There's a beautiful irony in Kimi going to Renault and Nando at Ferrari. Could that have been a possibility before, but Kimi choose the sweeter option of loads of cash and WRC fun? Now it might be time to come back (to a fairly strong Renault) and thrash Nando? With the new tyres (from WRC's Pirelli!) and new car rules for 2011 it's a great opportunity.

A quick google suggests Petrov to Lotus with the Renault engine package as part of the jigsaw, all speculation obviously.

If Kimi was really considering a return wouldn't (shouldn't) he have taken the Pirelli test role, maybe he still can if Heidfeld to Sauber happens.

Massa/Räikönnen rematch plus Alonso vs. Kubica? Indeed that would be marvellous!

Thats a good one

2012 - Kimi should go to McLaren to lay to rest the ghosts of seasons past and win 3 WDCs back to back

They both got beaten by Heidfeld. I don't think there is much between them.

I would love to see Kimi in the Renault. One more WDC in the field and a reality check for Kubica fans.

if the Renault story is true...
it seems Kimi and Adrian Sutil horoscopes are always badly aligned... each time Sutil wishes to step up to better result or team... there is Kimi taking him out

I do think that Kimi's choice is at RBR. Yet it is not coming, so he make a move.

Webber MUST win the WDC title this year and perhaps move on? RBR won"t like to loose money and investments that they made on Kimi this year. They want to keep it. But RBR purely are uncertain about what to do next!

Renault might not be a bad choice, RBR would be better. Who knows there might be another place elsewhere...?

I'd love to see Kimi back, but I think Kubica is gonna be real tough to beat. Especially after being out of F1 for a year. At least he'd come back when everybody starts on a level playing field with tires.

Good point.

Agreed on all accounts... actually Kubica might be a sticking point, Raikkonen is a real threat to him and after singlehandedly carrying the team on his back he might not want to be paired with a WDC driver.

Frankly it would pretty much be two single car teams with Kubica and Raikkonen, in their own way they both are very selfish drivers, but DAMN it would be fun to watch!

This is Renault and Boullier using Kimi's name for publicity as usual. And Kimi will do WRC next year no doubt. Maybe Renault and the Robertsons had a private deal to keep both the parties in the news and maybe put pressure at Petrov just like Ferrai talking to Webber to put pressure on Massa.

Considering the news was from Autosport itself,i wouldnt say its baseless...great news for me atleast ..

Dont care what team it is at this point...i just want him back.

I kinda have a feeling that if webber takes the title this yearhewill call it a day.
Kimi should hang on a bit longer!

Exactly .. Just come back .. Kimi !

Hmm you might be onto something there, also I would expect a manager like Robertson to contact all competitive teams about their plans before Kimi decides on his 2011 year.

As much as I would like to see Kimi back on the grid I don't think Renault hiring him would make any sense. Renault are allegedly short for money, Petrov brings money and access to the Russian market where Kimi would surely like to be paid (handsomely).

So I'd say unlikely but stranger things have happened and a Kubica - Raikkonen pairing for 2011 would be awesome.

I agree with those who say who say the target is Red Bull. Regardless, he needs to come back to F1 asap because staying away from F1 too long can only hurt him. I wont get my hopes up too high but this is good news.

Here is my 2 cents on the new Kimi craze.

1. It could be that Kimi are not interested in Renault per se - but using them as a way of showing interest of a return. That way the press wont be filled with "Kimi contacts Red Bull for a seat" or "Kimi approaches Mercedes". In this manner, the team bosses that wants a world champion in their team will know he is on the market and will approach Steve instead of the other way around.

2. The more likely scenario if he really is planning to return to F1 is this. He was never a real friend with the Bridgestones. They killed his reputation as the fastest man in F1. Even when winning a title on them. Now Pirelli is back. As is KERS. So Kimi is being smart. Ok, perhaps Renault isnt his first choice but it will get him up to speed with the Pirellis and give him a much better position for a team change in 2012. Compared to 2 years of rallying in a row. (Unless the Renault is winning of course.)
Expect nothing but a one-year deal with Renault if it happens.

3. This is Kimi and the Robertsons we are talking about. For all we know it could be a cloak and dagger move in his contract negotiations for the best seat possible in the WRC.

Conclusion. I know nothing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6EaoPMANQM

...

Massa is fed up, Massa make deal to Renault before the season end.
Button and Domenicalli fancy each other, Domenicalli convinced Button-Alonso pair, moves to Ferrari.
Webber takes the title. He leaves RBR to Mclaren.
Kimi hits RBR

You call me silly? yes I know it is silly season ...

Lolwut? The only reason I can think of is that in Rally Japan something clicked: rallying is not going to work out, in other words, Ogier has been a revelation and Ogier/Loeb lineup is the long term future for the factory Citroen team.

Sure it is, everybody knows it, even Raikkonen & Robertsons.

Haha, I'm surprised he hasn't tried to take Kimi out yet.

I hope this happens, and I hope Renault can actually be a title contender next season. If we have a different WDC this season, and kimi comes back in 2011. That's a potential 6 champions on the grid!

Nope, I can't imagine any better seat in the WRC that would be open to him.

I agree with the posts above, I think it seems obvious at this point that while Kimi could improve with experience, he's way off the leading pace in the WRC, only a campaign spanning several years could eventually end up with success, and even then it's hardly guaranteed at all. I personally wouldn't have much confidence on that happening, and unless he values the laidback life of rallying much more than titles I'd recommend him going back to F1.

Admit serious rallying didn't work, no shame in that, at least he tried it, and the door will remain open there for some fun once in a while.

Interesting rumour...

I think Kimi would be strong next year @ renault, because the Pirelllis are being developped by Quick Nick who has (I think) the same oversteer preference + kindness on the tires, so they should suit Kimi. Besides, can someone here confirm that Petrov current ingeneer is Mark Slade, former Kimi's engineer at McLaren?

