The setting is getting clear: Red Bull wants Kimi Räikkönen back to F1 but Räikkönen hasn't yet given his final answer.It can't be just a coincidence that Red Bull has in practice - including owner Dieter Matescitz - given the impression that the door is open and the decision is in the hands of the Finnish protege.
At the same time they have rumoured that Mark Webber will not get his contract renewed. It's hard to believe that Red Bull F1-team would be willing to give up a driver of Webber's caliber unless they have something better in sight. And of all the possible driver candidates only Räikkönen would be that.
Yet the final decision is dictated in two senses by what is enough for Räikkönen.
Firstly, is one WDC enough for him? Hardly, especially since Red Bull would offer him a chance to get another one.
And secondly, at this point, is it enough for Räikkönen that he has proved to the world that if he wants he can get to the top of rally too?
Maybe. And besides, Räikkönen can go back to rally whenever he wants to but right now he has the last chance to get to the F1-top.
Maybe he will afterall return to the F1-map?
KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN
He is already on Red Bull's payroll. If he wants he would surely get a seat in Red Bull's F1-team but perhaps he doesn't want to go back anymore. Kimi thinks that everything is more relaxed in rally. They rumour that Räikkönen would already have a several year contract with Red Bull which would give him the chance to decide for himself whether he will drive a rally-car or a F1-car next year. He will make his decision during the summer.
IN WHICH DIRECTION, KIMI?
Rally or F1? The time for Kimi Räikkönen's decision is coming closer.
5th position in Turkey rally was one sort of a turning point in Kimi Räikkönen's rally career. There he got the final confirmation that he has real chances to rise to the top even in rally.
Räikkönen has a tough decision to make this summer: will he continue climbing up to the top in rally or will he return back to F1's top team Red Bull?
How is it Kimi, have the two recent positions where you scored points made the scale lean over to rally when thinking of next season?
- It hasn't leaned in any direction yet. I have to consider my options in peace and clarify what interests me most. I'll act accordingly, Räikkönen said.
That's it, 'What interests me most'.
According to persistant rumours Räikkönen already has a long contract with Red Bull and as far as we know the decision of whether he will sit in a rally-car or a F1-car next season is completely in his own hands. Räikkönen would have waiting for him a winning car but also on top of that the most pleasing alternative of a team mate, Sebastian Vettel.
- I'm in no hurry, I have to decide before next year, Räikkönen reminded.
Going back to F1 is still completely possible although only a few are talking about it anymore. A few facts talk for him continuing in rally.
Firstly, the aristocracy of the sport is coming closer all the time after the experience and especially the calmness have improved Räikkönen's driving race by race.
Secondly rally has only half of the 'media-hassle' that Räikkönen has always disliked.
Yesterday Räikkönen dropped the heaviest clue so far about the address he is going to next year when he was asked if he will get the next world championship from WRC or F1.
- Well, hopefully from WRC... I already have one from F1.
Source: Ilta-Sanomat
Courtesy: Nicole
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