"This is a circuit where the driver can really make the difference," he said, perhaps hoping that that will count in his favour, "It is an exceptional circuit, and without a doubt the best for the drivers. Eau Rouge is a fabulous corner, and really impressive from the cockpit, even though it is not quite as demanding with the V8 engines as it once was.
"After I was held up in qualifying [at Monza], I knew I was in for a tough weekend. Fifteenth isn't the place to start from if you want a good result, but I still pushed hard all the way through the race. There are still four races left, and we will be aiming to put in a strong performance at each one."
THe Italian is confident that the R27 is capable of a strong performance at Spa.
"We have already seen this season that our car is quite competitive in low downforce configuration, notwithstanding the performance last week in Monza," he explained, "We run higher downforce than in Italy but, despite this, we still have relatively little wing in order to get good top speeds. I think this is a good opportunity for us to be competitive."
Ferrari – Felipe Massa (#5), Kimi Raikkonen (#6):
With little time to lick its wounds after being soundly beaten on home soil, the Scuderia will be desperate to turn the tables on
McLaren at Spa, the outcome of Thursday's World Motor Sport Council meeting notwithstanding.
While every team ran a circuit-specific aerodynamic package at Monza, Ferrari chief designer Nikolas Tombazis reckons that aerodynamic performance will be even more important in Belgium, and is optimistic that the F20007 will be on the apce.
"Generally speaking, Spa is the type of circuit where the performance difference between the cars gets amplified," he revealed, "Compared to the circuits where we have been quite strong, Spa has actually got a lower level of downforce, so cars have higher top speeds with less downforce. But nonetheless, in common with the tracks that appear to have suited us, Spa also has some very high-speed corners, which do stress the tyres quite a lot and that, for us, is a positive aspect. Furthermore, with long straights there is also a high emphasis on engine power here. I think all in all, I am hopeful we can be quite competitive here with the F2007.
"We were looking not too bad when we had our first ever Spa test session back in July. However, the cars have evolved since then and therefore it's difficult to know exactly which of two teams - ourselves and our nearest rivals - has made the most progress since then. But I am reasonably optimistic."
Kimi Raikkonen will arrive in Belgium hoping that any lingering effects from his Monza practice shunt have dissipated, allowing him to take the fight to McLaren more than he could in Italy.
"I still don't know what exactly happened," he said of the shunt at the Ascari chicane, "The impact was very hard, but the consequences, as often happens in these kind of accidents, I could only feel the next day; and unfortunately it was the day of the race. My neck really hurt, even though we did everything we could to put me back in shape, but there was not enough time left. This was undeniably the most painful race I've ever had.
"We had a good test at Spa-Francorchamps last July and I'm 100 per cent fit in terms of physical fitness. It's a wonderful place - I always loved to race there and I like the latest modifications of the track. There are some very fast and challenging corners, where we could exploit some of the qualities of the F2007. I've been twice on the central step of the podium there and I want to get back there next Sunday!"
Team-mate Felipe Massa will also be hoping to bounce back, having posted a rare retirement early in
Ferrari's home event. Like Raikkonen, the Brazilian refuses to count himself out of the title race.
