Renault prepared to buy Raikkonen from Ferrari

Renault are reportedly ready to pay Ferrari $4.4m to sign McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen. In a deal that would be both extravagant and bizarre by F1's remarkable standards, Renault are reputedly so intent on securing the Finn's services that they would pay Ferrari to cancel the pre-agreement they currently hold with Raikkonen.

It's widely believed in the paddock that Ferrari paid Kimi $4.4m to sign the pre-contract agreement earlier this season. However, according to reports, the terms of the agreement elapse at the end of July, ensuring that Raikkonen – or his new suitors – could then pay the money back and sign a deal with another team.

With Fernando Alonso bound for McLaren, Renault President Alain Dassas has acknowledged that signing Raikkonen for 2007 is the team's priority. "We are ready to pay the usual market price for a good driver," he announced. Planet-F1