Of course, my personal target is to win here - and that would definitely be better than anything I have managed in Monaco before, he smiles, My best result is only a fifth place, but the word only' is wrong because I was in a Sauber, when that team was still very new to
F1. Last year, I did not have a good weekend, but I know that Monaco is a very unique race where there can be a lot of retirements, so the first thing is to try and finish the race.
Having tested various set-ups and the two tyre options at Paul Ricard last week, Massa is confident that Ferrari has a decent package for the Principality, but has one major concern heading into the weekend.
I have seen the weather forecast for the weekend and, unbelievably, they say there is a chance of rain, he explains, "Believe it or not, if it does rain, it will be a completely new experience for me, as I have never driven this track in the wet. But when it rains, it rains on everyone! Of course, rain always increases the possibility of a mistake, so it could make things even more of a lottery than usual.
Raikkonen, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from his Spanish disappointment by reprising his 2005 victory in Monaco, but admits that he has some work to do earlier in the weekend.
"This is a very special place for me and I will never forget my success in 2005, in a race, which I think was one of my most beautiful ones," he admits, "It will be the seventh time I am going to race here and the first time with
Ferrari. It would be wonderful to win with a red car, and it would be much easier if I could start from the front row. Until now, qualifying has not worked out as I wanted it to, but it is fundamental to have a good lap and I will give it my all."
Raikkonen admits that Monaco has a special place in his heart, and would have even if he wasn't racing there.
If I had to follow
Formula One as a spectator and had to choose one race, I would have no doubt I would go to Monte Carlo," he confirms, "It is the most important amongst all the grands prix, with an extraordinary combination of the emotions - the particularity of the place and the prestige surrounding the event. It must be as wonderful to watch this race as it is to participate in it.
Honda Jenson Button (#7), Rubens Barrichello (#8):
Like all of its rivals, Honda made the most of the time available between rounds two and three to make improvements to its RA107 but, unlike most of those around it on pit-lane, needed more time to get the car competitive. Nevertheless, a small step at least allowed Jenson Button and Rubens Barrrichello to feel more confident in the car's handling - even if they did contrive to run into one another during the race...
