Lotus won't break the bank to keep Kimi Raikkonen for F1 2014
Lotus says there is no point in busting the bank to keep Kimi Raikkonen next year, as talks intensify to finalise the Finn's Formula 1 future
Raikkonen is considering his options for 2014, but hopes of a switch to Red Bull appear to be over after his manager Steve Robertson revealed on Monday that talks had collapsed.
While Lotus is eager to keep Raikkonen on board, and the former champion has expressed privately that he wants to stay there, the situation depends on the Enstone-based outfit proving that it has the financial and technical package in place to maintain its strong form.
The money situation is a key factor, with Raikkonen having had issues in the past with wage payments being delayed.
That background means there is no guarantee Raikkonen will commit to a fresh deal with Lotus, with the team admitting that there will be no point in it over-stretching its budget just to keep him.
Speaking before it emerged that the Red Bull discussions were over, team principal Eric Boullier said he would only be happy to keep Raikkonen if the circumstance made sense for both driver and team.
"We haven't finished the story with Kimi, so we want to keep going," he told AUTOSPORT.
"Kimi is a good figure for the team. Obviously he is a very good driver, and everyone knows how good he is.
"He's also helping us in terms of awareness to get us into the right place of where we want to be. I think he is a natural fit for the team and the team naturally fits around him.
"I would like to keep him, to be honest, but I want to keep him with the right conditions.
"If we can't afford him because of finances, then I don't want to have him because he will be a pain in the arse - and it will difficult to build something on this.
"But if we can have him, then I would like to keep him."
Lotus is still finalising a deal with investment partner Infinity Racing that it hopes will provide it with exactly the kind of financial stability that Raikkonen is seeking.
Toro Rosso hails aero gains amid strong 2013 Formula 1 season
Analysis: could Kimi Raikkonen rejoin Ferrari for F1 2014?
Mercedes explains the six upgrades on its W14 F1 car
Mercedes explains the six upgrades on its W14 F1 car Mercedes explains the six upgrades on its W14 F1 car
Hamilton: New Mercedes F1 contract "nearly there", no Ferrari talks
Hamilton: New Mercedes F1 contract "nearly there", no Ferrari talks Hamilton: New Mercedes F1 contract "nearly there", no Ferrari talks
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Raikkonen "got unlucky" with COTA chaos on NASCAR return
Raikkonen "got unlucky" with COTA chaos on NASCAR return Raikkonen "got unlucky" with COTA chaos on NASCAR return
Raikkonen enjoys "older-style" racing without DRS in NASCAR
Raikkonen enjoys "older-style" racing without DRS in NASCAR Raikkonen enjoys "older-style" racing without DRS in NASCAR
Why newly-retired Raikkonen won't miss F1
Why newly-retired Raikkonen won't miss F1 Why newly-retired Raikkonen won't miss F1
Indy 500 retrospective: When Jones beat Clark and paused a revolution
Indy 500 retrospective: When Jones beat Clark and paused a revolution Indy 500 retrospective: When Jones beat Clark and paused a revolution
How Senna’s first F1 winner gave Lotus life after Chapman
How Senna’s first F1 winner gave Lotus life after Chapman How Senna’s first F1 winner gave Lotus life after Chapman
Autosport Podcast: Top 10 Lotus F1 drivers ranked
Autosport Podcast: Top 10 Lotus F1 drivers ranked Autosport Podcast: Top 10 Lotus F1 drivers ranked
Ericsson: Final-lap Indy 500 restart was “unfair and dangerous”
Ericsson: Final-lap Indy 500 restart was “unfair and dangerous” Ericsson: Final-lap Indy 500 restart was “unfair and dangerous”
Indy 500: Newgarden beats Ericsson to win after three red flags
Indy 500: Newgarden beats Ericsson to win after three red flags Indy 500: Newgarden beats Ericsson to win after three red flags
Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium
Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium
Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy
Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
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.