F1: Kimi Raikkonen acknowledges full-time rally switch possible

From GMM

Finnish Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen said on Thursday it is possible he will launch a full time rallying career in the future.

"Yes, definitely," the Ferrari driver told reporters at Jyvaskyla ahead of his World Rally Championship debut this weekend in Finland.

"I am still in F1 and still have one more year's contract but everything is open," Raikkonen added.

"It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. I am in no hurry."

He said he might contest more rounds of the WRC next year.

"I don't know. "If I have the time, then maybe. I like learning different things so if I have no testing, and the time, then I will do more rallies -- I enjoy it and there is no harm in it," said Raikkonen.

In the wake of Felipe Massa's Budapest accident, Raikkonen also commented on his new teammate for the remainder of the 2009 season: Michael Schumacher.

"For me it makes no difference who drives the second car," said the Finn. "I don't think it is 100 per cent sure that he will drive as he is still checking things out.

"But it will be nice to have him as a teammate. It nearly happened before," Raikkonen said, referring to mid 2006 when Schumacher was still deciding whether or not to retire.