari has announced that it Mansia Le plan if the team does not participate in the Formula ones-MM-series next season the rule because of the dispute.

- We are here to survey cars, and rules of the future, Montezemolo said.

Montezemolo called for re-strict tone of the international auto union to back the rule dispute.

- The FIA has to understand that now is the time to solve problems, not create more of them. A couple of years, the situation is resolved one way or another: either in one FIA, or the new World Series format. We are not interested in any F3 series. We want stability in the rules and not "gray area": if this year we, the McLaren and Renault, we have not been able to interpret the rules correctly, it means either that the rules were not clear or the fact that we are all messed up let - and we do not exist, Montezemolo said a recent diffuusorijupakkaan referring to.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo remains convinced that the "very grey" regulations relating to diffuser designs was the root cause of why former champions like his team, McLaren and Renault have all struggled this year.

"We now, after in the last 10 years winning eight titles in 10, now [Stefano] Domenicali and his group - together with some other teams - are at the moment not in the condition to win the championship," he said during a visit to Le Mans.

"But sometimes it is important to be hungry, because if you eat too much then you don't know what it means to be hungry. So sometimes in life it is good to be hungry and then when you eat again, you understand how the food is important. So after 10 years it's important sometimes and we will see.

"This happened because unfortunately we have been in front of very grey rules in which the interpretation of the rules was, how can I say, unpredictable.

"It's quite amazing that the teams that have won the last three world championship titles in Formula 1 - Ferrari, McLaren and Renault - has done the same interpretation of the rules.

"So it is one of two [reasons]: all of us became completely drunk, or the rules became not clear. I have the answer that this is not the case because we are not drunk, yet."

Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo says their slow start to the season is due to their prolonged title fight with McLaren last season.

Lewis Hamilton beat Felipe Massa to the world title last season in a fight that went right down to the final corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Both Ferrari and McLaren were off the pace in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix - and Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello went on to complete a one-two finish in the race.

Hamilton managed to sneak through into third for McLaren despite his car's struggles, while both Ferraris failed to finish.

Massa retired because of a steering failure in Melbourne while team-mate Kimi Raikkonen hit a wall in his Ferrari, to cap a poor week for the team.

[source]

Luca di Montezemolo may have meant his comment in jest, but it has to be said, the inference behind it was undoubtedly clear.

It was back in December, reflecting upon Kimi Raikkonen's somewhat indifferent season the Ferrari president noted: "I joke we had Kimi until Magny-Cours, then he was busy and he asked a friend of his to drive.

"This friend was a very good driver. He put on Kimi's helmet, but now we finally have the proper Kimi back again."

There were certainly two sides to Raikkonen last year as he went into it as world champion, only to emerge from it leaving many questioning his desire and commitment to Formula One.

His laid-back persona, which has actually improved over time, does little to dispel the outside world's notion he has little time for the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of his sport.

Raikkonen is the kind of man who likes to turn up at a track, get behind the wheel of his car and drive. Simple as that.

If he had his way, he would love to skip the debriefs and meetings with the engineers that are required to fit hand in glove with what a driver does out on a circuit.

So this year, one wonders whether the real Kimi Raikkonen will be pushing for the title, or whether he will again hit a point where he thinks 'Ah, sod it!' and hand the car back to his 'friend'.

Di Montezemolo insists the "proper Kimi" is back, and if that is the case then that can only be good for F1 because in terms of a pure racer, there is no-one finer than Raikkonen.

As always, time will tell, but for now, Raikkonen maintains he has the desire required to again become world champion.

"I wouldn't be in F1 if I didn't have the motivation or the hunger," insisted the Finn.

"Last year wasn't exactly what we wanted, but it doesn't change how much I like F1 - I do enjoy it.

"I have a great team behind me and they let me do other things quite easily; they make everything as easy as they can for everybody.

"So I'm in a very good position, and I'm very happy to work with the team.

"I've a contract for this year and next and then I will see how I feel, how Formula One is going, and then decide about the future."

Therein lies part of Raikkonen's problem because his responses to constant queries relating to his future are always vague.

That generally results in people questioning his commitment because what he plans to do beyond the next two years generates considerable speculation.

As he mentions, Ferrari give him a free reign beyond F1, allowing the thrill-seeker within him to indulge in other passions such as rallying, karting and powerboating.

As he will be 30 when the forthcoming season comes to an end, he maybe realises time is of the essence if he is to pursue other avenues.

