RAIKKONEN INTERVIEW Monza "Retiring Never A Consideration"

(from autosport)

Q. It is looking very good today?

KR: It is probably the best that the car has been. Little by little we have found what we want for the car and at least today it was pretty good.

Q. You have extended your contract, are you more positive now?

KR: I haven't been worrying about anything. It was my decision, so I knew what I could do and what is possible. It doesn't change anything for this year or the future - I still try to do the best I can. And hopefully now we have started to find the way we want and hopefully we can get a good result.

Q. In the race conditions do you feel you are on a par with the McLaren?

KR: Today it looks like we are faster. I am very happy with how things are today.

Q. Was signing a new contract a difficult decision to make?

KR: No. I enjoy it here. Of course when you have a hard time it is sometimes not easy, but it doesn't mean you don't enjoy the driving, or I am not motivated. It is just not fun when things are not always as you want, but we have been working hard and getting things where we want which is the main thing.

Q. So retirement was never an option then?

KR: I never said it was. It was all you guys. It was not what I said. I said I had a contract for the next year at least and then we see after that. I have a couple more years and we look when the times comes for what happens after that.

Q. Why did you decide to stay at Ferrari?

KR: I always had a contract for next year anyway. I never said I was going to retire, it came from you guys. I still enjoy it. I still drive as well as I can. Sometimes when the results are not coming it is not such good fun but it doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it. It was not a very difficult choice. I enjoy working with the people, so I am happy.

Q. So an easy decision to make?

KR: I knew that I had next year so I could have waited even longer, but we came to a solution with the team and everyone happy.

Q. And you feel Ferrari are best placed to help you win another championship?

KR: I wouldn't go anywhere else. I won last year and we are still not out this year. I still enjoy it, even though sometimes it is not such good fun. When the results are not coming, it is nothing to do with the team or me – it is just that we didn't get it right together. We are making things go in the right direction though.