Kimi Raikkonen has decided to sit out the 2010 Formula 1 season after talks over a return to McLaren collapsed, his manager has revealed to the Finnish press.
The 2007 world champion was forced to make way for Fernando Alonso at Ferrari next year and quickly made it clear that he was only interested in staying in the sport for a 10th consecutive season if he could join a team capable of challenging for the title.
And while initially it seemed the 30-year-old Finn was McLaren’s preferred option to partner Lewis Hamilton next season – fuelled by Raikkonen’s management visiting its Woking factory last week – the team seems to have turned its attention to securing Jenson Button’s services with mounting speculation suggesting the new champion is on the brink of agreeing a move.
Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson has now told Finnish regional daily Turun Sanomat that their negotiations with McLaren have come to nothing and that his driver will now take a sabbatical from F1 in 2010.
“The alternatives on the F1 for next season were McLaren or nothing,” Robertson is quoted as having told the Finnish newspaper.
“Kimi and McLaren did not reach an agreement, so he will not drive on F1-level at least during next year.”
Raikkonen, who competed in several rallies during the course of this year, had openly admitted that he would consider taking a year off or competing in the World Rally Championship should a satisfactory F1 option not materialise.
Robertson says the 30-year-old still retains the passion to drive, suggesting that the Finn will return in 2011 if he can find a guaranteed top-line seat.
"Kimi still lives and breathes the ambition to drive,” he said. “A year off in that sense does not mean anything.
"More significant is to find a place for Kimi where he can fight for victory and a world championship," Robertson added.
Raikkonen, who had driven for both Sauber and McLaren before switching to Ferrari as Michael Schumacher's replacement in 2007, has competed in 155 grands prix, winning 18 and claiming 16 poles.