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Raikkonen not feeling extra pressure

Kimi Raikkonen has brushed off suggestions that he needs to prove himself at Ferrari next season when he takes the team into their post-Michael Schumacher era

The Finn says it is too early to make any predictions about how he will go next year, especially because he has not yet spent any serious time with his new team.

He is even unlikely to be able to test with them until after his contract with McLaren runs out on December 31.

Speaking at his last public function with McLaren at Zurich in Switzerland, Raikkonen told Swiss magazine 20 Minuten that he was open-minded about his future.

"Even if in Ferrari I'm taking the place of a legend like Schumacher, I don't feel any pressure," he said.  "Obviously I know the team, but I don't know how it will go. I still haven't demonstrated anything with Ferrari.

"It's every driver's dream to sooner or later arrive at a top team like this one. But if I didn't sign with Ferrari I would have had other possibilities."

He added: "I don't know if we will be favourites for the title. What's certain is that Ferrari has been very strong in the last years. We'll see how the new car goes. I hope I'll have a competitive package at my disposal."

Raikkonen is due to spend this winter at home in Finland, but is keeping himself in shape just in case there is a last-minute release from McLaren that will allow him to test.

"I'd love to be able to test with Ferrari before the end of the year," added Raikkonen. "But for now I'm just keeping myself fit."

Looking back on his time at McLaren, whi failed to deliver the world championship that he is eager to clinch, Raikkonen said that he did not have any bad feelings about his time there - but said it was obvious why he chose to leave.

"My time with McLaren-Mercedes had its disappointments, but altogether I have very good memories of this time - and I would not have liked to miss those. But clearly one knows that Ferrari was very strong over the last few years.

"We don't know how the car will run, but I hope naturally that we have a good package next season."

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