Raikkonen: No more pressure than in '07

With Formula One enjoying a close four-way title contest, there is an increased burden on all the drivers involved not to give away points that could prove so valuable at the end of the season.

Speaking at Silverstone, Raikkonen said he did not think the 2008 campaign was any more intense than last season's battle was.

"I think it has been more or less similar to last year," said the Finn. "Not much has changed from then. We had some bad races last year that we couldn't finish, and this year was the same thing.

"We've had two wins and quite good speed, like before. The only difference is that we are much closer this season in the points than we were last year. So hopefully it can help us and hopefully we can still come back and be up there when it really matters."

Ferrari are pre-event favourites for the British Grand Prix following Raikkonen's triumph in 2007, but Lewis Hamilton's quick time in testing last week has meant things could be more open than originally anticipated.

"Last year we were strong," said Raikkonen, who has had an engine change for this weekend's race. "But looking at the last test the McLaren seems to be strong. So I think it's going to be a close fight, and last year it was a close fight, and I don't see why it should be any different this year."

And after the disappointment of Magny-Cours, where a broken exhaust cost Raikkonen victory, he admits his focus at Silverstone is purely on gaining ground in the championship.

"It's always important to win the races but it also depends on what other people are doing. If you can finish ahead of them but are still not able to win then it's not such a bad thing. If we can't win then second is a good thing.

"Any time when we can finish in front of the person who is ahead in the championship is good for us. So there are many different things that can happen. For sure we will try to win, and we should have a good chance, so we'll see what we can do."