Raikkonen ensures his Formula 1 future

Although formal confirmation by the FIA has not been made, the 21-year-old has hardly put a foot wrong in the opening four races and scored a point in his first race in Australia. His only driving error in a race was when he spun out of sixth place in the Brazilian Grand Prix while chasing team mate Nick Heidfeld.

FIA president Max Mosley placed Raikkonen under probation, as he wasn't convinced that the Finn had enough prior experience to compete at this level after only 23 car races - although he had won 13 of them.

At Imola on Saturday, Raikkonen outqualified his more experienced partner for the first time, and prompted fellow countryman Mika Hakkinen to speak out on his behalf.

"Kimi has already shown enough potential to say, for sure, that he's going to be a great grand prix winner," Hakkinen told Motorsport News. "You can't say if he will be champion, because for that you need a special kind of patience, and it is too early to say whether he has that.

"But he learns new circuits quickly, and this is the best sign of a top driver," added the double world champion.

Raikkonen, who has a four-year contract with Sauber, said: "F1 was easier than I was expecting. It is a big step from Formula Renault, but since the first race it has felt like I belong here at this level."


qualified 13th, finished 6th
qualified 14th, DNF (transmission, 0 laps)
qualified 10th, DNF (spun off from sixth place, 55 laps)
qualified 10th, DNF (steering wheel came off, 17 laps)