27/08/2013
NEWS STORY
As speculation over who goes where in 2014 continues, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has joined in the fun by admitting that the Woking outfit pondered a move for Kimi Raikkonen.
Still linked with both Red Bull and Ferrari, though Lotus insists it is confident he will remain at Enstone, the Finn is the driver that everyone's talking about. Though Daniel Ricciardo appears to have secured Mark Webber's berth, it is the final destination of the enigmatic Finn that is enthralling the paddock and beyond rather than the destinations of Hulkenberg, di Resta and the rest.
In an interview with the official F1 website, Whitmarsh reveals that the Woking team held talks with the Finn in 2012. "Kimi has always been great and I am a big fan of him," said Whitmarsh. "There is a lot of speculation out there at the moment so let's see what happens.
"Last year we had talks with him, but for various reasons it didn't happen," he continued. "This year we've had no talks... yet."
With Jenson Button and Sergio Perez on board for 2014, Whitmarsh appears to be stirring the mix, however, as Timo Glock will gladly tell you, nothing in F1 is for certain, no contract cast iron.
Despite the limitations of the Woking outfit's 2013 contender, some wonder whether the team might benefit by the return of Raikkonen who was with the team for five seasons between 2002 and 2006, finishing runner-up twice.
"We are not talking to Kimi at the moment so let's see what happens in the driver market," said Whitmarsh. "I think one thing I have to say is that we haven't given our drivers the car we should have done this year. But they've been fantastic ambassadors and I think they deserve another go with us next year."