London, Sept 05: Fernando Alonso became Formula One's youngest race winner last month and the next few weeks will make or break Kimi Raikkonen's hopes of becoming the youngest champion.

McLaren's 23-year-old "Iceman" has had a remarkable season, leading for some time and eclipsing more experienced team mate David Coulthard.
The final three races -- Italy next week, the United States later this month and the season's closer in Japan on October 12 -- will decide whether Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, Williams' Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya or Raikkonen takes the title.
"Anything can happen now," Raikkonen said after last month's Hungarian Grand Prix left Schumacher on 72 points, Montoya with 71 and Raikkonen 70. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone suspects that the 2003 champion will be fluent in Finnish rather than German or Spanish.
"I'm one of Montoya's biggest supporters and we all know about Michael," he told reporters this week. "Montoya can be either fantastic or not. Raikkonen is more consistent so you would probably have to put your money on him."



When Spain's Alonso won the Hungarian Grand Prix for Renault, aged 22 years and 26 days, he looked forward to his own title challenge one day.



For Raikkonen the dream is closer. He could be 2003 champion without winning another race if each of his rivals suffers a retirement.


Bureau Report