Jan.11 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is reluctant to dispute Ferrari boss Jean Todt's apparent claim that the Finn is not regarded by the Maranello based team as a leader.

After more than a decade with Michael Schumacher the undisputed number one, Ferrari has made it clear that - despite Raikkonen winning the 2007 title - he will not be bestowed any automatic special treatment this year.

From the Ferrari-Ducati media event at an Italian ski resort, Finn Raikkonen, who is 28, was quoted as seeming unmoved by Todt's assertion.

"Jean Todt said I am not a leader?" Kimi asked La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Everyone has his own way of thinking, but I do not want to enter into this controversy," he said.

Raikkonen insists, however, that Ferrari's policy of driver equality - as was the case in 2007 - will be flexible as the season reaches its decisive phase.

"As with all the teams I have been in, I am on par with my teammate," he noted.

"That will be the case again this year at the beginning, then at some point we will look at the situation and decide," Raikkonen added.

He also nominated McLaren as Ferrari's main championship threat for 2008; a sentiment backed by new boss Stefano Domenicali, who is glad that Fernando Alonso left the British team.

"They do not have Alonso anymore, and that is an advantage for us," the Italian told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

He added: "Meanwhile, Renault is one step below, but now they have Alonso ..."

Raikkonen agreed: "Alonso is a great driver and he will be a loss to McLaren."