NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Kimi out of F1 in 2010

Kimi Raikkonen will not be in Formula 1 in 2010. Steve Robertson, one of his management, told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat on Tuesday that negotiations for a drive with McLaren were over.

Raikkonen may try to come back again in 2011 when there will be other drives available, possibly at Red Bull Racing. Robertson told the newspaper that Raikkonen will do some rallying next year and may race in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The news could be interpreted as confirmation that Jenson Button has a deal with McLaren, but it is hard to imagine that Brawn would be happy with Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg, neither of whom has won a race. It still makes so much more sense for Button to stay at Brawn and Heidfeld join Hamilton at McLaren.

Mercedes has just splashed out to buy a top Formula 1 team and it is hard to imagine that it will allow the World Champion to walk away over a few million dollars.