The speculation linking Formula One’s hottest free agent with a move to Ferrari has intensified following the announcement that Kimi Raikkonen’s talks with Red Bull have ended.
The 2007 Formula One World Champion had been the favourite to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing and partner triple Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel from 2014 onwards.
However it has now been confirmed that talks between the two parties have now ended and it’s Red Bull development driver and current Toro Rosso racer Daniel Ricciardo who will be promoted to the seat, much to the delight of those within the Red Bull development programme who were desperate to see some progress with the scheme.
Now attentions turn to the possible seat at Ferrari, which is expected to be vacated by Felipe Massa who has once again struggled for form during 2013.
Raikkonen had already been heavily tipped with a return to Ferrari over the past few weeks despite the ongoing speculation regarding the Red Bull seat, with that timeline now seamlessly appearing to correlate with when the talks broke down according to Kimi’s managers previous comments.
BBC Formula One pundit Eddie Jordan, who sensationally broke the news that Lewis Hamilton would leave McLaren for Mercedes last years believes that Raikkonen could be confirmed at Ferrari as early as the Italian Grand Prix in September.
Much like McLaren and Mercedes last season Ferrari have consistently refused to comment on the speculation with a Ferrari spokesman saying: ‘This is the exact same scenario as last year – with not only Kimi but a long list of other drivers allegedly going to Ferrari.
‘At the moment our priority is produce the car for Fernando and Felipe and a decision on the 2014 line-up will be made at the appropriate moment, which is not right now.’
One hurdle and quite a large one at that for Kimi to see a return to Ferrari would be Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo.
Di Montezemolo is said to not be keen on the idea of seeing the Finn return to Ferrari as it would constitute a massive u-turn on their decision to pay him out of his contract in 2009 when they signed Fernando Alonso.
