Schumacher turns 37 in fighting spirit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-02 21:51

Ferrari have openly admired the Finn since he finished runner-up to Schumacher in 2003, with paddock speculation suggesting he may even have a pre-agreement with the team.

Raikkonen's McLaren contract expires this year and the 26-year-old is now the hottest property on the market.

With 24-year-old Alonso spoken for, Ferrari need a star for the post-Schumacher era and cannot wait much longer to see what their greatest champion wants to do.

With Brazilian Felipe Massa signed only for 2006 at Ferrari, Schumacher and Raikkonen could be paired up next year but the wage bill would be colossal.

Raikkonen would also not move unless he could be guaranteed at least equal terms on the track with his team mate, thereby ending Schumacher's current pre-eminence.

Were Raikkonen to stay where he is, Ferrari would then have to contend with a 'super-team' reminiscent of McLaren's Ayrton Senna-Prost pairing of 1988-89.

Schumacher has said repeatedly that he will not drive for another team after a decade at Ferrari but, as Alonso and McLaren showed, Formula One has a habit of springing surprises.

Some in the media have already wondered whether the German might be tempted to join Ferrari-powered Red Bull for a final fling in an Adrian Newey-designed car in 2007.