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Sunday May 10, 2009

Raikkonen could quit F1 over controversial reforms

LONDON: Ferrari Formula One ace Kimi Raikkonen said he could quit the sport over controversial plans to introduce a budget cap and a two-tier championship, according to the BBC.

The sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA) have announced their plans to impose a voluntary cap in 2010 — a decision that has created serious unrest among the teams.

It is believed they are planning to boycott a May 29 deadline for entries to be made for next year’s championship as they press for further discussions.

Raikkonen, whose contract expires in 2010, says if the proposals are carried through it may drive him out of F1.

“This is not F1 anymore. That’s why there is a question mark. We’ll see what happens,” the Finn said in a BBC interview.

“There are a lot of question marks and nobody seems to know what kind of rules we are going to get,” said Raikkonen, who won the world championship in 2007.

He added: “I’m happy where I am now, I have a contract for next year then it’s more or less my decision what I want to do.

“We’ll see how it goes and how F1 is going. There are a lot of question marks. Nobody seems to know what kind of rules we are going to get.

“I will definitely finish my contract but I’m not in a hurry and we’ll wait and see.”

When asked if Ferrari would still contest F1 if a budget cap were introduced, Raikkonen said: “I don’t know. There are a lot of question marks and I’m not the guy to answer those.”

“There needs to be a reasonable budget for everybody,” he added.

“It would be nice to get close racing; we are getting there now but it still needs to improve.

“But it’s hard to put the bigger and smaller teams on the same level as it’s very difficult to make everybody happy.” — AFP

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