Ferrari drivers optimistic for the season ahead

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Both Ferrari race drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen have spoken of their optimism for 2009 following the launch of the new Ferrari F60 today. Speaking to the official F1 website, Massa talked of how his 2008 experience has made him stronger and how he will fight harder for the upcoming season s crown.

“If you look at my career from the start to now, every year I feel stronger,” he said. “I think after so much experience over these six years, I feel stronger and I feel more experienced, especially after last year, with how difficult the championship was. I think you learn, and that makes me ready and even more experienced for this year.”

Massa was also moved to talk of his emotional connection with the Italian marque, with whom he starts his fourth season.

“When you race for Ferrari and you debut the car for the first time on the track it s always quite an important and emotional day,” explained the Brazilian to Ferrari’s official website. “It s the second time in my career I ve debuted the car for the first time and I am very proud.

“I was expecting quite a big car, like it was ten years ago for example, but when I got here the car is very small and compact, especially in the rear. It looks good and hopefully will be as quick as it looks like it.”

Raikkonen, in typically blunt fashion, said that the new car s different looks needed a little getting used to.

“(The car) looks different because of the new regulations, but I think after you look at it for a little while you get used to it. For me it looks different but very good, and I m looking forward to running in it at the circuit tomorrow to see how it goes.”

The Finn, whose performances were occasionally uncharacteristically mediocre in 2008, promised improvement. He is widely thought to be fighting for his seat for 2010, and said that he was intending to fight for the drivers crown again himself.

“Last year was not exactly what I wanted but it s in the past,” he explained. “Of course there s a big question mark about who has the best car because the rules have changed a lot. But we are very confident the car should be very good and we should see in the next few weeks how good it is against the others. For sure we ll try to win both championships.