Won't happen IMO. I think it involves all of Red Bull, Webber, Raikkonen, Renault....

Webber to Renault, Raikkonen to Red Bull. I just have a gut feeling about it, especially if Webber wins the WDC. His position at Red Bull will be untenable, Vettel will throw the toys out of the pram and Webber will take the number 1 to Renault with him, he won't continue to be treated like shit.

Raikkonen and Renault are clearly waiting to see how the cards fall.

Yes. I can confirm that.

Do you think Renault would be willing to take Webber (and Briatore with him)?

I agree something smells rotten in Red Bull, but after all efforts Renault has done to make everybody forget about crash-gate, it would not be too smart to get Briatore back in the box. At least I would not like to see him there, maybe it's just my personal dislike for him.

I still think that there are other possibilities w/ contingencies...

- If RBR does not win either of the titles, heads will roll and a seat will open up...
- Merc situation is almost to the point of nepotism on Brawn's part for keeping MS who cannot even match his average teammate. Merc board will not put up with that for another season. so, that 3 yr MS deal is probably mute point at this time...

So, probably Roberson decided to start the news cycle with Renault to keep his client on the radar screen for RBR and Merc as well...

all in all this means he is on his way back one way or another...

Hello guys, another newbie reporting in..

So, Kimi was not doing so well in WRC, Renaults show sign to become competitive again and wants him (or is it other way around?) everyone will use Pirelli next year, return of KERS..

It suits him to make a comebackl the question is, will Renault afford him?

[quote name='grunge' date='Sep 14 2010, 12:31' post='4590550']
Considering the news was from Autosport itself,i wouldnt say its baseless...great news for me atleast ..

Dont care what team it is at this point...i just want him back.
[/quote
Agree 100%

I don't think Briatore is an issue. If Webber walks from Red Bull, he'd head straight for Renault. For one, there is not much else on offer. For two, he'd be in another competitive team and away from the politics of Vettel/Dr Marko etc.

Briatore is now in the background, Renault have well and truly moved on.

4. He's already decided to join another team and this Renault thing is to keep attention away from the real deal.

He was in Ferrari’s box and searching for the TV cameras last weekend. I don’t think he would stay in the background. But as I said, it’s provably my disliking for him that doesn’t let me be objective .

Sounds like Boullier is fishing for sponsorship money.

It's a possibility.

Maybe Red Bull should consider picking up the tab.

all rumors aside, the most significant and factual event all season long was Haug's house call to Kimi (both confirmed). Maybe they are really good friends, getting together for beer from time to time but ... I still think there is something there as it relates to Kimi's F1 return.

Cor, that'd be something: Renault using Merc engines next year!

(I think I might be doing the "logical consequence" thing wrong...)

I wouldn't say Kimi isn't doing well in WRC. It is difficult to know how he should be doing, he basically had zero experience and he jumped into a WRC car. I think Kimi is doing alright he is basically on pace with Wilson who has been driving WRC for 5 years, granted he crashes a lot more but he is still learning how to drive to pacenotes. That being said Wilson is properly not Kimi's idea of a benchmark but Kimi is just a beginner.
This Renault news is a bit strange all of the sudden, Kimi doesn't sound to interested in F1. However, who knows what those Robertson are planning.

You know, I always thought it'd be Ferrari that builds a factory in North Carolina and follows Toyota's lead into NASCAR with Kimi spearheading the effort.

But now I see I was totally wrong.

It makes MUCH more sense that Renault will be the next foreign manufacturer to enter NASCAR...I've seen leaked plans for a factory near Talladega, Alabama as well as signs that they will be buying Germain racing's facilities....

I don't know what's gotten into me, I made that all up. But I'd love to see Renault Clios racing side by side with Toyota Camrys and Ford Focus on the ovals of NASCAR!

Like Alonso and Massa, just like Hockenheim 2010.

Im pretty sure the pirellis are developed by pirelli...

but it's true, kimi and nick probably share their "tire" problem.... seeing as both drivers had the exact same problem in the exact same time.

5. So that particular Team's driver doesn't get de-motivated if the actual Team is revealed before the 2010 season's last race.
6. Or it could be a hint to a 'Particular' driver to get a move on and grab Petrov's seat... coz Raikkonen's coming through no matter what.

So many theories... When will we get a practical answer?. I guess this tale will continue for a few more months...

Its a bit sad. Kubica is going to wipe the sweat of his dyck with Raikkonen

According to Auto Motor und Sport, Kimi began to thrill again about F1 watching the race in Spa (they quote people close to Kimi, without names, of course), because he remembered his victories there. In other words, Spa caused all this mess.

Aaaaaaaaah! Spa

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-...lt-2766772.html

Interesting, aah Spa indeed. I was wondering if Kimi would actually miss Spa. So could the thing with Renault have been interpreted incorrectly, meaning that Kimi wasn't perhaps so much impressed with Renault's pace at Spa but more with Spa itself, and perhaps the Robertsons have contacted a few teams on the grid.

If Kimi isn't on the grid in 2011 McLaren/Red Bull should be allowed to just give him a wildcard for Spa

Yes, you are because - Renault news is a PR ploy... while he is negotiating with Merc for Shumi's seat -- Plausible scenario?

Yeah... that way Kimi would add to his Repertoire...

1- F1 WDC
2- WRC Rally Driver
3- MERCENARY RACER


Someone can surely make a brilliant Racing Game now with Raikkonen's...

I was bored/excited.

Hope that Kimi continues to drive at the rally. He shouldn´t give up that easily

Going to Renault doesn´t make any sense to me. They are no topteam and it would just be a wasted year for him