06/10/2010
NEWS STORY
2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen has hit out at the Renault F1 team accusing the French outfit of using his name for "marketing purposes".
In recent weeks there has been increasing speculation that the Finn, who left F1 at the end of last season to compete in the World Rally Championship, might return to F1 with Renault. Indeed, senior sources within the team, including team boss Eric Boullier encouraged the speculation claiming to have held talks with the Finn. Earlier this week Boullier even claimed to be "flattered" by Raikkonen's interest in his team.
However, speaking to Finnish daily Turun Sanomat, Raikkonen hit out, dismissing any talk of a return to F1, certainly with the French outfit.
"I am very disappointed with the way they have used my name for their own marketing purposes," he said. "At no point have I even seriously considered driving for Renault and I can assure that it is 100 percent certain that I will not drive for Renault in 2011.
"My managers have weeks ago been in contact, once, with Renault's team leader (Eric Boullier)," he added. "That is all."
With Robert Kubica already signed up for 2011, many believe that Renault was using Raikkonen as a ploy not only in terms of sponsorship negotiations but also in terms of driving up the financial investment required by Vitaly Petrov's backers.