Friday 15 August at 17:33 : Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen has hit back at claims he has lost the will to win.

Amid rising speculation that the Ferrari driver plans to retire soon, it is suggested a loss of motivation is at the core of his current performance slump.

Raikkonen, 28, told Germany's Bild newspaper his target is still success in formula one.

"I am still the same guy," he is quoted as saying.

"If I am in a race, then I want to win it," Raikkonen insists. "It is never great fun to be fifth or sixth -- even third place doesn't feel so great to me any more. I only want to win."

Despite his aloof exterior, Raikkonen says those who believe he is now happy to rest on his 2007 laurels are wrong.

"Of course I want more," he said. "Whoever thinks I am content or tired are completely wrong.

"If we do not get both championship titles at the end of the season, then we will be disappointed," Raikkonen explained.

Raikkonen lies second in the 2008 drivers' standings; 3 points ahead of his teammate Felipe Massa, and 5 behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.