Raikkonen for Ferrari?

"I like Kimi," said Todt. "He's quick, naturally talented. I like Kimi's style, but for the moment it's really only from a spectator's point of view."

In the most wide-ranging interview he has ever given, Todt dropped strong hints that he considers Räikkönen a potential replacement for the current world champion, while being naturally reluctant to reveal his hand too openly. "When the time comes, I'll decide to go for a certain guy, and that might be Kimi,"

Todt told F1 Racing's editor in chief, Matt Bishop. "The guy I go for might be contracted, of course, but I might try to fight that contract."

Todt developed an admiration for Finnish drivers generally when, in earlier years, he was an international rallying co-driver and team manager. "Kimi doesn't make wild statements. He doesn't try to raise his profile," said Todt. "I like that. If you want me to tell you which I prefer out of [Juan Pablo] Montoya or Räikkönen, then I'll tell you I prefer Räikkönen. Montoya is a very talented driver, but he's too wild for me - sometimes unnecessarily wild."

Both Räikkönen and Montoya will be contracted to McLaren in 2005, and both, therefore, will be under the control of McLaren boss Ron Dennis, a team leader Todt also has mixed feelings about. In the past, Dennis has hinted strongly that he believes Ferrari have sometimes been rather too creative with respect to the sport's regulations, an accusation that drew the following response from Todt in his F1 Racing interview, published today.

"I respect [McLaren] greatly, because I admire what they've achieved. As for Ron, he's a real racer. Having said that, I think he's too arrogant, and very often isn't fair in his judgement. He should respect Ferrari for what Ferrari are and what Ferrari do. Why criticise proficient people who are simply doing a good job? In the past I remember Ferrari being accused [by Dennis] of using illegal traction control. Ridiculous."

In a rare display of candour, Todt also singles out Sir Frank Williams for particular praise, and is unusually forthcoming on what he considers to be the weaknesses of his friend Michael Schumacher.