Ferrari and Fiat Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said on Wednesday that he was confident his team could retain its title this year and that one of its drivers would once again win the championship.
''Yes, I'm confident we can win the Formula 1 title again this year, knock on wood. We won last year because we were a better team, and this year we have an even better car,'' Montezemolo said during an interview with popular American talk show host Charlie Rose.
Looking back at his long years at Ferrari, Montezemolo said the high points were ''winning both the Formula 1 drivers' and constructors' championships in 2000, after over 20 years, and winning the Best Place to Work award in Europe in 2007''.
Ferrari currently leads the constructors' standings with 69 points after six races, ahead of McLaren-Mercedes with 53 points and BMW Sauber with 52.
Ferrari's reigning world champion driver Kimi Raikkonen had been in the lead of the drivers' championship until the last race, the Monaco Grand Prix, but now trails McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by three points and is one point ahead of teammate Felipe Massa.
Despite starting in the front row, with Massa in pole, Raikkonen failed to collect any points in Monaco. On Wednesday he said he had put this behind him and was out for a win this weekend in Canada.
''Nothing has been won and nothing has been lost. There is no point in panicking after Monaco, because compared to last year the situation is much better.
''I won't change anything in my approach for the upcoming weekend. The designated target is to win and we will give our best,'' Raikkonen said.
