Raikkonen turns down Dennis offer to re-sign

UPDATE (GMMf1NET) According to reports in the Finnish press, Kimi Raikkonen has turned down a whopping $72 million deal to stay at Ron Dennis' McLaren team.

The reportedly rejected contract, which would have seen the 26-year-old Finn earn $24m per year until the end of 2009, will only intensify speculation that Raikkonen is already (secretly) committed to switch to the Ferrari team in 2007.

But his reluctance to pen a new Woking pact might also be linked with McLaren's less than shining winter season, not to mention his apparent irritation at Dennis' decision to already sign up world champion Fernando Alonso.

02/21/06 According to reports in the Finnish IS Veikkaaja newspaper, McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen has turned down a 3-year $71.5 million deal with Ron Dennis to remain with the Woking based squad after his current contract expires this year.