Kimi: Mercedes drive or sabbatical?

[iceman1]

La Repubblica and Libero report that Raikkonen is moving to Mercedes GP

[iceman1]

According to MTV3's realiable source, Kimi is negotiating with Citroen. Red Bull has offered to pay twice the salary Sebastien Loeb gets for him to drive in WRC next year. Meaning roughly 10 million euros.

[JoostLamers]

So this means the end of the F1 Chapter for Kimi? Or will RBR offer him a seat when Vettel or Webber makes a move..?

[phil1993]

So this means the end of the F1 Chapter for Kimi? Or will RBR offer him a seat when Vettel or Webber makes a move..?

Likely a sabbatical that ends up as a retirement.

[Jacobss]

Raikkonen carrier is over! Robertson confirmed that Kimi will not drive next year.

http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... auto&tl=en

[iceman1]

He didn't deserve an ending like this

Button to join Hamilton at McLaren
Räikkönen takes a year off

The F1 career of Kimi Räikkönen is over - atleast for now.
The 2007 World Champions manager Steve Robertson confirmed for TurunSanomat on Tuesday night from Macao that negotiations with McLaren have ended without results.
- The options at F1-level were McLaren or nothing. Kimi and McLaren couldnt come to terms, so he (Kimi) will not be driving in F1, atleast not next year, said Robertson.
Possibilities to return to GrandPrix scenes in 2011 are there, altough the places that would interest Kimi are next to nothing. At this time the most likely would be Red Bull.
- Kimi still has the urge to drive. In that case a year off means nothing. More meaningfull is that Kimi finds a place where he can fight for titles and wins, Robertson confirms.
- F1 will miss Kimi. He fought with a Ferrari-car that ended its development during the summer in a way only the best drivers are capable of.

Rallyes and Le Mans
Next year Räikkönen will definately drive in some rallying events, and possibly in the 24h Le Mans endurance race which the finnish star want to win.
Ferrari discharged Räikkönens next year contract on the 30th of September.
Ferrari will pay for for this one-sided breach of contract a sum that still keeps Räikkönen the best paid driver in the F1 grid.

Robertson says that there arent any negotiations with any other F1 teams.
Looks are now sighted towards different challenges.
RedBull, a longtime partner of Räikkönen, might be the force which gets Räikkönen to show off his skills in the World Rally Car Championship.

Räikkönens departure from the driver market basically means that McLaren will have two British drivers next year - Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
The Guardian newspaper speculated already on Monday that Button is finalizing a 3-year deal that will raise his early salary to 6 million pounds.

[shailf1]

well if he agrees on a lower salary he will certainly be back in 2011. lets see if the gap year does that.

[iceman1]

well if he agrees on a lower salary he will certainly be back in 2011. lets see if the gap year does that.

I don't think he'll come back

[megasyxx]

well if he agrees on a lower salary he will certainly be back in 2011. lets see if the gap year does that.

I don't think he'll come back

NOOOOO!!!!!!


although button @ mclaren will bring back #1 on their car.....with hamilton on #2

but kimi out...........

[syafiqa]

Now we know God are hearing kimi.Ferrari be he last team to end his f1 carrier.Dream comes true*clapping*clapping*clapping

And on the other side.I want to say a huge thank u to ferrari cause giving kimi unemployed.
I hope spa gone too next year.Thank u

Spoiler:

!!!

[sejtur]

S***...

[Coopz]

He's certainly a character that will be missed.

[syafiqa]

He's certainly a character that will be missed.

yeah..his totally different from other drivers.He is the one n only kimi matias raikkonen

[lealjaime]

we miss kimi next year but i m 100% sure that he come back in 2011 for mercedes

[syafiqa]

I'm 100+1% sure he will never comeback on 2011 onwards.His f1 career had been buried and the undertaker is ferrari.Kimi's graveyard with Mclaren