Saturday, June 29, 2013

Raikkonen: 2014 decision will be a tough one


Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus F1.
Formula One World Championship, Rd8, British Grand Prix, Preparations, Silverstone, England, Thursday, 27 June 2013
Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he will face a difficult choice should he be in a position to pick between a Lotus and a Red Bull seat for 2014.
Raikkonen’s contract with Lotus expires at the end of this season and Red Bull have a vacancy following confirmation that Mark Webber will leave Formula One racing at the end of the year.
"Whatever the decision, it will not be easy, but it is never easy," said the Finn. "It is not the first time that there are different options on the table, and then you take the one that you think is right at that moment.
"So it is hard to say if it is the right or wrong decision and you have to live with it. Only you can make the decision yourself."
Raikkonen, world champion in 2007, returned to the grid in 2012 after a two-year hiatus. He admitted that Lotus has been a great environment for him - and that it won’t only be the car that determines whether he goes elsewhere next season.
“It has been perfect. Without them I wouldn't be back in F1," he said. "For sure they also got some good things out of it, so I have no complaints. Obviously there are certain things that have to improve but I have had a great time with the team so far. That is why whatever the decision will be will be difficult.
"Obviously you want to have a good car and certain things have to be right, but there are a lot of small things that have to be right for yourself. I've been in the business long enough to know what I want and if those things are not right then the decision might be different."
Asked if he would relish the prospect of racing alongside his good friend Sebastian Vettel, Raikkonen insisted he would have no issues with partnering the three-time world champion.
“I have no problem to race with him. I’ve never been in a position to choose who I drive with so it doesn’t change anything. If it would happen it would obviously probably be easier than with some other drivers.”
Red Bull have made it clear they will not be rushing into any driver decisions, especially with two up-and-coming F1 racers - Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne - already on their books at sister team Toro Rosso.

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