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Ferrari boss expects Raikkonen to deliver

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has backed Kimi Raikkonen to show his value as a 'champion' by helping the Maranello team claim the title this year

With Raikkonen's championship chances this year being all but ended by his crash in Singapore, the Finn must now play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa.

And although Raikkonen has failed to score any points since the Hungarian Grand Prix, di Montezemolo is sure that the reigning champion will deliver at his best in the final three races of the year

"I'm sure Kimi has understood this moment," di Montezemolo was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Besides, he is not a rookie nor a former star: we are talking about the reigning world champion, a driver who, despite a broken exhaust in Magny-Cours, did an extraordinary race. Massa told me that without that problem he would never have beaten him.

"He went quick at Spa too, but was unlucky when running off in a section where there was no run-off. By contrast Hamilton went off but was able to rejoin.

"On top of that Kimi is brave and always works for the team. In the last three races he'll have to demonstrate to everyone the effects of being a champion by helping the team and Massa. It's clear we need him at 100 percent."

Di Montezemolo has also not calmed down in his criticisms of the Singapore Grand Prix - which he claims deserves no place in F1.

"On Sunday in front of the TV I felt like I was at Disneyworld," he said. "Let's hope that at Singapore in 2009 they'll do fashion catwalks, Disney parades, or something else.

"But certainly not F1. If this is the future of racing, we are sorted... I didn't like Valencia, we'll make ourselves be heard."

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