Sebastian Vettel has vowed to keep his foot to the floor on his outside shot at the 2015 world championship.
Having entered the break with a second win of the season, Vettel has now been buoyed by the news that his preferred choice as Ferrari teammate is staying put for 2016.
"Kimi is straightforward and cool," the German told the Berliner Kurier newspaper as he attended a sponsor appointment at the Cologne Bonn airport before travelling to Belgium.
"We get on well together," added Vettel.
Ferrari figures including Vettel have played down their chances of beating the more competitive Mercedes to this year’s championships.
But Vettel said that does not mean he is giving up.
"We will give everything all the way to the end," he is quoted by DPA news agency. "We want to make the impossible possible.
"If there is a chance, then we need to keep it alive," he added.
"The victory in Budapest was a surprise but it gave us all a boost," said the former quadruple world champion, who lies 41 points behind Lewis Hamilton’s title lead.
"We are not in the favourite’s role yet, but we want to change that in the future. We will do everything to continue to annoy Mercedes," added Vettel.
This weekend will be Vettel’s 150th career grand prix.
"When I saw the paint on the car I realised it is Ferrari’s 900th race," said the German. "And it’s my 150th, which I also didn’t realise as I was not counting.
"This race will be the replacement for my missing home grand prix," Vettel added.