Make way for Montoya - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen has written off Renault’s chances of victory at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix – believing McLaren team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya is the one to watch.

Raikkonen and Montoya were the quickest of the race drivers following the initial two practice sessions at Monza, with test partner Pedro de la Rosa earlier underlining the ability of the car in the morning run.

De la Rosa set a time of one minute 20.201 seconds, almost a second quicker than the lap record set by Rubens Barrichello in the Ferrari on his way to winning last year’s race.

It is expected Raikkonen and Montoya will continue to dominate the weekend given the power advantage of the car, with the hope of finally collecting the team’s first one-two for five years.

That would increase the pressure on Renault, who hold a mere nine-point advantage in the constructors’ championship, and on Fernando Alonso whose lead in the drivers’ title race has been eroded from 36 points to 24 after back-to-back wins in the last two grands prix for Raikkonen.

The Finn is certainly dismissive of any threat posed by Renault because when asked if Montoya would be his biggest rival, he replied: “For sure because he has the same car as me.

“The tests certainly showed we have good speed, so it looks okay. Hopefully we can have a strong race for the team.”

It was BAR driver Jenson Button who yesterday insisted Raikkonen could go on and win the remaining five races this year providing the McLaren proved reliable.

Raikkonen would love to prove Button correct, adding: “It would be good for us to win the next five races, but it’s going to be hard.

“We’ll just do the best we can and hopefully together we can win lots of races and see what happens. We will be very close.

“It all depends on what happens to Renault that makes the difference and says how well we will do in the races.

“But for a long time we’ve had nothing to lose and we can only gain now for the rest of the year.

“Unfortunately, Juan Pablo’s spin in Turkey allowed Fernando to take another two points and they could be costly.

“All I can do now is my best for the rest of the year.”

Rumours are circulating Raikkonen is to join Ferrari for 2007 in a swap for Michael Schumacher when their respective deals expire at the end of next year.

The 25-year-old did little to dispel such suggestions as he said: “There are always rumours on my future.

“There are always things being said at this time of year, but I have a strong contract with McLaren, so I’ll be here as long as I have that.

“I haven’t decided on where I want to be after 2006, but at the moment I’m happy here and I’m just thinking about the race.”