Todt would welcome Raikkonen to Ferrari

"If Ferrari needed him and found him available, the answer is yes," said Todt when asked if Raikkonen was suitable for Ferrari. "He's very strong, he never complains, he doesn't blame others if he loses."

Raikkonen, whose future is still up in the air, has been persistently linked to a move to Ferrari for 2007, especially with Michael Schumacher having yet to announce his plans for the future.

The German driver's contract ends at the end of this year, but he has said in the past he will make a decision around summer time.

Todt said he would be happy if Schumacher decided to stay.

"It's up to him, and he certainly doesn't need to wait for the end of the season to know what to do. I'll be happy if he stays, as I've said before," Told told Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Frenchman, however, claimed Ferrari know more than they are ready to reveal, saying the team's future regarding drivers is almost closed.

Todt's comments come after Schumacher said it was unlikely MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and him would be teammates at Ferrari in 2007.

"I won't comment on what he told a German paper, but we know a lot more than we're prepared to say," Todt said.

"Everything will come in due time, today I can only be a reporter. Most of Ferrari's future is ready. Not exactly 100%, but most of the open issues are closed already."

"We're free to hire someone else, regardless what Valentino wants to do. In any case he worked very well in the tests and he impressed with his dedication and performances."

Schumacher will be partnered by Felipe Massa this season, and Todt hinted that the Brazilian's future is up to him and his performances during the season.

"Massa's future depends on a certain number of parameters I don't want to talk about," he said.

"Felipe has the unique opportunity to show his worth against the winningest driver in history, and to demonstrate he deserves a great car, either a Ferrari or another one. After a season at high levels, he won't lack opportunities."

Todt also praised Massa, who he said was a positive change compared to Rubens Barrichello, who left the team to drive for Honda after Ferrari didn't offer him a multi-year contract.

"As far as laptimes are concerned, Massa and Barrichello are similar in performance, but with a different spirit. It's a positive change for everyone," he said.

"Barrichello was always determined to demonstrate he could go quicker than Michael, but when Schumacher has the means, nobody can stop him. Even now that he's 37 he shows motivation, dedication, passion, will and curiousness.

"He likes F1 and Ferrari, he doesn't have many friends and he isn't fascinated by what's outside the track.

"In the delicate parts of a Grand Prix, he speaks on the radio with the engineers as if he was sitting on a deckchair behind the pits.

"During the conversation his laptimes don't change by a single hundredth of a second, the way he replicates performance is shocking. Like any man, he has his weaknesses and anxieties, which make him a formidable person.

"The day he quits I wouldn't be surprised if he disappeared completely. I can't imagine him following the Grands Prix on TV or being a commentator."