Raikkonen only interested in winning car

The 2007 world champion will leave Ferrari at the end of the season to make room for Fernando Alonso, but the Finn has cast doubt over his future in F1, saying he is yet to decide if he will stay in the championship.

Raikkonen has made it clear, however, that he will only stay in grand prix racing if he finds a car that allows him to fight for victories right away.

"There are many different choices that you want," Raikkonen, who has won just once this year, told reporters in Japan.

"But first of all, you want a contract you are happy with, and a car that you have a chance to win the championship with. There is no point to go to a smaller team and just drive. I get nothing from that.

"Like I said, if I want to race, I want to have a car that is ready there next year to win the championship. I want to have at least given myself the chance - and then it is up to me and the team to see what happens. But at least you have to have a car in the first part that gives you a chance to win.

"I have no interest to drive around just in 10th place. I get nothing from that. I would rather stay home and do something else.

"If I cannot have the proper team, with a proper winning car, then I will think about it."

The Ferrari driver, who has been linked with a return to McLaren, said his situation is unlikely to be resolved quickly.

When asked if his future will be sorted in a few days, he said: "No."

He added: "Like I said, I have no contract for next year. I am looking at different options and we will see what happens in the future. I don't know when we are going to tell anything - or if we have anything to tell."

The Finn admitted even a switch to the World Rally Championship would make no sense to him if it wasn't with a competitive team.

"It is the same story. There is no point to go there if you don't get a good car and a good team. Whatever you do, you need to give yourself a chance to be up there, and have the equipment to fight for the best possible positions."