Raikkonen: Ferrari F1 future not in my hands

Kimi Raikkonen doubts his position in the Formula 1 drivers' championship will have much of an impact on his future with the Ferrari team beyond the end of the season as he continues to wait for a decision for 2019.

Raikkonen has less than six months to run on his existing Ferrari contract, with F1 rookie Charles Leclerc reportedly being lined up to replace the Finn at the team for next season.

Raikkonen remained coy about his future despite another piece of the driver market puzzle being completed on Thursday with Mercedes confirming that Lewis Hamilton will remain with the team for the next two years.

Asked when he would have any news on his future, Raikkonen said: "I don't know. I think obviously the team knows my side of the story, but obviously it's their decision and that's how it's been many years in the past.

"It's been no secret that I have often had one-year deals. You need to ask them. In many ways, I am interested to know what I will do, and not just in my own life, but also my family, they are keen to know.

"That's how it is sometimes, hopefully soon, obviously it cannot go forever but like I said, you need to ask the team."

Raikkonen is on course for his most successful season with Ferrari since joining for his second stint with the team in 2014, scoring six podium finishes in the opening 10 races to help the Italian marque rise to the top of the constructors' championship.

Raikkonen sits third in the drivers' championship at present, yet he doubts his results on paper will make much difference when it comes to deciding his fate, which he believes lies solely in the hands of Ferrari.

"Like I said, it's not in my hands really. So I don't know, [the championship position] doesn't really make an awful lot of difference," Raikkonen said.

"I think we know in the team what we are doing and what we expect from all of us, from each other. The result on paper, yeah it looks good or bad depending on the races, but I don't think it is purely a case of where you suddenly are in the championship.

"Obviously it's better to be higher up than lower down, but, yeah, I don't know."