After two successive victories in Hungary and the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix, McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen is hoping to make it a hat trick this coming weekend at the Monza circuit in Italy, home to the fifteenth round of the 2005 Formula One championship season. It is well known that the Monza circuit is the fastest on the calendar and Kimi is more than up to the challenge that will await him there this weekend.

"It was a great race in Turkey and the new track meant we had entertaining racing,” he said. “The car continued to feel really strong and quick, which is very encouraging on such a challenging circuit. However, Monza is considerably quicker. It is the fastest track with speeds averaging 250km/h, and we run with the lowest downforce set-up all season. There are a couple of sections where you need to drive fully flat out to be quick, the main one is Parabolica; you have to maintain your speed through here as it swings you round onto the main straight.”

By taking the victory in Turkey, Kimi has reduced the gap to current points leader, Fernando Alonso to just twenty four points and while only five races remain before seasons end, the young Finn won’t give up his push to take the crown for himself.

“The situation in both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships is still open and nobody knows what's going to happen until the last race in October. The car has the pace to win, and I am not giving up the fight, so we shall see," he added.