Kimi Raikkonen issues Lotus warning

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen admits he won’t start contract negotiations with Lotus until they resolve “certain issues”.

The 2007 World Champion’s two-year contract with the Enstone squad runs out at the end of this year and Lotus have made no secret of the fact that they would love to retain his services.

Raikkonen, though, have been strongly linked with a move to Red Bull while Ferrari have also come into the equation in recent weeks.

Lotus, though, are hopeful they can keep him next year, but it is rumoured that their failure to pay him in recent months could be a stumbling block.

Raikkonen didn’t deny the reports when asked about his future at Lotus.

“For sure it’s not as it should be, but hopefully these things get sorted quickly,” he is quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.

“They know there are certain issues and until those are solved there is no point talking about next year.

“They know exactly what they have to do first, and then we are open to talk. It’s not really up to me.

“I’ve always said I have a very good team here, but things have to be right in all areas.”

He added: “As long as I get a place where all the things are as I want them to be and where everybody is happy then that is fine for me.

“Obviously, you want as good a car as you can, but the rules will change a lot and it’s difficult to say which team will be the best.”

Raikkonen’s management announced on Monday that he was no longer in the running for a 2014 seat at Red Bull, but team principal Christian Horner revealed on Friday that “it’s up to” Raikkonen.

“I had no answer from them,” said the 33-year-old about negotiations with the Milton Keynes team.

“We never heard anything for a while, which is not the ideal situation, but that’s how it is.

“We will see what happens. You have to ask them what they will do. I don’t know any better than you guys.”

As for Ferrari, he said: “There is no different answer I can give you. Until there is anything 100 per cent sure, I’ve nothing to tell.

“There is talk I’m supposed to go to McLaren, I read somewhere, then there’s Ferrari and then there’s Lotus, but I still don’t have a contract so what else can I say?

“The situation is the same as four weeks ago. Nothing has changed, apart from more rumours and more teams.”