With world champion Kimi Raikkonen now fully at home at Ferrari and a new car ready to be presented in the New Year, Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is looking forward eagerly to the 2008 title race.
Speaking to journalists at the traditional Ferrari Christmas dinner, he said the Formula 1 team would be starting the new season in March with ''fewer uncertainties'' than last year.
''We have two major strengths: the car, which is already very good and we know how to improve it still further; and Kimi Raikkonen, who has now settled into the team,'' he said.
Despite its eventual triumphs in both drivers' and constructors championships, 2007 was a difficult year for Ferrari.
It was without seven-time world champ Michael Schumacher for the first time in a decade and was also trying out a radically changed team after the departure of key figures from the Schumacher era.
Because of all the changes, Montezemolo persuaded Jean Todt, who had just been promoted to Ferrari managing director, to smooth the transition by continuing to oversee Formula 1 activity as he had for many years.
But the Ferrari boss said that this year the new team - based around new team chief Stefano Domenicali and technical director Aldo Costa - would be able to make it by itself. Todt will devote himself fully to his duties as group CEO.
The new car built for 2008 will be presented to the media on January 6 and will start tests at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit the following day.
Technicians are aiming to eliminate the reliability problems which cost Raikkonen and team-mate Felipe Massa precious points last season.
Montezemolo said that the main reason Ferrari ended up beating McLaren in 2007, despite looking out of the running for long periods, was because ''we were a team and they weren't''.
He said Raikkonen's steadily improving rapport with the squad throughout the year had been crucial in his eventual success and boded extremely well for the future.
''He told me he wants to stay with Ferrari for life,'' Montezemolo said. ''I like him very much indeed. He never complains. He's daring. He's doesn't exactly talk a lot. But I hope he carries on like that - talking little and driving fast''.
Turning to other issues, the Ferrari chief announced that life for the sportscar maker was equally rosy off the Formula 1 track.
Ferrari will close 2007 with profits of 230 million euros thanks to record sales of just over 6,000 cars worldwide, he said.
