Assessment: Ferrari returns to victory

The victory by the Finn ends a sixteen-month winless streak for the 2007 World Champion and also allows Ferrari to return to winning ways. This victory reinforces their third place in the Constructors’ Championship standings, which will motivate the entire team for their home Grand Prix.

The winner of the Belgian Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen, admitted that his Ferrari was not able to match the raw pace of Force India and its driver Giancarlo Fisichella this Sunday, but won the race thanks to his KERS.

Kimi Räikkönen – 1st:

A great victory for me and for the team. Champagne tastes the same wherever you are on the podium, but the feeling when you win is definitely different. This track has everything a driver can desire and it’s a pleasure to drive here; however, there is no particular secret to explain why I’ve won here four times. We wanted to win at least one race, and we did it. Our car wasn’t the best in the field, but we managed to make it happen, and this result comes from the work done with the team. I got off to a good start, but Rubens was stuck in front of me and I had to avoid him. Then, right from the first corner and at the end of the straight, I managed to climb back up to second position. Behind the safety car, I mainly thought about preserving the tires and warming up the brakes to be able to attack Fisichella when restarting, and that’s how I managed to pass him quite easily. At the first pit stop, maybe it would have been better to stick with the soft tires, but it’s easy to say that after the race. In the last stint, when it seemed I couldn’t be able to fight against Giancarlo, I slightly modified the way I used the KERS so I could defend myself on the straight at Stavelot, thus managing to stay ahead. Monza will be challenging because our car isn’t particularly good on the curbs, but we will try to do our best.

**Luca Badoer – 14th**:

«Today, I did my best. Unfortunately, at the first corner after the start, I flat-spotted the front tires, so I had strong vibrations throughout the first stint. Once the tires were changed, the situation improved, but the performance of the hard tires wasn’t as good as the soft ones. I raised my performance level once again and I really want to race at Monza, one of the tracks I know best, along with Fiorano and Mugello. I am very happy for Kimi and the team: It’s a fantastic victory, which was exactly what we needed at this stage of the season. »

Stefano Domenicali – Team Principal:

« We are very happy with this victory, which is a reward for all the hard work the team has accomplished during this difficult and also dramatic season. I want to dedicate this first to president Di Montezemolo, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow. I don’t think he could have asked for a better present. Thanks to our partners, first and foremost, Philip Morris and Shell, who have always stood by us, but especially our fans with their unwavering support. Our thoughts are also with Felipe who has kept in touch from Miami, where he will undergo a medical check-up tomorrow. Kimi drove an incredible race today: we knew that the first lap would be decisive and this was proven again. He drove impeccably throughout the race and the team was at its best during the two pit stops. In the last four races, we have always had a driver on the podium and collected a respectable haul of points at the highest level, even in unusual situations. Today, Luca did the best he could, and this victory also reflects his contribution to the team: We will now take a few days to evaluate his immediate future, which will depend on Felipe’s recovery time. Now, we look towards Monza, our home race, where we will do everything possible to continue on this path, even though we know it will be very difficult. »