Raikkonen slams 'rumours and ideas' regarding future

Kimi Raikkonen has described reports linking him with a move from Formula One to the World Rally Championship next season as just 'rumours and ideas', with his alleged future team, Toyota, also describing the reports as "pure speculation" with no truth behind them.

Raikkonen previously took a break in Formula One and competed in the World Rally Championship between 2009 and 2011, and although he has previously suggested a return to the motorsport discipline in the future, he has rubbished claims from this current report it could happen as early as next season.

The report emerged in the Finnish media, and Raikkonen claims the writer has no insider knowledge on his plans.

“If you speak to the lady who wrote it you’ll probably find out there’s not much knowledge about racing or anything else," he told RaceFans.

“It’s rumours and [their] ideas.

“For sure I’m interested in rallying whenever I stop, that’s not a secret but I have zero contract to do it, anyway. People keep writing things but not really my issue.”

“The funny part was that it said – I saw it, somebody told me about it – that Mika Hakkinen confirmed it.

“Honestly, the lady who wrote it, and him, how much do they know about my life? Zero.”

These comments were echoed by Kaj Lindstrom, the sporting director of the team Raikkonen is tipped to join - Toyota.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Lindstrom told Rally Australia.

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“Clearly if anything like this was going to happen I would have been the first to hear about it from Tommi or him [Raikkonen].

“For me, this is pure speculation.”

Raikkonen has previously stated that it is his wish to remain in Formula One next season with Ferrari, but admits it is ultimately up to the team.

“It depends on the team and they know exactly what I want. I do not drive in Formula 1 if I do not have fun," the Finn said before the Monaco Grand Prix.

“The pleasure of driving is the only thing that keeps me here. I can do without everything else, even though it’s the way it is.

“The decision is influenced by many things, but at least my passion for racing will not disappear from this moment to the end of the season.”