Kimi Raikkonen admits that he needs to focus on the final seven races of the
Formula One season, but insists that he should not be written out of the world championship battle just yet.
Perhaps reacting to the comments of three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who suggested that the Finn was not even a wild card contender for the 2008 title, Raikkonen pointed out that he had actually closed the gap on points leader
Lewis Hamilton ahead of the summer break, and was still close enough to the Briton to launch an assault on a second crown.
Although the results do not necessarily show it, Raikkonen is aware that he - and
Ferrari - have not been on top form through the middle of the season, and has vowed to ride his luck and improve matters over the final seven races of the season, starting at this weekend's inaugural European Grand Prix in Valencia.
"The break is over and it's time for the last part of the season to start - it's time to concentrate again on my work," the Finn admitted as Formula One regroups after the extended break since Hungary, "
F1 is a sport, which never stops, and the team has worked hard to be ready for the race in Valencia. From now on, every single race will be extremely important - and every single point will have a great value. The less there are, the more important they become."
Raikkonen heads to the first of the season's new calendar additions lying five points adrift of Hamilton, but still in second place after team-mate
Felipe Massa lost an almost certain win just three laps from home in Budapest. With both drivers still firmly in contention - and Raikkonen's form inconsistent - the Scuderia is unlikely to throw its weight behind the reigning champion just yet, but the Finn is confident that he can establish himself as the team's best chance of taking the title.
"This season shows that you should never give up," he insisted, "There were some races where things didn't go well but, for one reason or another, I was able to collect some precious points. My position after Hungary is better than before the race.
