The Formula 1 season kicks off at the weekend with the Australia Grand Prix where world champion Kimi Raikkonen will be out to defend his drivers' title and help his team Ferrari make it two in a row.
Raikkonen won the season opener here last year and has made no secret that the Albert Park track is one of his favorites.
''I really like racing in Melbourne and it's nice having won there before. Last year we dominated the whole race weekend and in the end took pole position and won the race,'' the Finn recalled. ''I definitely also want to win this year because it's always better to lead instead of having to catch up,'' he added.
''It's always difficult at the start of the season to know what's going to happen. The winter tests are important but you never know how much fuel the other cars were carrying. I think Ferrari will be competitive but the track will be the final judge,'' the world champion said. Nevertheless, we have a strong, fast, competitive and reliable package. We should be vying for a win in every race and in the end aim again for the two championships,'' he added. Turning his attention to this year's car, the Ferrari driver observed: ''the F2008 is an improvement over last year's car. The team has done a great job, especially in the areas where we weren't that strong, like the performance through slow corners and over the curbs''.
Raikkonen also said he felt more at ease at the start of the season because this is his second year with Ferrari.
''I know now the team and the way they work and there won't be any surprises. I've built up a good relationship with my engineers and we understand each other: they know how I want my car to be set up,'' he said. While Raikkonen was the team rookie last season, this year it will be team principal Stefano Domenicali who was promoted to fill the big shoes of Jean Todt, the current Ferrari CEO who after joining in 1993 helped win seven constructors championships, six of them in a row (1999-2004).
Looking ahead to his first real challenge, the former team sporting director said ''I am trying to work without changing my approach from before. This means a lot of dedication, a lot of attention to detail and to the people. I know the people I work with very well and I know I can count on them''. ''The most important thing is that we are a team. There are no stars, we do not need divas. We complement each other and that is one of our strengths,'' he added.
This approach, Domenicali said, also applies to drivers Felipe Massa and Raikkonen.
''The fact that Kimi is now world champion does not change anything. We have really great drivers and we are very happy to have them. But our own rules are clear: they will start with the same opportunities. It will be up to them to show who is faster,'' Domenicali said.
