Shell in SPA

Lisa Lilley, Shell Technology Manager for Ferrari, commented: "The first victory of a season is always sweet and to celebrate it here is fantastic. Kimi drove a great race and the whole team must take credit for the ten points here. Everyone knew how important a good KERS system was around Spa-Francorchamps and Shell’s bespoke fluid help Kimi to leapfrog Fisichella and take the victory.” Despite taking nothing away from Belgium, Jenson Button of Brawn GP still leads the Drivers’ Championship with 72 points, but his lead has been cut further by teammate Rubens Barrichello, now on 56 points. Sebastian Vettel overtakes his fellow Red Bull Racing driver, Mark Webber, to take third spot with 53 points. Kimi Räikkönen of Scuderia Ferrari jumps two places and is now fifth with 34 points. In the Constructors' Championship, Brawn GP increases its total to 128 points, while Red Bull Racing, in second, closes the gap on 104.5 points. Scuderia Ferrari consolidates its third place and extends its lead over fourth placed team, McLaren Mercedes, with 56 points with only five races remaining. In two weeks’ time the FIA Formula One World Championship completes the European leg of the season at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Tifosi will, no doubt, be out in force to cheer on the Scuderia at its home Grand Prix between the 11 and 13 September 2009.
Selected comments from Scuderia Ferrari after the race:

Kimi Räikkönen celebrates his maiden win of 2009.
Stefano Domenicali: “We are very happy with this win, which is a reward for all the hard work that the entire team has done during such a difficult and at the same time, dramatic season. I wish to dedicate it first and foremost to President Montezemolo, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow. I don’t think he could have asked for a better present. Thanks go to our partners, first and foremost Philip Morris and Shell, who have always stood shoulder to shoulder with us, as have our fans, with their unfailing support. A thought also goes to Felipe who kept in touch from Miami, where tomorrow he undergoes a medical check. Kimi drove an amazing race today: we knew the first lap would be decisive and so it proved. He drove impeccably all race long and the team was at its very best during the two pit stops.”

Kimi Räikkönen: “A great victory for me and the team. The champagne tastes the same wherever you are on the podium, but the feeling when you win is definitely different. This track has everything a driver could want and it’s a pleasure to drive here, however, there’s no particular secret to explain why I’ve won here four times. We wanted to win at least one race and we’ve done it. At the first corner and at the end of the straight, I managed to move up to second. Behind the Safety Car, I thought mainly about keeping the tyres and brakes up to temperature to be able to attack Fisichella at the restart, and that’s how I managed to pass him quite easily.”