Florence, 24 Sept. (AKI) - Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen may miss the 2010 season, said Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo. It is the first time the Ferrari boss has officially admitted their race line-up could change in 2010.

''We will have a Brazilian driver because he deserves another chance, given that, thank God, he is all right," Montezemolo said, referring to Felipe Massa, who is recovering from a fractured skull sustained in a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"Otherwise, we are thinking about the best choice but we still have time. We will decide in a few weeks," he said.

He was speaking at a Masters award ceremony in the central Italian city of Florence.

It is widely believed in Formula 1 that Ferrari have already agreed on a deal for Fernando Alonso to join the team in 2010.

Both Raikkonen (photo) and Massa are under contract to Ferrari for next year, but the Italian team have been looking at ways of moving the Finn to another team.

Two-time world champion Alonso's expected switch from Renault is considered an open secret.

Di Montezemolo's latest comments on Wednesday were the first time that Ferrari officially admitted that their race line-up could change.

Raikkonen, 29, won the world championship by a point in his first season with Ferrari in 2007 but last year he finished third and this season stands fifth behind the Brawn and Red Bull drivers with four races remaining in 2009.

Giancarlo Fisichella is driving for Ferrari in place of Massa alongside Raikkonen, whom media reports have linked with former team McLaren, Renault and championship leaders Brawn for next year in media reports.

Fisichella will be the Ferrari team's reserve driver next season.

Photo: Xinhua