RAIKKONEN REJECTS CLAIMS OF F1 RETURN WITH RENAULT
Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen has angrily rejected talk he could make a return to F1 next season driving for Renault.
The 2007 champion now drives in the world rally championship, but Renault boss Eric Boullier said Raikkonen had been in touch about coming back to F1.
But the former Ferrari driver, now 30, criticised Renault for using his name for "their own marketing purposes".
"It's 100% certain I will not drive for Renault in 2011," said Raikkonen.
"My managers have weeks ago been in contact, once, with Renault's team leader (Eric Boullier). That is all," added Raikkonen, in an interview with a Finnish newspaper.
Boullier has re-signed Robert Kubica as the team's lead driver for next season but has yet to make a decision on the future of Russian driver Vitaly Petrov.
Earlier this week Boullier said he was flattered by Raikkonen's alleged interest but would reserve judgement.
"He contacted us. But once again, our main issue at the moment is whether we should keep Petrov," said the Frenchman.
"Regarding Kimi, I would have to speak personally with him first, look him in the eyes to see if I see enough motivation there for him to return to F1.
"It doesn't make sense to hire somebody, even a former world champion, if you cannot be sure that his motivation is still 100%.
"Why should you invest in somebody who leaves you guessing?"
SOURCE: BBC Sport
ED: I know I was highly critical of the guy post-winning the championship [and on the fair amount of occasions, rightly justified although I will accept KA's points that in some races he did do well but just didn't get the end result in 2008], but once Massa had his accident the real Kimi returned. It's kinda sad really that we won't get the chance to see that Kimi back, apparently.
Redders1989
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