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.”
