Formula One title contender Kimi Raikkonen can count on the support of McLaren team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya in the decisive final races of the season.

Colombian Montoya is out of contention and said at the Italian Grand Prix on Thursday that his role in the remaining five races was simple: "Do the best I can for the team and that's that."

Montoya said he had already let Raikkonen past on the first lap in Hungary, a race that the Finn won, because it was in the team's interests.

"In a way I handed it to him but it would have looked silly if I had been out of the race later on and (Ferrari's) Michael (Schumacher) had won it," he told a news conference.

"So if an opportunity comes up like that to help, then yes, but that's as far as it goes."

Raikkonen, 24 points behind Renault's Fernando Alonso, has won five races to Montoya's one this year, although the Colombian missed two grand prix due to injury.

Montoya said he would not lose any sleep if Raikkonen won the championship.

"If Kimi wins then it'll be very good for him but my goal is to win the constructors' championship for the team and we'll see what next year brings," he said.

"I think I just need to find a better balance for myself with the car and get a bit more comfortable with it."

Source: China Daily