Kimi Raikkonen says 2014 a tough call now Red Bull seat available
Kimi Raikkonen admits he will face a difficult decision if he has to choose between Red Bull and Lotus for the 2014 Formula 1 season
AUTOSPORT understands that Raikkonen was on Red Bull's shortlist as a new team-mate for Sebastian Vettel even before Mark Webber announced he will leave Formula 1 at the end of 2013 to join Porsche's new LMP1 programme.
Raikkonen's contract with Lotus expires at the end of the year, and he insisted he is yet to decide on his plans, but hinted it will be a tough call.
"Whatever the decision, it will not be easy, but it is never easy," said Raikkonen at Silverstone. "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 said Webber's announcement changed nothing for him.
"I still don't have an answer for what will happen next year, it hasn't changed in the last two races," he said.
"Obviously people will be talking about the chances more but it doesn't really change what I will do next year or what my decisions are - even if there is an open place."
He added: "I have no contract, which is normal in F1. I have nothing to inform people until there is something certain on paper and I will tell immediately because then everyone stops asking the same question. But until I have something done I cannot answer."
LOTUS 'PERFECT'
The 2007 world champion returned to F1 with Lotus last year after a two-year hiatus, and he finished the championship in third place. This season, Raikkonen has already won a race and is third in the standings.
The 33-year-old said the atmosphere at Lotus has been exactly what he wanted.
"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."
Raikkonen admitted that his freedom at Lotus is an important consideration.
"It is one of the key points," he said. "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 around the business long enough to know what I want and if those things are not right then the decision might be different."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
What F1 history tells us about three-way title deciders
On this day: Raikkonen’s Suzuka masterclass
The contrasting fortunes of F1's big-name moves to Ferrari
"You're not allowed to make a difference" – Verstappen says the fastest F1 drivers are penalised
The Red Bull seat nobody is talking about – and why that's the biggest compliment of all
What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future
LIVE: F1 Hungarian GP updates - Hamilton leads FP3 after red flag for Perez stoppage
BTCC Thruxton: Proctor substitutes for unwell Osborne, Smiley tops practice
F1 Hungarian Grand Prix track repaired overnight following driver complaints
When plucky private entrants could afford to go GP racing, and how F1 changed with the rise of commercialisation
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments