KIMI RAIKONNEN HAS ruled out a return to Formula 1 with Renault next season, accusing the French team of using his name for “their own marketing purposes”.
The Finn, who now races in the World Rally Championship, has rejected claims that he will join Renault for the 2011 season, saying that he is not interested in any offer.
Speaking to the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, Raikonnen said:
“I am very disappointed with the way [that] they have used my name by their own marketing. I have never even seriously considered driving Renault, and I can assure you [I am] one hundred percent sure that I [will] not drive Renault next year.”
Raikonnen had been linked with the move to Renault after comments were made by the team manager Eric Bouiller after the Italian Grand Prix.
“It is true that the summer has passed and we have had more and more requests – and the guy you mentioned [Raikkonen] is on the radar now. He is on the radar because he contacted us.”
