Raikkonen has been disappointed by two world championship near misses in three seasons, with poor reliability a factor in each.

He is reported to have already agreed a pre-contract with Ferrari, who are on the look out for a top driver to replace Michael Schumacher.

The seven-time world champion’s Ferrari contract expires at the end of next season and he is expected to retire then, rather than race beyond his 38th birthday.

Raikkonen, 25, did little to silence talk of an impending Ferrari switch when given the opportunity today, only confirming he will stay at McLaren for 2006.

“They’re not new rumours, they are already three years old,” he said at Suzuka in the build up to the Japanese Grand Prix. “But of course now everyone knows that my contract is only to next year with McLaren so maybe it becomes more exciting to write those rumours.

“But the fact is that I have a contract next year and I am happy with the team.

“For sure the car will also be good next year and I don’t see any reason to go anywhere else. Okay, after next year we will see again.”

Raikkonen is confident he will have a car capable of fighting for the title next season, when he hopes to make it third time lucky having missed out by whisker in 2003 and despite having a faster car this year.

He added: “We will try to fight for the championship and try to win it but with all the new rules we don’t know what is going to happen next year.

“But I think we will have a good package anyhow and hopefully it will be good enough for winning races and fighting for the championship.”