Kovalainen and Fisichella filled the final two scoring spots at
Silverstone, but the Italian is confident that the team can bounce back.
"It is fair to say that the last two races were a bit disappointing, all the more so because they were our home races," he admitted, "We knew that it would be a tough battle with
BMW. All of the teams are making progress, and our challenge is to do so faster than them in order to get ahead and try to close the gap in the championship. We are going in the right direction, and everybody is doing their maximum. I am convinced that if we carry on like this, our hard work will pay off."
Kovalainen - who admits that he is glad the race is at the Nurburgring - echoed his team-mate's sentiments.
"Everybody in the team knows that we have only just passed the halfway point of the season, and that there is still a long way to go," he pointed out, "The team has done a fantastic job to fix the problems we had at the start of the season, and I think we are all determined to show that we can bounce back. I still think that third place in the championship is achievable. It’s going to be tough, but I believe we can do it!"
Ferrari – Felipe Massa (#5), Kimi Raikkonen (#6):
If any team heads to the Nurburgring with confidence this weekend, it will be
Ferrari, which has taken the last two grands prix courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen and topped the last two group tests, at Silverstone and Spa. However, the Scuderia - which also won last year's European GP with
Michael Schumacher - will also bear in mind that McLaren often provided the Finn with a contender at the circuit and will be looking to bounce back this weekend.
Team-mate
Felipe Massa, meanwhile, is keen to redress the balance after seeing both of the last two races slip away from him.
"Some people have suggested that Silverstone was one of my best drives, and I guess they could be right, but I cannot consider it one of my best races at the moment," he lamented, "I enjoyed the driving and having a very good race from the back, but it was very negative because of what happened at the start and, in some ways, I could not enjoy it [because] it was a race where I should have been fighting for the win. When you look at the championship situation and how competitive it is this year, and then see so many points escaping from you, it's not possible to be happy.
"Now, we go to the Nurburgring, where I expect the F2007 will again be very competitive. Last year, I finished third and took my first ever
F1 podium. Hopefully, this time, we can be back on the podium - but in a better position."
Honda – Jenson Button (#7), Rubens Barrichello (#8):
After the 'joy' of scoring a point at Magny-Cours, it was back to the doldrums for Honda at Silverstone, and the Brackley team is keen to get the second half of the season off to a flying start at the European Grand Prix.
With no testing at the venue, and a change from the Nurburgring's usual May date, the tenth round of the season will presents a unique challenge to Jenson Button and
Rubens Barrichello. The Briton is not a fan of the circuit, claiming that a lot rides on the approach to turn one, but Barrichello comes from the opposing camp and is looking forward to turning out there this weekend.
"The Nürburgring is a challenging circuit for the drivers and one that I particularly enjoy," the Brazilian admitted, "I won the grand prix here back in 2002, so I always feel good about returning and racing around here. I like the layout of the circuit and it has some great high-speed corners and interesting undulations. With the recent improvements to our car, we are now capable of knocking on the door of the points-scoring positions, so I am hoping to have a good race at the weekend."
Both Barrichello and Button will be putting their faith in the altest developments to roll off the Brackley production line, with further aerodynamic modifications topping the list.
"We used the test at Spa-Francorchamps last week to evaluate some new aero upgrades which we plan to use from the European Grand Prix onwards," senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto confirmed, "We struggled for balance at high speeds, which meant that our lap times were not good, but, on the positive side, we were one of few teams to experience little or no mechanical problems with the engine. Good levels of downforce are required at the Nurburgring, as the circuit has a range of low to high speed corners, and you also need good stability under braking. But we will be as aggressive as possible, aiming to score points."
BMW Sauber – Nick Heidfeld (#9), Robert Kubica (#10):
A lot has changed in a year, and BMW Sauber heads for home having established itself as a top three
Formula One team, and the biggest opposition to Ferrari and
McLaren.
Although it does not anticipate being able to fight for victory in the European Grand Prix, the team is confident that it will be able to maintain its position ahead of
Renault in the pecking order. That in itself would be a step forward for the Munich/Hinwil squad, as Nick Heidfeld reflects.
"We didn't do so well there last year, and it would be great if we could get back among the Ferraris and McLarens at my home race this time around," he said, "Nowhere do so many of my fans come to cheer me on than at the Nürburgring. This support is fantastic, and I also have a lot of fond memories tied up in the circuit.
"The Nürburgring is very close to Mönchengladbach, where I was born and grew up, and I learnt to ride a bicycle at the 'Ring when I was three. In winter, we even went sledging on the Hohe Acht slopes, and the first time I drove a kart by myself was on the old karting track at the circuit - with a tyre and a blanket wedged behind my back so that I could reach the pedals!
"Since then, I've driven a lot of races on the Nürburgring and recorded victories in almost all the series I've competed in there - Formula Ford, F3 and F3000. In 2005, I took my first Formula One pole position in the Eifel mountains with BMW
Williams and finished second in the race itself, so I enjoy going back."
Team-mate Robert Kubica is also familiar with the German venue, despite this weekend being his first Formula One race there.
"I have practically been racing at the circuit every year since 2001 and, because of this, I know it fairly well," the Pole confirmed, "I have to be honest and say I don't find the circuit spectacular, but this will be the only grand prix in Germany this year, and I am sure there will be a big crowd, with a lot of the people being fans of our team. I think it will be a good weekend and maybe, after that, my feelings for the track will change."
