Raikkonen Would Only Drive for McLaren

Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen insisted that McLaren is the only F1 team he would drive for in 2010. Although he has been seriously linked with a drive for Toyota in recent weeks, the Finnish driver revealed that the Japanese manufacturer was never a serious option for him and that he didn't even discuss the possibility of coming to Cologne for the upcoming season.

“Toyota has not even been discussed. If I want to drive (F1) cars, then McLaren is the only option. I should know the situation in the next few days,” said the current Ferrari-an in an interview with Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

Soon after agreeing to terminate his deal with Ferrari one year before time, a decision that eventually brought him a huge amount of money from the Maranello outfit, Raikkonen was rumored to have already signed a pre-agreement with the Woking based team. However, neither of the two parties confirmed it, despite the fact that McLaren's team principal Martin Whitmarsh publicly welcomed the Finnish driver at the British outfit for 2010.

In addition, Raikkonen also admitted that, should he fail to sign the desired racing agreement for 2010 in Formula One, a sabbatical is also a serious possibility to consider. That would give him a chance to continue his rallying experience and try something other than F1.

“I can (have a year off) if I want. It is not just Formula One or rallying. There are other things I could do and we will see what happens,” added Raikkonen, who insisted that even if he stays in Formula One, rallying is still something that he won't agree to give up in 2010.

“It's not going to hurt you. Any kind of driving is always going to give you some experience, so I don't see what's the issue. It's going to be in the contract that I'm allowed to do it,” concluded the Finnish driver.