Equal status for Salo and Irvine

However, he says he will move over for the Irishman during Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix if asked to do so.

Ferrari boss Jean Todt dodged questions about the 32-year-old Finn's role, saying Salo needed time to play himself into the team.

The Finn admitted winning was not a priority yet - just getting the best result possible.

'No-one has told me I am second driver. As far as I know Eddie and I are at the same level,' said Salo.

'If there are team orders I will listen to them. But we are racing now and I am just going for it.'

The 32-year-old Finn has been on the telephone daily to the injured Michael Schumacher for advice on how the car's complicated electronics work.

There are more than 13 buttons and switches on the steering wheel alone and he went off Friday when he lost concentration fiddling with them.

'It was the first time I have gone off in the car in four days so its not that bad. Michael has said call any time- as long as he is not asleep.

'I have been on the phone a couple of times already - just for things only a driver can tell you, such as what to do at the start and so on.'

Salo revealed he was on the plane to Maranello two hours after getting the telephone call from Ferrari the day after Schumacher's accident - and has lived at the Fiorano test track ever since.

His only excursion before coming to Austria was to have a day off for his wedding last Saturday to long-time Japanese girlfriend Noriko Endo.

'When I told them I was getting married they said 'what time is it?' and Ithink they were contemplating putting me in the car in the morning - but there wasn't time in the end,' he added.

'I feel sorry for Noriko but we had a nice honeymoon at Maranello.'

Salo has played down the 'Mika versus Mika' battle against fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen, who was a close friend when they grew up together as children in Helsinki and lived in the same street.

He said, 'Everyone is talking about just the two of us but there are lot of other guys on the track. I want to beat everyone - not just Mika.'