What REALLY is Raikkonen's plan for 2010?

Kimi Raikkonen is a former World Champion and has spent nine (yes, NINE) years in Formula 1, and what do you know, he may very well not get a drivers seat for the 2010 season.

With the way things are going it looks like Kimi is really not interested in returning to Formula 1 for the next season, the Finn has bid goodbye to the Ferrari team following Fernando Alonso's entry into the Scuderia. Kimi was in fact paid off by Ferrari, since his contract with the team was till the end of 2010. And the former world champion has still not confirmed about which team he would go to for the next season.

The 30-year-old has the McLaren team in negotiations, but that may well be as concrete as water, since he had stated that he Toyota team was interested in roping him in. And we all know what happened to that team (hint: Toyota announced that it has quit F1, and will not return for the 2010 season). Reportedly, Kimi;s asking price is way too high and the Woking team have expressed displeasure with the mammoth figure. Despite the reports, though, the 2007 World Champion it not at all anxious about his future.

"It's hard to believe that I have been in Formula One for nine years already," Raikkonen told his official website. "I am very motivated to win races and a Championship again and will only remain in F1 if I can race for a team that can give me a car to fight at the front. Let's wait and see what happens" he added.

Kimi stated that returning for the next season would indeed be interesting what with the new changes made by the FIA. "Everybody can focus on next year like Ferrari have done already many weeks," he said. "Is it going to be different? At least there are not so many changes next year. No refueling and smaller front tyres are the main things. At the start of the race the cars will feel very difficult to drive with so much fuel on board, so preserving the tyres will play a part.

"Qualifying is now old days where we do not use fuel so that will be more fun." he added. One thing is for sure, Ferrari dumped Kimi because of the lack of sponsors he gets for the team, and his lack of interest in PR hits Ferrari as well. Fernando Alonso is a very marketable driver, he appears on more magazine covers in a month than Kimi has done so in his whole life.

November 8, 2009