Jan.10 (GMM) Newly crowned world champion Kimi Raikkonen could race for Ferrari beyond the expiry of his current contract in late 2009, new team boss Stefano Domenicali has suggested at a media event.

To reporters at the joint Ferrari and Ducati 'Wroom' winter retreat in the Dolomites on Wednesday, the 43-year-old Italian played down rumours that Raikkonen's stay at Maranello could be shortened by the team's reported links with Fernando Alonso.

"Kimi has inserted himself into our team very well," Domenicali is quoted as saying by the German trade magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

"His contract goes until the end of 2009. There is however no reason why he should not also drive for us for longer than that," he added.

Domenicali also played down the Alonso rumours, such as the theory that the Spanish double world champion only intends a short tenure at Renault before joining Ferrari.

"This is an issue which, for the time being, we are not going to consider," he insisted. "We will see what happens in the future."