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Belgian Grand Prix 2013: Red Bull refuse to give up on Kimi Raikkonen
Formula One’s silliest sillly season in years got sillier still on Thursday as Red Bull refused to rule Kimi Raikkonen out of one of their race seats for next year, despite the Finn’s manager having done so earlier this week.
To add to the intrigue Raikkonen himself was mysteriously taken ill in Belgium, thus avoiding any awkward questions regarding his future.
The sport returned from its three-week summer break refreshed and ready for the second half of a season, which is simmering nicely, but was left collectively confused after a day that only seemed to cloud the issue of who will be driving where in 2014.
Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo was thought to have secured Mark Webber’s seat at Red Bull with the Australian retiring from the sport at the end of the year and Red Bull having previously indicated that it was a straight shoot-out between him and Raikkonen.
However, Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, said he was not ruling anything out, suggesting that he feels the 2007 world champion may still be an option.
“As far as I am aware he [Raikkonen] hasn’t signed a contract with anyone yet,” Horner said. “Once we are clear and fixed in our own minds then there will be announcement very shortly afterwards.
“Kimi is very much his own man. I think at the end of the day he will do what is best for him. We are in a fortunate position where there is an awful lot of interest in the seat and we have got a bit of time until we need to make any firm commitments. By Monza, or shortly after, we should be clear.
“Daniel has done a very good job in the test he has done for us, and the recent races he has done for Toro Rosso. But that doesn’t mean it is a foregone conclusion. You would be surprised at the approaches we have had.”
That final teasing comment was taken by some to be another hint at the future of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who again refused to answer a yes or no question as to whether he would be at the Scuderia next year.
Even the future of Jenson Button was not entirely clear last night, with McLaren yet to take up their option on him for 2014. Button described Ferrari as a “massive opportunity” for someone.
“If I thought it [Ferrari] was the right option and I had the opportunity there, that would be great for me,” he admitted. “But is it the right option? I think here is my right option.”
One person who did not have to answer any questions about his future was Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, whose win in Hungary just prior to the summer break has relaunched his title bid.
He said the difference in his energy levels between this year and last, when he was having to face neverending questions about his future, was “night and day”.