For now, they remain side-show events, adding: "The team is quite open to what I can do.

"There are a lot of hobbies I like that are maybe not the safest, but I always try not to take any risks, and I am happy they allow me to do them.

"I think it helps in every way as everybody is happy and to drive anything is good practice, go-kart, rally, any kind of driving.

"It is always going to help you in your own work, so it's not a bad thing."

For Raikkonen, whether he remains in F1 beyond 2010 will come down to if he is still enjoying himself, and if so, whether Ferrari are willing to maintain his status as the sport's highest-paid driver.

"I am very happy and I have no reason to go anywhere else," said Raikkonen.

"But we will see in two years' time if I'm still enjoying myself or whether I want to do other things.

"What is certain is Ferrari will be the last team I am going to race with in Formula One - which doesn't mean I will definitely quit in 2010!"

Whilst Raikkonen's long-term future might be the source of great debate, for the short term his designs are naturally on the title."I always try to win, and hopefully we can win championships again this year," asserted Raikkonen, who at least helped the team retain their constructors' crown last season.

"But I'm not going to promise anything, put my hand on my heart, because maybe it won't happen.

"So we will just try to do the best weekend we can to get back on the top podium position."

via SportingLife

Kimi Raikkonen has told Ferrari that he is 'determined' to make amends for his disappointing 2008 campaign as he eyes a second world title next year.

The Finn endured a difficult season - primarily frustrated by his inability to get the best out of the F2008 in qualifying – and was forced to play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa in the closing stages of the year.

But despite the troubles, Ferrari kept their faith in Raikkonen and team president Luca di Montezemolo has no doubt that the 2007 world champion will be on top form again.

"I joke that we had Kimi until Magny Cours, then he was busy and he asked a friend of his to drive," di Montezemolo told selected media including autosport.com at Maranello.This friend was a very good driver. He put on Kimi's helmet, but now we finally have the proper Kimi back again."

[via Autosport]

.............
Despite his anger, however, di Montezemolo has said he is now philosophical about what happened.

"I reckon that in the history of F1, we have never seen a world championship decided on the last bend of the last lap of the last Grand Prix," he said. "And we've never seen a driver crossing the finish line as a world champion."

"Miracles, when they happen, usually only happen once. I say that because last year was a miracle. A repeat is usually impossible. In Brazil, with Massa, we were in the process of producing another miracle."

And di Montezemolo made special reference to the efforts of Kimi Raikkonen this year who, although out the hunt for the drivers' championship, played a key role in allowing Ferrari to win the constructors' title.

He did first of all joke, however, that Raikkonen did not appear to be himself in the final part of the season – when he was left firmly in the shadow by Massa.

"Is it really you, the real Kimi, the one in flesh and bones?" said di Montezemolo at Raikkonen, who was sat in the same room as him. "Or is it a friend of yours, a stand-in, the one that in the last Grands Prix was racing for Ferrari? Because in my opinion, Kimi, you were a bit tired and you let a friend of yours race for a while. OK, enough kidding.

Kimi has been a world champion right up to the last race this year. He has contributed to two constructors' titles," he said. "His points were fundamental. With all respect for Lewis Hamilton...I'm happy with my drivers, the best pair in the world."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo defended the team's decision to extend Kimi Raikkonen's contract and says the reigning world champion will come good again.

The Finn has come under criticism for a string of below par performances this season, and three races without a point mean he is now 21 points adrift of championship leader Lewis Hamilton and will have to play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa where possible in the final four races.

But di Montezemolo believes that despite his poor run of form, Raikkonen will come good again.

"I know some disagreed when we lengthened his contract, but we are talking about the world champion, who won the title in his first year at Ferrari," he told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport.

"Kimi is like those great forwards in football who can't score for a while but, since they're good, sooner or later they find their way to the goal again, which is good for them and their teams."

The marque boss admitted that the team's pace in the wet has become an issue and that they were thankful that one day of last week's test at Mugello was run in the wet.

"The tests were very positive and one day was in the rain," he added. "We needed it a lot because we have a car that in similar circumstances struggles a lot to bring the tyres up to temperature."

Di Montezemolo also said that he doesn't need to give any advice to Massa for the remainder of the championship battle, or to Raikkonen about his role in the remaining races.

"Felipe doesn't need any, he's always done his job," said di Montezemolo. "He's very quick and he works in perfect harmony with the team. I appreciate his ability not to take risks in order to bring the car to the finish.

