Citroen says Raikkonen is free to return to F1

Citroen rally racing boss Olivier Quesnel has said that Kimi Raikkonen is free not to compete in the World Rally Championship and return to Formula 1 if he wishes.

The Finn and his management have not yet commented on the persistent rumors that Kimi, 31, is in the running to take the place of the injured Kubica at Renault.

After making his debut in world championship rallies with Citroen last year, the former McLaren and Ferrari driver has announced that in 2011 he will drive a Citroen DS3 in the Ice 1 team.

Quesnel told RMC Sport: “If he wanted to leave I couldn't say anything, because he races as a customer. He rented one of our cars and races with his sponsors. I imagine that Ecclestone, the FIA ​​and the whole of F1 are pushing for his return, because he is a driver who is still much loved in the environment."

However, Quesnel stated that, in his opinion, Kimi doesn't have too much desire to rejoin the Circus: "If he were to accept, it would mean that the proposal they made to him is really convincing."

Filippo Ronchetti