Though he might be smiling a lot more since he joined Ferrari, don't expect Kimi Raikkonen to have become any more verbose.

Speaking at a Ferrari press conference at Barcelona yesterday the Finn relied heavily on one-word answers. In the affirmative when he agreed and in the negative when he didn't.

Earlier the buzz went around the paddock that Michael Schumacher had arrived, this at a time when sections of the media, though mainly German, are claiming that the World Champion is being lined up as team boss at Maranello.

Asked if he thinks Schumacher will take the role, Kimi gives little away: "It's got nothing to do with me," he replies. "You'd be better asking the team."

So how does he get on with Michael now that he's in the same team, so to speak? ""Last time I spoke to him was at the launch last month. We talked about normal things, not driving or how the team works."

Stepping into the German's shoes is a mighty task, and all eyes are on the Finn to see whether he is up to the job. Asked if he feels that following Schumacher adds to an already difficult task - taking Ferrari back to the top - Kimi is remarkably down to earth: "Taking over from Michael is not extra pressure," he says. "I simply want to do as well as I can, it really doesn't matter who was there before, I want to be my own man, do my own thing."

Some had hoped to see a dream team, Raikkonen and Schumacher side-by-side, was Kimi aware, when signing for Ferrari, that Schumacher would not be staying on as a driver?

"No," is the quick response.

Would it have affected his decision to join the Italian team.

"No." However, this time, after a pause, he continues: "I have never been in a position to choose my teammates, it's not my job."

There are rumours that Ferrari is working hard to get the Finn to put McLaren's corporate approach behind him - something that Ron Dennis would argue he did some time ago - to the extent that the team is telling Kimi to smile as much as possible, to be more outgoing. So is he really as happy as he appears?

"They are good people here," he replies, a smile spreading across (Ferrari Communications Manager) Luca Colajanni's face. "It's a nice, relaxed atmosphere. I am enjoying myself and that's the main thing."

There are a few more (mostly trivial) questions, most of them (just about) extracting a response, however, for the moment Kimi seems perfectly happy with his new employer and it with him.

That said, Schumacher's is a mighty presence, as the sudden rush of journalists and photographers to the Ferrari motorhome, following news of his arrival, testifies. If things go well that is one thing, but if they don't, how will Kimi react to his former rival leaning over his shoulder?

Time will tell.