Raikkonen puts the screws to Ferrari

Word on the street is that Kimi Raikkonen said no to Ferrari's offer to buy out his contract so they can replace him with Fernando Alonso. According to sources, Ferrari signed a right of first refusal deal with Alonso for 2009 and in 2010 with the intent of ridding themselves of Raikkonen. Supposedly Ferrari will now have to pay Alonso's full salary of $30M in 2010 only to see him drive for a rival team.

If these rumors are true, look for Ferrari to start giving Massa better equipment, thereby making Raikkonen look inferior. If he is costing Ferrari $30M they may as well destroy his career in return so when he moves to a rival team in 2011 it's a backmarker and Ferrari secrets don't fall in the hands of its chief rivals.