Kimi Raikkonen will replace Michael Schumacher at Ferrari next season, making the move from McLaren-Mercedes.

After winning the Italian Grand Prix Sunday, Schumacher announced he plans to retire at the end of the season.

Raikkonen, who finished second Sunday, signed a three-year contract.

``It was either to stay at McLaren or go to Ferrari,'' Raikkonen said. ``I have been five years with McLaren, but I wanted something else.''

Raikkonen has won nine Formula One races in his career and captured 11 pole positions.

He is expected to become Ferrari's top driver alongside Felipe Massa, the Brazilian who is completing his first season with the outfit.

``I'm very pleased that he is my replacement,'' Schumacher said.

Raikkonen will become the first Finnish driver for Ferrari.

Peter Sauber gave Raikkonen a Formula One licence in Sept. 2000, when the Finn was 20. Critics, including FIA president Max Mosley, voiced concerns over granting a license to such an inexperienced driver _ he had only raced 23 events at that point in his career. But Raikkonen finished 10th in the standings with Sauber-Petronas in 2001 and scored a point in his debut at the Australian GP.

Raikkonen moved to McLaren for the 2002 season, when another former world champion retired _ Mika Hakkinen.

Raikkonen had his best seasons in 2003 and '05 and earned the ``iceman'' nickname for his laid back demeanour and calculating race strategy.

In 2003, Raikkonen finished only two points behind Schumacher in the final standings and last year he finished second again, behind Renault's Fernando Alonso.

``He is a very special driver,'' McLaren boss Ron Dennis said. ``Obviously, everybody at McLaren wishes him all the best in his future career.''