Ron Dennis doesn’t subscribe to the theory that his former driver Kimi Raikkonen suffered from a lack of motivation in 2008 and is tipping the Ferrari ace to provide stiff competition to his McLaren drivers again this season.

After finally winning the world title during his first year at Maranello following his switch from Dennis’s McLaren team, Raikkonen endured a disappointing championship defence last year and scored just two victories before playing a support role to team-mate Felipe Massa’s title bid.

Raikkonen’s form prompted some to suggest the Finn was losing interest in F1 and contemplating retirement, although he quashed this speculation by extending his Ferrari deal by a year to the end of 2010.

And now with the Finn promising a stronger 2009, his former team boss believes Raikkonen will be as competitive as ever.

Asked in an interview in the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine if he thought Raikkonen’s 2008 problems stemmed from a lack of motivation or his driving style not being suited to the F2008, Dennis said: “I’d say it was neither.

“Despite what his detractors say about him, Kimi is always motivated.

“He’s very quiet, yes – in that uniquely Finnish way – but he’s a great driver.

“He’ll be quick in 2009 and he’ll therefore be a fierce competitor.”

Dennis, who will step down as McLaren team principal at the start of next month, reckons there are several teams who should have the potential to challenge the recent McLaren/Ferrari duopoly at the front of the field in F1’s new era of rules in 2009.

Furthermore, the Briton predicts that a dark horse will emerge to trouble the established front runners.

“There’s obviously some well-financed teams, who should have the ability to hit the ground running next year,” he said of teams other than traditional main rival Ferrari likely to compete at the front.

“It’s likely that BMW and Renault will be two of them, but there’ll also be a dark horse.

“I’m not sure who that’ll be yet, but there will be a dark horse.”

[via ITV]