Lack Of Lotus Cash Led To Kimi's Exit

Raikkonen made it perfectly clear: no money results in no contract signing, no matter how hard you try...

18 May 2015

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

We didn't think Kimi Raikkonen cared about much, but one thing that he certainly cares about is getting his money. The Lotus driver recently revealed that he was motivated to leave the team after it failed to pay him.

Lotus - which apparently isn't bitter about losing the Finn - has been struggling financially for quite some time, despite investment consortium Infinity Racing buying a 35 per cent stake in the team recently.

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

Raikkonen has made no secret that he has not been paid in the past, but it appears that this time it contributed to his exit from Lotus.

Speaking in the FIA driver press conference, he said: "I like to race and then obviously that's the only reason why I'm here; it doesn't matter which team it is. The reason why I left the team is purely on the money side; they haven't got my salary so it's an unfortunate thing but like I said, I want to try and help the team as much as I can and I like to race."

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

He also hit back at rumours that he didn't enjoy his first stint at Ferrari between 2007 and 2009: "I always had freedom there. There are a lot of stories from my past, from different teams but it's all from you

guys and I don't think that you guys work in the team so you don't really know what's happening and you write a lot of stuff which can sometimes be true and sometimes not. I had a good time, and I'm sure we will have a good time together again."

Raikkonen's departure from Lotus at the end of the season was announced last week. It is not yet known who will replace him at the black and gold squad, but reports suggest that Nico Hulkenberg, Felipe Massa and Davide Valsecchi - seemingly long lost 2012 GP2 champion - are all in contention.

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

The Finn goes into this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix after two consecutive finishes outside of the points. He feels that he has "unfinished business" there after missing out on a podium finish at his last three visits.