With five rounds to go in the 2007 Formula One season, the Finn knows his visit to the Italian circuit - the first time as a Ferrari driver - is crucial.

Autosport.com caught up with him during today's testing lunch break.

Q: Do you have any fond memories from Monza?

Kimi Raikkonen: "I enjoy driving here. I've always been competitive, but I've never been able to win, so hopefully this year we can change that. But it's a nice place to come to."

Q: This is your first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver. Is it different?

Raikkonen: "I think the driving does not change either way, but sure, there are lots more fans. People expect us to do well, and that is what we are going to do. We give our best and try to win the race.

"But it is more hassle here than driving a McLaren? I think racing-wise, there is not much change."

Q: In Turkey last weekend, qualifying was a crucial factor. Will it be the same in Monza next week?

Raikkonen: "I think every race this year, if you start from the front, you have better chance to win than when stuck behind.

"Hopefully we will have a strong qualifying - it will make our life a lot easier."

Q: How is the test going so far?

Raikkonen: "It is difficult to say; we have not done too much set-up so far. Hopefully we can do that in the afternoon. I have a good feeling with the car - sure, there are some details to be solved, but overall it is OK."

Q: McLaren look very fast here. Are you worried?

Raikkonen: "Not really. I don't see any reason to be worried on testing - you don't know how much fuel every one is carrying.

"But they will be strong, you can see how it goes, and sure it is going to be a close fight with them."

Q: So you expect the two teams to be very close again?

Raikkonen: "I think so. If you look at most races, I don't see why it should change."

Q: Monza is a fast track. Can that be an advantage for Ferrari?

Raikkonen: "There are better places than here. This is low downforce and not many corners, braking and over the kerbs. So it is one of those special circuits that are not normal. But I think we have a good package. We'll see..." 

Kimi Raikkonen says he will approach the final six races of the season more aggressively, taking more risks in an attempt to increase his wins tally and battle for the championship title.

The Ferrari driver is currently third in the points standings, behind McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

But Raikkonen, who is 20 points behind Hamilton, believes he has the advantage of entering the final third of the season care-free compared to his title rivals.

"I will confront these last races in the same spirit I confronted the ones before: I'll try to win and collect as many points as possible and then we will do the maths in the classification," Raikkonen said.

"We have to give our best and hope that those who are ahead of us have slight problems; I don't have much to lose, so I can risk more than my colleagues at McLaren.

"Six races can seem to be only a few, but for the ones who are leading it's a lot. We were able to see that over the last weekend at the Rally of Germany, where Gronholm paid a high price for a bad day."

Raikkonen, who like the rest of the Formula One paddock, returns this weekend after a three-week summer break, said he was optimistic of the upcoming Turkish Grand Prix this weekend and revealed his car will feature a few technical updates.

"I spoke to the technicians and they told me that we have a couple of new developments in the car," Raikkonen said.

"We have to confront the last part of the season, the one in which everything will be decided. There are three races in four weeks, plus a test: this is certain to be a very busy period, but we are racing on tracks, which are amongst my favourites - Istanbul, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps.

"I think that these are tracks where Ferrari should be very competitive: there are no characteristics that are against us.

"The whole team is working together, to try to recuperate the gap in the points: in Maranello they didn't stop working over the last days!" 

Rome - Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will be trying to beat each other this Formula One season.

"It will be a healthy competition between two drivers that could create great results," Ferrari team director Jean Todt said in Monday's edition of Corriere Della Sera.

"We will be very careful to make sure that this internal rivalry does not become counterproductive. The interests of Ferrari are what is most important, and Raikkonen and Massa know this law very well."

Raikkonen is replacing the retired seven-time champion Michael Schumacher at Ferrari this season. Massa is entering his second season with the team.

During Schumacher's 11 years with Ferrari, the team's second driver was often relegated to a support role. At the Austrian Grand Prix in 2002, Rubens Barrichello was ordered by the team to move aside on the final straight and let Schumacher win.

Schumacher remains with the team as a special adviser.

"We intend to take advantage of his knowledge and experience, which I maintain that only he has in the world," Todt said of Schumacher.

Ferrari is holding its annual winter retreat in Madonna di Campiglio this week. The team's 2007 car will be presented Sunday and tested for the first time by Massa on January 15 at the team's track in Fiorano.

Raikkonen will get his first drive behind the wheel of a Ferrari on January 21. at Mugello.