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KIM AND GET ME

ABOVE: Raikkonen can look forward to another bumper pay deal

11th October 2009

By Ted Macauley

FERRARI cast-off Kimi Raikkonen has suddenly become a wanted man.

The gloomy Finn was booted out in favour of double-champ Fernando Alonso with a £12million redundancy package to ease his woes.

Raikkonen, unloved by his Italian team’s backroom boys, even considered packing in Formula One for a new career in rallying.

But, amazingly, a queue of team bosses has formed to keep him in motorsport’s top flight.

Now the deadpan ace, 30, who manages only a rare smile despite being married to stunning beauty queen wife Jenni (right), having £70m in the bank and a sumptuous private jet lifestyle, is being tempted by the sport’s elite.

His old team McLaren were favourites to clinch a comeback deal to partner him with current champ Lewis Hamilton.

But it looks like they have backed off. It is believed they are uneasy that Raikkonen wants to be paid more than
the £10m the team pays Hammy, its favourite son.

That triggered a rush of rival team guvnors for the one-time champ with 18 wins on his CV – but also with a 2009 season of setbacks and disappointments shadowing his exit from the Italian legends.

The bosses are all anxious to reawaken Raikkonen’s world-beating ability as an out- and-out daredevil racer – even if they cannot stir his promotional value.

Toyota have admitted they want him and resurgent Red Bull, not happy at Aussie driver Mark Webber’s stubborn support for his manager – the disgraced Italian millionaire Flavio Briatore – want to link him with wonderboy Sebastien Vettel.

And Renault, who lost Alonso to Ferrari on a £30m take-home, would dump rookie Romain Grosjean if they could persuade Raikkonen to cut a deal – and his demands.

Toyota chief John Howett admits he is chasing Raikkonen and said: “We should be candidates on his list.

“And he should remember we are a serious contender. We have a very good car.”

One thing’s for sure, Raikkonen won’t be seeking a reference from Italian bike legend Valentino Rossi, who has tested for Ferrari.

The mega-champ cheekily sniped about Raikkonen: “He’s not very quick!”