Sauber says Kimi 'is egotistical'

Raikkonen burst onto the F1 scene this year when Sauber plucked the young Finn from British Formula Renault and gave him a drive alongside Nick Heidfeld for 2001. The 21-year-old has made a big impression and has bagged Mika Hakkinen's seat at McLaren for next year.

However, as well as showing amazing talent and maturity in the car this year, Sauber believes Raikkonen has the mindset necessary to make it to the top, but it might not win him many friends.

"I knew Kimi was fast from his first test at Mugello," Sauber told this week's Autosport. "And after three races I knew he was very talented, extremely focused and also egotistical. He thinks he is quicker than anybody.

"All these things add up to him being a good racing driver, although not necessarily a nice one. He was concentrated only on his own success."

Sauber is known to have wanted to hold onto Raikkonen and keep him at the Swiss team for at least another year. The young hotshoe had a contract with the Hinwil-based outfit until the end of 2003 with an option for 2004. However, once the McLaren drive became available, he was never going to stay put.

"When he got the offer from McLaren, Kimi and his management came to see me about 10 days before Hockenheim and told me they had the possibility to drive a good car in 2002," said Sauber. "Kimi said that with this car he could be the youngest world champion in history and for him it was an absolute must to go in this direction.

It is thought that McLaren paid up to £13.5 million to buy Raikkonen out of his contract, and Sauber insists that he is going to use the money to push his squad forward, rather than buy shares from the team's major shareholder Red Bull boss Dieter Mateschitz. He sees no need in owning an extra stake as he already has the major say in how the team is run.