Brawn: Raikkonen Can be Schumacher's Heir

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen can be Michael Schumacher's heir as Formula One champion, according to Ferrari's Ross Brawn.

"Raikkonen has shown he is, more than anyone," the British technical director told Friday's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

"It was evident last year, and in Spa we saw that now he has the tools for the job," added the Briton. "He is an exceptional driver, he doesn't appear to make many errors."

Raikkonen, overall runner-up last year, won the last Belgian Grand Prix for McLaren to end Schumacher's run of seven victories. The German still clinched his seventh World Championship with four races remaining.

Schumacher has a contract to the end of 2006 with Ferrari and shows every intention of seeing it out. However Raikkonen has increasingly been touted as a possible replacement for him at the Italian team.

"When the time comes I'll decide to go for a certain guy and that might be Kimi," team boss Jean Todt told the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine. "Then again it might not be. I like Kimi. He's quick, naturally talented. He doesn't make wild statements. He doesn't try to raise his profile. I like that.

"And in my rally career I had a lot of contact with Finnish drivers, so I know them very well. I like Kimi's style but for the moment it's really only from a spectator's point of view."