Formula One: Ferrari Gives Green Light to Massa-raikkonen Duel

Ferrari have made it clear that Kimi Raikkonen will have to beat his team-mate Felipe Massa in a straight fight during the 2007 season if he is to inherit the role of No1 driver from Michael Schumacher. Jean Todt, the Ferrari managing director, has said he is happy for the drivers to race each other hard, provided their rivalry does not hurt the team's overall prospects.

"It will be a healthy competition between two drivers that could create great results," Todt told the Italian Corriere della Sera newspaper. "We will be very careful to make sure that this internal rivalry does not become counter-productive."

Raikkonen has rejected any suggestions that he will be changing his style and approach to the formula one business despite question marks being raised about his off-track partying by his former employers McLaren. The 27-year old Finn indicated that his recent lack of success before joining the Italian team was more down to McLaren's shortcomings than his own. "I'm not going to change my way, it works well enough," he said. "Even if I had changed my style it would not have changed the results at McLaren. The problem was not what I did with my training or in my private life, it was more to do with the car not lasting the race or not being quick enough."

For the moment Todt seems sympathetic to Raikkonen's view. "Finns like a drink or two now and then," he told Le Figaro recently. "Since Raikkonen will be much more visible at Ferrari, we will surround him with affection and attention. If he wants to down a few with his mates, we would ask him to do it discreetly."

Most formula one commentators believe Raikkonen's instinctive speed and flair will help him establish the decisive upper hand over Massa from the first race of the season, the Australian grand prix at Melbourne on March 18. Yet some Ferrari insiders think Massa might prove a tougher nut to crack than Raikkonen expects. The young Brazilian matured impressively under Schumacher's tutelage during 2006 and delivered two composed and assured grand prix victories at Istanbul and in front of his home crowd at Sao Paulo.

"I know I'm highly rated inside the team and I think I can be competitive," said Massa. "It will be different this season, maybe more exciting because many teams are at the same level. This year the championship will be fought harder because Schumacher isn't here, but there are drivers like Alonso and Raikkonen himself who are very strong."

Jacques Villeneuve will drive a diesel-powered Peugeot in the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours race. Villeneuve will be part of a six-man, two-car team for the June 16-17 event. The Canadian will be the first formula one champion to compete since Mario Andretti's appearance in 2000.