Jun.15 (GMM) There might still be opportunities for Kimi Raikkonen to return to formula one in 2011.
The Finn is currently driving full-time in the world rally championship, having ended his Ferrari contract one year early and failed to agree terms for a switch to McLaren.A Red Bull seat for next year had been touted, but the energy drinks-owned company has instead secured its current lineup for 2011 of Sebastian Vettel alongside Mark Webber.However, Italy's Autosprint reports that Renault might be an option for 30-year-old Raikkonen.The magazine says majority team owner Gerard Lopez wants to replace Vitaly Petrov with Raikkonen for 2011, to be the highly rated Pole Robert Kubica's new teammate.Fellow former Ferrari race winner Jean Alesi, however, is impressed with what Raikkonen has achieved so far in rallying."Imagine what it means for a driver to start anew in a discipline the exact opposite of what he has always done."For that, for his courage to challenge himself in such a way, I admire him," added the Frenchman.Autosprint also reports that Renault might have its eye on Adrian Sutil, the long time Force India driver who often admits he would like to finally step into a top team.