Kimi Raikkonen QUITS F1 for 2010

Posted by Anthony CarboneNovember 18, 2009 at 11:25 am

F1 Breaking News! Kimi Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson announced late on Tuesday November 18, 2009 to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat that Kimi will not be racing Formula 1 in 2010.

“The only option for F1 next season was McLaren or nothing,” Robertson said. “Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at F1 level, at least not next year.”

Raikkonen and McLaren failed to come to terms based on salary, sponsor duties and Kimi’s freedom to rally race. Turun Sanomat speculated that 2011 Raikkonen could most likely return to Formula 1 Grand Prix with Red Bull Racing.

Keep in mind that Kimi’s severance deal with Ferrari will net him more money by taking a year off in 2010, than if he would have raced the year!

Next year, he is likely to be active in rally cars and possibly the Le Mans 24 Hours, the newspaper added.