MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy, Jan 10, 2008 (AFP) - It´s been a big week for Ferrari with the unveiling of their new F2008 car and a joint Ducati-Ferrari press launch in the snow here.

It´s been a time of reflection and forward-planning, with old scars opened up over the spygate scandal but also new seeds of hope planted for the future.

On the track things seem to be calm with last season´s double title-winning pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa kept together, which should give Ferrari an advantage over their nearest rivals McLaren and Renault, who have undergone significant driver changes.

Former double world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso left McLaren after a fractious season with them and returned to Renault, where he won his two world titles, with Heikki Kovalainen heading in the other direction.

But at Ferrari the only on-track concerns seem to have been regarding traction control, whereas off it, there is a new boss at the helm with Italian Stefano Domenicali replacing Frenchman Jean Todt.

And Domenicali´s first task has been to try to consign the spy scandal, where McLaren were fined 100 million dollars and stripped of their constructors´ points for being in possession of classified Ferrari documentation, firmly behind them.

"For the good of the sport we need to look forward, the past is the past," he said.

"They are difficult wounds to heal. I won´t forget what happened. We have always maintained good faith. It is the value we hold most dear."

He is more concerned about how the loss of traction control may help other teams close the gap on Ferrari, who reigned supreme last season.

"I think we have to be cautious. We have some rule changes and also some major changes," he added.

"We must think that all our opponents have made a step forward so McLaren surely remains one of the strongest adversaries and opponents."

"We have to respect Renault because last year I think they focused more than any others on the development of the car for this year, the 2008 season."

As for the drivers themselves they have a lot to live up to in trying to defend the titles they won last year.

Champion Raikkonen believes he will be better placed this season than he was last time out when he was new to the team.

And despite being champion, he´s not expecting any favouritism from the team.

"We drivers start the season at the same level, everybody, and try to do the best that we can," he said.

"We try to win races. There´s a point in the season when the other guy´s in a better position, you need to make sure that he can get all the efforts from the team and all the chances so I don´t really worry about whether I´m number one or number two.

"I always do my best, that´s the main thing."

Brazilian Massa is hoping to have a bit more luck this season than he did a year ago when he finished fourth after some inconsistent displays and mechanical problems cost him vital points.

He won three races and finished on the podium 10 times but still ended the season 16 points behind Raikkonen.

"I hope in 2008 to have a bit more luck and consistency than I did in 2007," said Massa.

"The team worked really well as a group. I recognise that 100 percent. If I had a chance to win the team did everything to help me.

"Last season I gave no less than Kimi. Until Monza (the Italian GP, the 13th of 17) I was ahead of him in the standings.

"That was the dreadful moment when I had a mechanical problem and the title slipped away from me. I had the potential to try to win the title."