Kimi Raikkonen could stay at Lotus for 2014 F1 Season

Kimi Raikkonen – Staying in F1

Kimi Raikkonen will commit to a fresh deal at Lotus if the team provides him with the assurances he is seeking about its future, AUTOSPORT has learned.

After a wave of speculation this week linking the Finn with Ferrari in the wake of talks with Red Bull coming to an end, it is understood that Raikkonen’s priority is actually to stay put for 2014.

The former world champion is relishing his place at the team and the way it is working for him, but wants to know it can keep its current status as one of the top teams.

Rather than be actively chasing a move to Ferrari as some have suggested, Raikkonen is in fact waiting on Lotus to deliver him the guarantees he wants about its future financial and technical platforms.

If the team can do that then Raikkonen will agree to a fresh deal.

Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson said Lotus was well aware of the situation, and knows what it needs to do in order to retain the Finn.

“Lotus holds the key to Raikkonen’s future,” Robertson told AUTOSPORT.

“If the team can provide him with the answers he is seeking, which will ensure he has a car that can fight for race wins and the championship, then he will stay.”

Lotus is equally eager to keep Raikkonen, but team boss Eric Boullier has made it clear that it is important any deal works for both the Enstone-based outfit and its star driver.

Although Ferrari is Raikkonen’s best alternative if Lotus cannot provide him with what he wants, the Maranello-based team has not yet put serious thought to its 2014 line-up.

There is also the chance that there will be no vacancy there anyway if Felipe Massa can deliver strong results after the summer break.

Raikkonen is prepared to give Lotus more time to shore up its future plans anyway, meaning that it is too premature for him to seriously consider a fallback option.

Could Kimi Raikkonen rejoin Ferrari F1 in 2014?

With Kimi Raikkonen no longer in the Red Bull running, his best alternative outside Lotus if a deal cannot be agreed appears to be Ferrari.

The Italian team, which Raikkonen drove for from 2007-09, winning the title in his first season, could have a seat available if it chooses to replace Felipe Massa in 2014.

Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson has rubbished talk that an agreement is already in place for him to return to Maranello, but admitted to AUTOSPORT that Ferrari was on Raikkonen’s radar as a consideration.

“It’s an option,” said Robertson. “My job is to talk to all the teams that have available seats, and that is what I will be doing.”

Ferrari, however, is not yet devoting any effort to worrying about its 2014 driver line-up, because its priority is to rediscover the on-track form that Fernando Alonso will need if he is to win the championship.

Sources suggest that Ferrari’s senior management will only be ready to consider its driver options after the Italian Grand Prix – by which time it should have a clearer picture of its competitiveness and Massa’s form.

That means Raikkonen may have to wait for a few more weeks before he can make progress on his Formula 1 future.

Although Raikkonen’s departure from Ferrari to make way for Alonso was not on the best of terms, it is understood there is no underlying reason that would make it impossible for him to return – and that Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo would accept it if he was the best driver available.

However, there is also no shortage of other available options – including Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta.