Analysis: Belgium Boosts Raikkonen's Reputation

Kimi Raikkonen's reputation as a future Formula One champion is shining brighter than ever despite his failure to finish Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver boosted his standing at the circuit that proved a springboard for Michael Schumacher a decade ago and that on Sunday saw the German become the first to win 10 times in a season.

The Finn was fastest in practice on both Friday and Saturday and the only man to trouble Ferrari's five times champion in a qualifying session that brought him the first front row start of his career.

In July he had led Schumacher in the French Grand Prix until he made a mistake with five laps remaining in a race that sealed the German's record-equalling fifth World Championship. That second place remains his best to date in a season when few drivers have had a look in if they are not in a Ferrari.

For those looking into the crystal ball in search of an eventual successor to the all-conquering Schumacher, Raikkonen is one of the faces that emerges most clearly. Martin Brundle, teammate to Schumacher 10 years ago and now a British television commentator as well as manager for Raikkonen's McLaren teammate David Coulthard, had no reservations about the 22-year-old's promise.

"There's no doubt about it, a few years from now the World Championship is going to be between Kimi Raikkonen, probably (Juan Pablo) Montoya and some other fresh names we've not yet heard of," he said at Spa.

"In a few years' time," he added, in case it might be understood that Coulthard was no longer in with a shout.

New Level

Coulthard, fourth at Spa, is still beating the young charger on the track and has years more experience. But Raikkonen, who replaced two times champion and compatriot Mika Hakkinen at McLaren this season, is proving a thorn in the Scot's side even if the older man has scored more points and been more consistent.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's managing director, agreed that Raikkonen was learning fast and that he had reached a new level despite being hampered by his tyre choice on Sunday.

"He's going to win a race very soon, we'd love it to be this year, and he's going to be a World Champion with us," he said after Sunday's race in which Raikkonen retired while in fifth place with a blown engine.

"He is going to (win). You can see and you sense it in the team, you sense it in Kimi, that there is a win that is going to happen there and it's going to be very soon."

Whitmarsh said the Finn, a keen snowboarder dubbed the "Ice Man" by his team for his complete composure and seeming lack of nerves, had shown signs of class over the weekend.

The telemetry data and Raikkonen's radio communications all told the same story.

"In the last few races, it's been more obvious," said Whitmarsh. "You can see all those signs of magic."

One in particular was the way in which Raikkonen, during qualifying, roared blind through a cloud of smoke left by the blown engine of Olivier Panis' BAR. The Finn - who entered Formula One with Sauber last year after just 23 races in open-wheel single seater cars - saw the oil trail left by the car, radioed his team, and continued flat out without hesitation.

"The alertness just to be able to say 'I can see the oil trail, I'll steer away from it'. Those things, they are the very special drivers that have that," said Whitmarsh. "I think there is real magic there and I think people are now seeing it and he's getting stronger and stronger."