Kimi Räikkönen move to Renault edging closer
Kimi Räikkönen’s return to Formula One looks likely to happen as Renault team principal Eric Boullier has revealed he is set to meet the Finnish driver.
The 2007 world champion swapped Formula One for rallying this season after leaving Ferrari, and had spoken before about turning his back on the sport. However, Boullier revealed after the Belgian Grand Prix that Räikkönen’s manager had been in contact with Renault, with a view to driving for them next season.
With Robert Kubica carrying the team this season with excellent displays in Monaco, Belgium and Singapore, there has been pressure on rookie driver Vitaly Petrov to deliver. However, after the Russian’s mistake in qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend, where he damaged his right-rear suspension after hitting the barriers, Boullier has been left “frustrated” with the performances of the 26-year old.
“It is still frustrating because he keeps doing mistakes,” he said.
Petrov’s best result to date is a fifth-place finish in Hungary, and Boullier is not satisfied. “If Robert is fighting like now for fifth position and Petrov can finish seventh or eighth then that is fine. This is what we expect from a young driver. And it means his learning curve is still improving. If he is already at the limit, then it is a different matter,” he said.
Petrov’s race seat for next season is under threat, and Renault will be deciding soon whether to keep him or replace him with Räikkönen. “It is definitely getting closer to when we will make a decision,” he said. “But we really want to consider all of the options.
“I decided to tell some drivers that we will not carry on discussions with them, so we now wait and see - but Kimi remains one of our scenarios. I have said many times that I want to meet with him first before we do anything more. I want to understand more about his wish to come back,” added Boullier.
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