Kimi Raikkonen says he wants to stay with Ferrari in F1 in 2016

Kimi Raikkonen says he wants to stay with the Ferrari Formula 1 team next season but is none the wiser as to whether it wants to keep him

The 2007 world champion's future has been the subject of intense speculation this year on the back of an inconsistent first half of the season which has left him 59 points adrift of team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said recently it would be demotivating to decide the Finn's future already but he added it is up to Raikkonen to prove he deserves the seat.

Raikkonen's deal runs until the end of this season, with an option on the team's side for 2016.

"Every year I'm in the same situation - it makes no difference if I have a contract or not," said Raikkonen. "I have a contract but it is an option.

"I made it very clear to the team what I would like to happen which is to be here next year, but I don't know any more than you guys.

"I don't read a lot of stuff in the press but I can see a lot being written.

"I don't know what will happen so there is no point in guessing.

"I would like to know but I will wait until I know and we see what happens after that.

"I'm pretty sure I will be one of the first to know rather than reading from a newspaper."

Despite the speculation surrounding his future and the number of problems he has suffered so far, Raikkonen remains confident in his ability.

"I don't see the point in racing if I didn't believe I have the speed," he said. "I am sure I have.

"I have demonstrated many times but when you look at the points and results sometimes it doesn't show.

"I know the real story, it's no real problem for me."