Kimi's not feeling the pressure

Sunday 6th July 2008

Kimi Raikkonen has denied he's under added pressure to retain his World title this season, saying this year's campaign is no different to last season's.

Raikkonen clinched the 2007 Drivers' Championship title at the season finale, clawing back at 17-point deficit to beat McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by one point.

It was an impressive turn around for the Finn, who entered this year's Championship as the favourite to retain the title.

However, after eight races it is his team-mate Felipe Massa who is leading the standings with a three-point advantage over Hamilton. Raikkonen is third, a further two points adrift.

The reigning Champ, though, isn't too fazed, reckoning that this year's campaign is no different to last year's.

"I think it has been more or less similar to last year," he told Autosport.

"Not much has changed from then. We had some bad races last year that we couldn't finish, and this year was the same thing.

"We've had two wins and quite good speed, like before. The only difference is that we are much closer this season in the points than we were last year.

"So hopefully it can help us and hopefully we can still come back and be up there when it really matters."

As for this weekend's British GP, Raikkonen is expecting a strong showing from Ferrari as he looks to make it back-to-back Silverstone triumphs.

"Last year we were strong," he said. "But looking at the last test the McLaren seems to be strong.

"So I think it's going to be a close fight, and last year it was a close fight, and I don't see why it should be any different this year."

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