Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has played down speculation that Red Bull will sign Kimi Raikkonen for the 2011 season if the Fin decides to return to Formula One.
“This is nothing more than pure speculation,” said Mateschitz. “We do not know what Kimi intends to do in one year.
“We have a very good relationship which makes room for speculations.”
The Austrian billionaire did hint that the team could extend Mark Webber’s contract which is set to end after this season.
“But to tell you now Kimi will be racing for us in 2011 is not serious. If Webber provides top performances this year we will not reward him by giving his cockpit to Raikkonen.”
Meanwhile Mateschitz told the Austrian paper Salzburger Nachrichten that he is worried about Red Bull’s engine supplier Renault, and their commitment to the sport.
Asked if Red Bull could become the Renault works partner, Mateschitz replied: “I doubt it, because I suspect Renault does not intend to be in Formula One for so long,”
“That Renault does not have a long-term connection [to F1] is for us a little bit of an uncertainty,” he added.
