Kimi: Ferrari deal may be my last

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted that he is unlikely to match Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary record in Formula 1 – simply because he doesn’t see himself staying in the sport long enough to do so.

The 27-year-old Finn has stepped into Schumacher’s seat at Ferrari after the seven-time world champion's retirement at the end of last season.

But although he believes the Maranello squad will give him his best opportunity of winning the title after two near-misses in 2003 and 2005, Raikkonen does not expect to emulate Schumacher.

“Probably not,” he said in an interview with German newspaper Bild.

“With the right car and team it’s possible to beat Michael’s record.

“[But] I won’t be driving for long enough to win seven titles.

“Maybe the Ferrari contract is my last already.”

Raikkonen is confident that he made the right move in switching from McLaren to Ferrari.

“I decided to go to Ferrari a long time ago and I’m convinced that I can become world champion with them.”

And he expects team-mate Felipe Massa, rather than double world champion Fernando Alonso, to be his main rival next year.

“[Winning the title] is my goal: whether I can achieve it immediately, it’s hard to say.

“My toughest opponent won’t be Alonso, but my team-mate Felipe.

“From now on, I will only see McLaren-Mercedes in my rear view mirrors!”

“My toughest opponent won’t be Alonso, but my team-mate Felipe.

“From now on, I will only see McLaren-Mercedes in my rear view mirrors!”