Scuderia Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen believes that Ferrari could struggle to collect a good result at their home race in Italy this weekend.
Raikkonen, who collected a season-best of fourth in Belgium, has endured a challenging season and is currently in 10th in the championship.
The Finn is unsure that he can maintain his momentum from Spa Francorchamps into the upcoming event at Monza.
"We expect to have a little bit more difficult race here because straight line speed is what we are lacking a bit, not so much in qualifying but in the race, where we have a bigger disadvantage," he said.
"We expected that situation in Spa, but it turned out to be surprisingly good for us, so hopefully we will find something similar here, but we need to wait and see tomorrow. So it should be difficult, but hopefully we are wrong!"
Raikkonen is hopeful that he can be in contention for podium finishes by the end of the season.
"Our aim is to be nearer the front because we are not where we should be as a team and we are working hard on that," he said.
"If it’s not for the end of the year, then it will be next year, because it will be hard to make big steps from now to the end of the season. We are improving little by little and hopefully we can be in the fight for podiums later in the year."
