Kimi Raikkonen's below-par performance in Germany and subdued demeanour has prompted a fresh wave of speculation that the Finn could retire from the sport.


After being out-qualified again by Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, the World Champion trailed home a distant sixth while Lewis Hamilton surged to victory.


According to The Guardian newspaper, 'Raikkonen appeared unfocused throughout the Hockenheim weekend' and 'His refusal to confirm or deny that he is on the brink of retirement hardly clears the speculation and uncertainty that surrounds him.


'He finished sixth on Sunday and talked afterwards, in disconsolate tones, about a lack of grip. It is thought he was referring to his car. But whatever the state of his transport, he is a man who sometimes appears to be in the damp hold of a malaise,' the newspaper continued.


'If Raikkonen does leave Ferrari, he will leave formula one. Where else would he want to go? He might even devote more time to his snowmobile racing. It would be a terrible waste. But perhaps his mood has been further darkened by the realisation that he is up against somebody whose talent for driving a racing car at immense speeds with exceptional skill is even greater than his own.'


Sunday Times columnist and ITV pundit Martin Brundle has also questioned whether Raikkonen could be on the verge of leaving the sport.


'With Raikkonen refusing to confirm or deny that he is considering retirement - maybe even at the end of this year - the expectation is that Alonso would replace him should he do so, and that the Spaniard will be at Ferrari regardless in 2010.


'After he shoved a photographer on the grid at Silverstone a fortnight ago, and watching him behind the wheel here at Hockenheim, there is a part of Kimi that is unhappy and frustrated at the moment. I would still be more than surprised if he retired this year, but if he wants to sign off as world champion, he needs more speed and balance in his car,' Brundle wrote in his column this weekend.


One man watching Raikkonen particularly closely must be Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard's return to Renault has proved unsuccessful, with the World Champion forced to endure an uncompetitive car. It is widely believed that he is keen on moving to Ferrari but, with Massa under contract, his only hope of landing a seat with the team for next season remains Raikkonen's instant retirement.


A seat could become available at BMW, the third-fastest outfit on the grid, if the team opts to discard Nick Heidfeld, but, as Brundle points out, 'The team is surely interested but I'm absolutely certain they would want to contract him longer term and wouldn't be up for providing a nice cosy stepping stone for a year while he waits to slot into Ferrari with all BMW's systems and data. So he will stay put at Renault and dream of scarlet cars.'