TheSportsCampus

2007 Formula 1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen looks all set to sit out the 2010 racing season after talks between him and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team broke down earlier this week. McLaren has since gone on to sign reigning world champion Jenson Button, leaving the Flying Finn parked on the bench without a drive for next year.

Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson was quoted in Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat as having said, "Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level - at least not next year. A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi."

Raikkonen had agreed to terminate his contract with Ferrari a year early after the Italian manufacturer had expressed an interest in signing Fernando Alonso to partner Felipe Massa in the 2010 season. Reports suggests that the money on offer was the reason he was unable to reach an agreement with McLaren. His severance package from Ferrari is said to be about €17 million should he not drive in 2010 and would come down to €10 million should he sign on with another team. McLaren were reportedly offering Kimi a €6 million contract, obviously making it more profitable for him to take a 'sabatical'.

30-year old Raikkonen is being widely tipped to spend a year in the World Rally Championship and wait for a seat to open up alongside Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull Racing team when Mark Webber's contract expires at the end of next season. However, one can't rule out a possible move to the erstwhile Brawn GP team, now ofcourse owned by Mercedes, arguably a big enough brand with deep enough pockets to lure the Finn out of his holiday mood.

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