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Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.
KIMI RAIKKONEN INSISTS
that having a top car is not a precondition of him returning to Formula 1 next year.
The Finn has held discussions with Williams about a possible return next year, which would be dependent on the team landing a major sponsor.
Questions have been raised about his willingness to race for a team that is likely to finish ninth in the constructors’ championship this season, but the 32-year-old hinted that he was happy to take a long term approach to returning to the front of the grid in an exclusive interview in F1 Racing’s November issue (out today).
“You always want a winning car, a top car – but as we’ve seen this year there’s only one team who have a top car,” said Raikkonen. “Some years some teams make a good car, other years their car is not so good.
“There are very small differences between a good car and a bad car. In the end, you just have to work with it.”
Only if he's willing to be a very definite number two.spinmastermic wrote:Warm up with Williams 2012, then off to Red Bull for 2013
No, he said he wanted a car that would win the championship. As it transpires the only car that can do that right now is Red Bull. As such, Ferrari and McLaren don't interest him and the only other option is to try and catch a team on the up.mx_tifosi wrote:That's hilarious considering the fact that when he left he said that he would only return if he had a top (3) car and now he's willing to do so in a crap Williams.
On the contrary, there's a very real risk he would be anything but given how Webber started to beat Vettel at times last year with the set up they have there. That's why I think Red Bull is unlikely. Vettel will be protected.donskar wrote:Only if he's willing to be a very definite number two.
Interesting take. I was thinking along a different tangent -- Kimi does not (IMHO) have the sort of image Red Bull wants to represent their brand. Certainly, by that time he will be too old.munudeges wrote:On the contrary, there's a very real risk he would be anything but given how Webber started to beat Vettel at times last year with the set up they have there. That's why I think Red Bull is unlikely. Vettel will be protected.donskar wrote:Only if he's willing to be a very definite number two.
In your opinion possibly, but in Red Bull's opinion..donskar wrote:Kimi does not (IMHO) have the sort of image Red Bull wants to represent their brand. Certainly, by that time he will be too old.
thats a very logical progression for a driver who have left the scene for so many years. It will be great to have 6 WDCs driving in 2012.spinmastermic wrote:Warm up with Williams 2012, then off to Red Bull for 2013