McLaren to announce '07 line-up soon

Barcelona: McLaren dropped a strong hint that Kimi Raikkonen has decided where he will drive next season by announcing on Sunday that they will finalise their 2007 line-up in the next few weeks.

"We have a very firm plan now, we know exactly what we are doing as a team," McLaren boss Ron Dennis said at the Spanish Grand Prix. "We will start to implement the plan. It provides for all contingencies.

"We think now we are in a phase as a team that we are going to start to take decisions and they will unfold over the next two to three weeks," he added.

McLaren have already signed Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso from Renault and have made no secret that they want Raikkonen to partner him in 2007.

The Finn, overall runner-up to Alonso last year, has been linked strongly to Ferrari, either as seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher's partner or replacement, as well as Renault.

Ferrari are still waiting to hear whether Schumacher, 37, wants to continue racing next year and said in Spain that they were prepared to wait for as long as it took the German to decide.

Schumacher has said that decision may not come until the end of the season.

Ferrari's announcement triggered speculation that Raikkonen had signed for them, as an explanation for why the former champions were not concerned about being left in the lurch should the German decide to retire.

Dennis would give no details beyond his cryptic announcement. "We are a GP team. (Mercedes motorsport head) Norbert (Haug) and I are people who have to make recommendations to the people who support the programme," he said.

"Sometimes you are following the necessity to be courteous to sponsors. There are other shareholders or board members and all of these have to be supportive of your intentions or plans and we've made a firm plan on how we will move forward."

He said the plans covered the entire line-up, including test and reserve drivers. Raikkonen's partner at McLaren this season is Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, whose future at the Mercedes-powered team is uncertain.

McLaren are also keeping a close eye on 21-year-old British protege Lewis Hamilton, who is currently competing in the GP2 feeder series.