The "Ice Man" Kimi Raikkonen has signed a new deal with the Lotus Renault GP team. This means he will be racing in 2012 and beyond.
The deal comes after numerous rumours of him returning with the Williams team, but that did not work out.
Kimi Raikkonen has signed a deal with the LRGP team for 2 years. The deal See's his return to the grid after he left Ferrari at the end of 2009. During 2009 and now he has tried his hand at NASCAR racing and done his fair share of Rallying with no immediate success. Some say he may be "bored" or he left rallying as he isn't winning but whatever spurred him on, he is a welcome addition.
He even freely admitted to not watching the Grand Prix's over the last few years, saying he only saw the "odd race or two" this year but did "not really watch any races" before then. He also admitted it was either Williams or LRGP as his options for returning, but the latter worked out better.
I kind of guess pay was an option, remember he was the most highly paid driver on the grid in 2008. Williams have not been high on funds recently so i am sure part of the rejection of the deal from his part could of been because of this.
Raikkonen last raced an F1 can in 2009 after a stint spanning 9 seasons, with 18 wins and 62 podiums to his name. He said the hunger for F1 became "overwhelming" and that Lotus Renault GP was the obvious choice.
We will have to see how he does next year after 2 years off. He said after the statement was released “I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. Now I’m looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.”
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Kimi Raikkonen has signed a deal with the LRGP team for 2 years. The deal See's his return to the grid after he left Ferrari at the end of 2009. During 2009 and now he has tried his hand at NASCAR racing and done his fair share of Rallying with no immediate success. Some say he may be "bored" or he left rallying as he isn't winning but whatever spurred him on, he is a welcome addition.
He even freely admitted to not watching the Grand Prix's over the last few years, saying he only saw the "odd race or two" this year but did "not really watch any races" before then. He also admitted it was either Williams or LRGP as his options for returning, but the latter worked out better.
I kind of guess pay was an option, remember he was the most highly paid driver on the grid in 2008. Williams have not been high on funds recently so i am sure part of the rejection of the deal from his part could of been because of this.
Raikkonen last raced an F1 can in 2009 after a stint spanning 9 seasons, with 18 wins and 62 podiums to his name. He said the hunger for F1 became "overwhelming" and that Lotus Renault GP was the obvious choice.
We will have to see how he does next year after 2 years off. He said after the statement was released “I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. Now I’m looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.”
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