Berlin, Nov 25: Former Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher dropped heavy hints today that he would leap at the chance to fill the McLaren seat vacated by Fernando Alonso, calling it the most desirable in Formula One.

''It's no secret that the seat at McLaren-Mercedes is by far the most coveted there is,'' Schumacher told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. ''Every driver out there in the market would love to sit in their super car.'' The 32-year-old Schumacher said, however, there had been no contact with McLaren ''so far'', adding that he felt he was good enough to challenge and even beat McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

He won six grands prix at Williams before moving to Toyota, where he was a disappointment. He was replaced for next season by compatriot Timo Glock.

Schumacher, the younger brother of retired seven-times world champion Michael, has yet to find a drive for 2008.

UNI