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Formula One

Ferrari boss backs Raikkonen to bounce back

30/08/2008

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has backed under-fire driver Kimi Raikkonen to bounce back from recent set backs and challenge for the Formula One drivers' title.

Raikkonen overhauled McLaren's Lewis Hamilton with a late surge of good results at the end of the season and Domenicali sees no reason why the Finn cannot do the same again this year.

He is currently 13 points behind Hamilton and seven points adrift of team-mate Felipe Massa – who has out-performed the defending drivers' champion recently.

Raikkonen has not won a race since the Spanish grand prix at Barcelona in April but Domenicali feels it is only a matter of time before the 28-year-old is back on top of the podium.

"For me it doesn't represent a problem," Domenicali told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He'll react, he'll soon be strong again, he knows how to keep away from criticisms."

Domenicali explained Raikkonen has not been happy with the set-up of his Ferrari and says the team are working hard to get it how he wants it.

"He [Raikkonen] isn't happy with the way the car enters corners," said Domenicali. "He would like it more aggressive, and this influences him. It's up to us to carry on giving him a hand."

But the Ferrari boss admitted that when the teams reach Spa in Belgium there will be little room for error and that they must not lose more ground to Hamilton.

"What is about to start in two weeks' time in Belgium will be a sprint championship over six races, so we can't give away anything anymore," concluded Domenicali.