Does Kimi have Renault fall-back option?

Kimi Raikkonen may have an option to join the Renault team should Michael Schumacher decide to prolong his Formula One career for another year, according to rumours in the Spanish press.

Sports specialist AS claims that Raikkonen has signed pre-contractual agreements with both frontrunning teams in order to guarantee himself number one status next season, and will only decide where to go once it becomes clear whether Schumacher intends to retire or not.

While that suggestion conflicts with others that claim Raikkonen will be unveiled as a Ferrari driver at next weekend's Italian Grand Prix, regardless of what Schumacher decides, it carries some weight as no-one can really see the two agreeing to share number one status at the Scuderia in 2007. With Fernando Alonso heading to McLaren next season, the top job at Renault must remain inviting to Raikkonen, and could explain why thee has been some prevarication over the naming of countryman Heikki Kovalainen alongside Giancarlo Fisichella. It could also go some way to understanding Felipe Massa's relaxed demeanour of late.

According to the report, Raikkonen would be free to cancel his Renault 'deal' should Schumacher announce his retirement next weekend. Ferrari has promised to reveal its hand after the Monza race, although counter-speculation reckons that the team will name Raikkonen as a definite, while confirming contracts with both Schumacher and Massa, giving the seven-time champion extra time to determine his future, as well as concentrate on his championship battle with Alonso.

The paddock remains firmly in the dark with regard to Schumacher's intentions, with many claiming that the German himself is still unsure of which path to take. Bernie Ecclestone, despite personally wishing that Schumacher stays on, was leaning more towards his retirement when questioned in Turkey, while Ferrari boss Jean Todt dismissed all such gossip.

According to AS, Raikkonen's tie to Ferrari expired on 8 August, leaving him free to negotiate elsewhere. When there was no call from Maranello, he presumably took it that Schumacher wasn't quitting, only for Ferrari to get back in touch when the German's manager, Willi Weber, suggested that it might be apt for Schumi to go out on the high of an eighth title.

As expected, neither team was prepared to discuss its position with regard to drivers, but Schumacher's decision, and the knock-on effect that will have on Raikkonen, also appears to be costing Kovalainen the peace of mind of knowing that his future is settled. The Finn apparently has a commitment from manager Flavio Briatore to place him in a race seat next year, which many take to be the vacant seat alongside Fisichella. However, when Raikkonen appeared on the scene as a potential Renault pilot, Kovalainen's name was touted as a possibility for Red Bull or Toro Rosso - only for those two teams to all but announce their 2007 line-ups after Hungary, leaving the Finn with the choice of Midland or Super Aguri next year should he not be accommodated at Renault.