Heidfeld: I'm as good as Kimi.

Even though his former Sauber team-mate is currently Michael Schumacher's closest world title rival, Nick Heidfeld still feels that he should have had a shot at the second McLaren seat instead of Kimi Raikkonen.

The German was a Mercedes-supported junior driver before Raikkonen even made the jump from karts to cars, but the Finn's rapid rise through the ranks caught the Woking team's eye, and it duly selected him to partner David Coulthard following Mika Hakkinen's retirement in 2001. Although Heidfeld can understand why McLaren chose the mercurial Raikkonen, he still has difficulty coming to terms with the fact that he was not given the chance after he largely out-gunned the British FRenault champion in his debut season.

"It was from quite early on that they were speaking with Kimi, so it didn't come as a surprise to me when they signed him," the 25-year old told Reuters, "But I still don't understand why they went for him over me.

"Kimi is doing a good job now - as well as he did at Sauber - but we've been in the same team in the same year and I was quicker than him in qualifying and also in the race. So I think I did a good performance. Okay, it was his first year and my second year, but still I was happy with my performance."

The 1999 FIA F3000 champion had a difficult debut season of his own, partnering Jean Alesi at an ailing Prost team, but has since shown flashes of form at Sauber, out-performing each of his three team-mates - rookies Raikkonen and Felipe Massa and veteran Heinz-Harald Frentzen - in recent years. Although he has not had a shot at a top three team, the German still feels he could have done as well as Raikkonen has at McLaren.

"I think I can be more sure of how I compete against him than any other driver in the paddock [other than David Coulthard], because we had the same cars," he explained.

Although Coulthard appears likely to stay with McLaren for another season - despite a disappointing 2003 campaign - Heidfeld remains hopeful of perhaps teaming up with Raikkonen in the future.

"I'm still under contract to McLaren Mercedes and, while I can't tell you the situation of the contract, I regard McLaren as obviously one of the best teams around," he said, "From my point of view, I could go straight there - but it's not my decision."

The German's contract with Sauber ends this season, and both parties are considering their options for 2004. Both McLaren and Sauber have been linked to Giancarlo Fisichella in recent weeks, and it could be that Heidfeld finds himself up against the Italian at both teams.

"Of course, I can't tell you anything for next year, but it's my third year now with Sauber, my contract runs out and we are speaking to several teams for next year," he said without committing himself, "I would like to have joined a top team already, but I think that, if I keep doing a good job, I will get my chance because I am still quite young. I think I will get the chance."