Raikkonen to change rally teams, F1 days over

UPDATE (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has given the strongest indication yet that he does not intend to return to formula one. The Finn switched to world rallying for 2010 but on only a one-year contract, which has nurtured constant speculation that he might return to F1 as soon as next season. But Raikkonen, 30, told the French sports daily L'Equipe that "times have changed" since he drove to the 2007 world championship.

For now Raikkonen has his hands full in WRC

"You never know but I will probably never return to formula one," he said. "It's something I did for many years, I had many great moments. I won a world championship title, which is what I always wanted, but times have changed," added the former Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari driver. "Now I'm in rallying and there are many other things apart from formula one in life."

Raikkonen said contesting Le Mans one day is a possibility.

"I would like to try but you need to find the right team. If you want to win, there are only two, Peugeot and Audi. One day, I hope, there will be an opportunity," he added.

08/20/10 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is refusing to commit either to the world rally championship or to formula one for the 2011 season.

The Finn switched to the WRC with Red Bull-sponsored Citroen in 2010, after Ferrari bought out the remaining year on his F1 contract.

His rally contract is for 2010 only, and there has been speculation that he might return to formula one next season — perhaps alongside Robert Kubica at Renault.

But in an interview with Turun Sanomat, the 30-year-old insisted he did not move to rallying because he lacked opportunities in F1.

"It's not that I had no offers there (in F1)," he is quoted as saying. "If I had wanted to be there now, I am sure I would have been driving.

"But there was nothing sensible, so I chose something else."

When Raikkonen was asked if he is therefore leaning towards staying in rally, he answered cryptically: "We will see. There are still a number of things to be done and it may be that nothing happens."

Rumors indicate he might stay in rallying in 2011 but change teams.

Raikkonen, though, reckons his days in F1 are a thing of the past. "I would have the opportunity to go (back to F1) but I think I've seen off that career," he told MTV3 Germany.