Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has admitted that he would be happy for the
Formula One rumour mill to continue speculating about Kimi Raikkonen's future if it means that the Finn keeps on racking up podium finishes.
Speaking after the 2007 world champion ended a 25-race victory drought in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Domenicali answered questions about Raikkonen's future by saying only that he would be happy for the media to continue its speculation. The Finn has variously been the subject of suggestions that he may be poised to quit F1 for a career in the
World Rally Championship, be bought out of his current
Ferrari contract in order that the Scuderia can partner
Fernando Alonso with Felipe Massa, or move to any number of rival organisations, including
Williams and Renault.
"There is a lot of speculation," Domenicali admitted in the wakes of Raikkonen's Spa success, "But I really hope that you people keep writing that because, if this is Kimi's reaction, then please do it day and night!"
Despite team-mate Massa being injured in Hungary, casting doubt on his grand prix career, the speculation surrounding Raikkonen has intensified since his impressive WRC debut, on home soil, during F1's summer break. The Finn appears to have been sparked by the rumours, with a run of three straight podium finishes - culminating in Sunday's win - but insists that he is not listening to the chatter.
"There have been rumours almost every year since I've been in F1, so I don't really care about them," the 29-year old told
Reuters, "I'm not worried about next year. I have a contract, so it's nothing that I should be worried about. I don't make the decisions in the end, but we will see what happens. Maybe
Ferrari have some other plans but as far as I know nothing has changed."
