Kimi Raikkonen, the least garrulous of Formula One drivers, is the man everyone is talking about ahead of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at his favourite Spa-Francor-champs circuit.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel may be well on his way to a fourth successive title, with four wins already and the second half of the season favouring him in the past, but Raikkonen’s future has hogged the recent headlines.
The Finn started the August break as a favourite to join Vettel at Red Bull next year but now the chatter is about a different shade of red and a possible surprise return to glamour team Ferrari if he does not stay with Lotus.
Raikkonen, champion with Ferrari in 2007 before making way at the end of 2009 for Spain’s Fernando Alonso and taking two years out of the sport, is being touted as a replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa.
The Finn has ruled out Red Bull and said Ferrari are an option. Whatever the reality Spa is sure to give Raikkonen the stage to impress.
Few have any doubt about what he can offer, with the 33-year-old second in the standings, 38 points behind Vettel and chasing a record 28th successive scoring finish.
Spa has been good to Raikkonen over the years come rain or shine.
The ‘Iceman’ has won there four times and, after five second places this season following his season-opening victory in Australia, is gunning for another visit to the top step to boost his title challenge.