21/05/2008
NEWS STORY
"For me every race is important for the Championship," writes Kimi Raikkonen in his latest blog for Ferrari. "But as a race there is nothing like the Monaco GP. To race in the Principality is really different from everywhere else: it is really difficult to have a perfect weekend here. When you manage it you know the great feeling you get by winning the race here. The race in Monaco is the race. It's a legend amongst all the races. My success here in 2005 is maybe the most memorable of all my races. So to win it again would be just as special. The streets of Monte Carlo are very twisty and narrow and you have to be very precise and concentrated on every single metre you go. This year there is even less room for an error now that we don't have the traction control anymore, especially when it's wet.
"In Turkey we missed the most important practice session," he continued. "This time we hope that we can work without any problems. Especially with everybody being so close, more so in Qualifying. Overtaking is almost impossible, so the car has to be set up really well. It feels great to make a fast lap here in Monaco, but to do that you need to be in the front, so it's important to qualify well. In Monaco this is a priority. I always try to get the Pole, because this is the best option for the fight to win the race.
"Last week we tested at Le Castellet and it went very well. We tried a few new components and improved the set up. The car is stronger at this type of circuit - slow and bendy - compared to last year. I think that Ferrari has made a big step forward in the areas where we weren't strong last year.
"It's always a great atmosphere here in Monaco for the fans and the spectators who enjoy the race weekend 100%. For the teams and us drivers it's not that easy. There's lots of confusion and we don't have our own space to calm down a bit. That makes the challenge even bigger. You have to concentrate even more on the details.
"It's Difficult to say how it will go in the end. Ferrari will be very competitive, but there's also McLaren and BMW. Having said that Monaco can always be good for a surprise; it's the most open of all the races this year. Last year we only got one point here in Monaco. I wasn't happy that day. But in the end it was a very precious point for me."