Raikkonen Can be Champion, Says Coulthard

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen can still become the youngest ever Formula One World Champion this year, according to McLaren teammate David Coulthard.

"Absolutely. I think he can," the Scot told reporters before Sunday's German Grand Prix.

"He just needs consistent podium finishes and Michael (Schumacher) not having those. He had a hard time at Silverstone but still managed to get some reasonable points. We shall see how the coming races play out.

"In the last couple of races we haven't looked the strongest car but at the Nurburgring the car went very strong. I think it's capable of still winning races and more importantly finishing consistently on the podium."

Raikkonen, 23, is second overall in the Championship and seven points adrift of Ferrari's champion Schumacher with five races remaining. Coulthard is effectively out of the running, 29 points behind his teammate.

Asked whether 'team orders' might now be imposed by McLaren for him to support Raikkonen's title challenge, Coulthard pointed out that obvious measures were banned.

"I think private matters for the team by their very nature have to be private, and obviously there is an instruction by the FIA (Formula One's governing body, the International Automobile Federation) that you can't give a direct team order," he said.

Raikkonen said he had not heard anything from the team about Coulthard helping him. "It's not often in the race that it can even happen," he said.