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SINGAPORE: Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen insists he is committed to Ferrari in 2010 as speculation mounts that the Finn will be dumped in favour of Spain's Fernando Alonso.
Media reports in Italy and Britain this week have quoted Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo as saying he would retain injured Brazilian Felipe Massa next year but had yet to decide who would be his partner.
Renault's Alonso has long been linked with a switch to Ferrari, with Di Montezemolo admitting at the Italian Grand Prix that he was interested in hiring the double world champion at some point in the future.
Raikonnen said he had a Ferrari contract for 2010 and planned to honour it.
"I always can only repeat that I have a contract - and that has not changed," he told Formula One's official website.
"If they want to talk with me, we need to sit down to talk. I am fully committed, as otherwise I would not have signed the contract in the first place."
Earlier this week, Di Montezemolo was quoted by Italy's La Stampa as saying Ferrari was considering a straight choice between Alonso and Raikkonen as Massa's team-mate.
"A Spanish or a Finnish driver? We'll take some decisions within a few weeks," he said.
"What's certain is that we'll have a Brazilian driver who deserves another chance, because thank God he is fine now. As for the rest, we are pondering over the best choice."
Massa was in a horrific accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July when he was struck at high speed by a spring that flew off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car, causing severe head injuries.
Giancarlo Fisichella was drafted in from Force India to take Massa's place temporarily and will be Ferrari's test driver next year.
Raikkonen has been linked with former team McLaren or championship leaders Brawn for next year, but so has Williams' Nico Rosberg.
Germany's Rosberg said here Thursday that he would love to team up with his good friend Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.
"I was team-mates with Lewis in go-karts. We had a great time at the time, so I would enjoy being team-mates with Lewis again in the future," he said.
Hamilton added: "I know that a lot's been said, I don?t know what?s going to happen, but obviously we?ve got a great relationship. At the moment I?m very happy with how things are in the team but we have to see what happens."
Heikki Kovalainen currently partners Hamilton but the Finn has endured a difficult season with just one podium finish when he came second at the European Grand Prix.
- AFP/yb
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