Defending Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed that he will indeed use a new engine in this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as he bids to make it back-to-back successes in the race and re-launch his championship challenge.

The Finn has endured a frustrating run of late, failing to score in either Monaco or Canada – through errors from himself and title rival Lewis Hamilton respectively – and seeing victory snatched away from him last time out in France when an exhaust pipe broke off his F2008, costing him valuable time and allowing team-mate Felipe Massa to sweep past to claim the top step of the rostrum. Raikkonen is clearly confident of regaining his momentum in Northamptonshire, however.

“I always like coming back to Silverstone,” he enthused. “It's a great track and it has always been working out for me since the beginning of my career. I raced for the first time here when I was in Formula Renault and it was my preferred track, one of the fastest and most demanding on the race calendar.

“Winning at Silverstone gives you a great feeling, because to get there you have to do everything perfectly. I did it with Formula Renault and last year with Ferrari. I don't know why, but I'm a bit nostalgic every time I come back. I like being here whatever the weather is like.

“We did some testing here last week. There was lots of wind and it was quite difficult to test all the new parts we brought with us, but I think we've taken a small step ahead and it seems to me that the car is very competitive.

“As far as we can tell after our tests last week there will be a tough fight between us and McLaren. That's not a surprise, because traditionally these two teams have always gone well here in England. Last year it went very well for us at Silverstone, and obviously I'd like to repeat that result, but it will be about tenths of a second again.”

It is indeed likely to be a fierce scrap between the two arch-rivals, with Ferrari carrying the momentum from Magny-Cours – the personal disappointment of which Raikkonen insists he has 'already archived' – but the Silver Arrows setting the pace in pre-race testing. The 28-year-old maintains that getting it right in qualifying is half the battle won.

“I'll give it my all to stay ahead in qualifying,” he underlined. “Starting from pole does make the race much easier, as we could see at Magny-Cours, so we'll fight for pole position and this time we need to use the track to our advantage.

“Last year at Silverstone I made a small mistake in qualifying, when I took the last corner too wide and lost pole position, but once we had considered the fuel on-board I was still faster than Hamilton. Then with the empty track ahead I could give it my all and win the race.