Kimi Raikkonen made the decision to rejoin Ferrari next season after Lotus failed to pay his salary, the Finn admitting he would still fulfil his duties over the final seven races of his contract because he “loved to race”.
Last week, the 33-year-old agreed to replace Felipe Massa as Fernando Alonso’s team mate at Ferrari, setting up a formidable partnership of former world champions at the prestigious Italian outfit where he won the title in 2007.
“I like to race,” the Finn told reporters ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix on Thursday when asked why he was seeing out the last seven races of the season despite not being paid.
“That’s the only reason why I am here. It doesn’t matter which team it is but the reason I left Lotus was purely on the money side. It’s an unfortunate thing but I want to help the team as much as I can and as I just told you, I like to race.”
The Finn suggested that had Lotus matched his demands he may not have left but was happy with the decision now that it had been finalised.
“There were a lot of things they could have done to keep me and they know what it is,” he added.
“It’s hard to say which way I would have gone had that happened but the deal is done now and I am very happy.”
Raikkonen ended his first spell at Ferrari in 2009 with some reports inaccurately calling it an acrimonious departure.

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Trouble for ferrari, says button
Singapore, Sept. 19: McLaren’s Jenson Button said Ferrari may have inadvertently given a boost to their rivals by re-hiring former world champion Kimi Raikkonen to join current lead driver Fernando Alonso.
The 33-year-old Briton said rather than being a dream pairing, two-time world champion Alonso and “Iceman” Raikkonen, who won the 2007 title with Ferrari, may find it difficult to cooperate.
“We’ll definitely be watching their situation,” Button said. “Ferrari for many years has had two drivers in the team that have been very quick but when it gets to a point in the season, it seems one driver helps the other driver.
“I don’t think that will be the case with Kimi and Fernando. A guy that’s achieved what they’ve achieved will not want to be helping out his teammate.”
— AFP

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Ferrari boss hits back at criticism
Singapore, Sept. 19: Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali claimed rivals were scared Thursday as the Italian marque hit back at a storm of criticism over their re-signing of former world champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Domenicali said comments from Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and others questioning Raikkonen’s impact were simply part of a “psychological war” aimed at destabilising his team.
Current lead driver Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen also dismissed the speculation, which has blown up since the “Iceman” was signed up for next season.
“Maybe they’re afraid because we’re strong, because honestly this is part of the psychological war that is part of this environment,” Domenicali said ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Schumacher has called the pairing of two strong-willed former world champions “explosive”, while McLaren’s Button suggested Ferrari’s move was “great” for other teams. — AFP