McLaren, Ferrari principals’ urge Sir Frank Williams to sign up Kimi Raikkonen – Formula 1 news
Kimi Raikkonen’s former teams principals Martin Whitmarsh of McLaren and Stefano Domenicali of Ferrari have urged Williams boss Sir Frank Williams to sign Kimi Raikkonen for the 2012 Formula 1 season.
Reports were coming in for some time and recently Williams shareholder Toto Wolff confirmed before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that negotiations were in fact going on to lure Raikkonen into a potential comeback to Formula 1.
Raikkonen himself also confirmed that negotiations are taking place, but there is still some discussion over the terms and conditions of the contract that he might sign. However, he was quick to concede that he is still unsure towards the final decision
of a return to the sport, which he left in 2009.
Whitmarsh has urged Williams to sign the former champion of 2007 and said, “Try and sign him. Kimi, we all know he is quick. I think people underestimate how intelligent he can be.”
“I hope that he is hungry. I am sure he hasn't lost the capability to thrill us in Formula One so I think it would be fantastic for Formula One. I wouldn't ordinarily presume to advise Sir Frank who he should sign but I think it would be exciting if he did,”
he said.
Raikkonen’s former team principal Stefano Domenicali praised the driver and said that Raikkonen would be one of the strongest drivers on the grid if he makes a comeback.
“Of course, I would not give any advice to Frank,” Domenicali said. “He has long experience. A lot longer than me, for sure, I know Kimi very well. He is very talented, very strong.”
He also said that if he wants to make a comeback, he must have something that he wants to show to everyone about him. That will make him a very competitive driver if he returns.
Raikkonen is a very talented driver there is no doubt about that, but his return has become somewhat of an enigma, as it has been talked about a lot and has not been realised so far.
However, it goes without saying that 2012 will be very exciting and interesting with his inclusion on the grid competing with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso.
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