Mika Häkkinen says fellow Finn Kimi Räikkönen was unwise to state that he will “probably” retire from Formula 1 after the 2015 campaign, predicting Ferrari to switch its focus to Fernando Alonso as a result.

Räikkönen, who returned to Ferrari this season after a two-year stint with comeback outfit Lotus, explained in the run up to the British Grand Prix that he is unlikely to seek an extension to his contract when it expires.

“I don’t think that it’s particularly smart of him,” Häkkinen explained in his latest Hermes column.

“When the mechanics and all the other people in the team know that a driver has plans to retire in a year and a half, their focus will shift more towards the other driver, who in this case is Fernando Alonso.”

Häkkinen also expects Räikkönen’s overall level of motivation to take a hit after his admission.