"Felipe and Kimi know well what they have to do because both of them race for Ferrari. The rules have always been clear, we all work for the team."

The Italian is confident Ferrari can win both championships this year, but is not looking forward to the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix next weekend.

"I have great confidence, obviously," he said. "For the 11th consecutive year, Ferrari are fighting for the title. We've had Williams, McLaren, and Renault coming and going, but we have always been there.

"The drivers are concentrating on what needs to be improved and on the next grand prix in Singapore. But I have the impression that it's another track where you can't overtake, Valencia-style.

"To go on with these circuits spells an ugly future for Formula One."

Il presidente del Cavallino, a Monza per i test che precedono Spa, risponde "assolutamente sì" a chi gli chiede se Raikkonen e Massa rimarranno anche nel 2009. "Tutte queste critiche a Kimi mi ricordano quelle a Inzaghi quando era alla Juve e per 3 partite non segnava". Il finlandese: "Per me non cambia nulla: ho un contratto"

Felipe Massa e Kimi Raikkonen saranno i piloti della Ferrari anche nella prossima stagione. Lo ha assicurato il presidente del Cavallino Luca Cordero di Montezemolo a Monza, dove i dieci team di F.1 sono impegnati in una serie di test.

CONTINUITA' - "Assolutamente sì", ha risposto Montezemolo a chi gli chiedeva se i due piloti sarebbero rimasti in Ferrari anche l'anno prossimo. Allora Fernando Alonso, che secondo molte voci ha un futuro nella scuderia del Cavallino, può stare tranquillo? "Non so se, poverino, può stare tranquillo, in questo momento dipende da lui", ha replicato l'ex numero uno di Confindustria, riferendosi al momento non esaltante del pilota spagnolo della Renault. "Mi è dispiaciuto - ha continuato Montezemolo - vedere un grande campione come lui non essere tra i primi dieci a Valencia. Ma per quanto riguarda la Ferrari può stare tranquillo...". E l'interpretazione della frase non lascia spazio a dubbi: il presidente intendeva dire che al momento per lo spagnolo le porte della Ferrari non sono aperte. Durante una passeggiata nei box Montezemolo ha poi incontrato Alonso e lo ha salutato calorosamente, prima di far visita a Lewis Hamilton ai box della McLaren e di abbracciare il pilota inglese.

RAIKKONEN DIFESO - "Tutte queste critiche a Raikkonen mi ricordano quando Inzaghi era alla Juve, e se per tre partite non segnava, tutti dicevano che era in crisi". Il presidente della Ferrari Luca Cordero di Montezemolo ricorre a un sorriso e a un paragone calcistico per rinnovare la sua fiducia al pilota finlandese. Quando all'ora di pranzo atterra con l'elicottero all'autodromo di Monza e corre al muretto in tempo per assistere a un pit-stop, dalle gradinate si sente un tifoso urlare: "Luca, dagli una strigliata. "Ho pensato: . Non si può dimenticare che è il campione del Mondo, e che l'anno scorso ha vinto al suo primo anno in Ferrari, e molti non lo avrebbero mai pensato. Ora è a quota 17 vittorie e spero che si sblocchi al prossimo Gp in Belgio: comunque non è un pilota in crisi". Montezemolo prosegue nella sua analisi. "Kimi è motivato e dobbiamo lavorare per metterlo in condizione di partire più avanti, soprattutto in questi nuovi circuiti che non mi piacciono e fanno il male della F.1: non si riesce a sorpassare, e nove volte su dieci vince chi ha la pole".

NESSUNA PRESSIONE - "Io non ho nessun problema". Dopo l'intervento di Montezemolo, che ha confermato fiducia in lui, lo stesso Kimi Raikkonen ci tiene a precisare di non aver alcuna difficoltà a gestire la pressione in questi ultimi sei GP, in cui dovrà rincorrere il Mondiale dal terzo posto. Dopo aver concluso la sua giornata di test, il finlandese non rivela il contenuto della conversazione avuta con Montezemolo nel pomeriggio: "Non mi ha detto nulla di particolare", taglia corto il finlandese, per niente sorpreso dall'annuncio del numero uno del Cavallino che oggi ha confermato lui e Felipe Massa al volante delle rosse. "Io avevo già un contratto (scadenza 2009), non è nulla di nuovo per me. I test di oggi sono andati bene, abbiamo provato diverse soluzioni ad alcuni piccoli problemi. Nelle prossime gare faremo il massimo per vincere e poi vedremo come andrà a finire".