Kimi Raikkonen has said that he is not too concerned about his future with Ferrari in Formula 1, preferring to wait until later in the year before deciding whether or not to exercise the option on his contract.
The Finn rejoined Ferrari for the 2014 season on a two-year deal with an option on a third, and suggested last year that he will most probably quit F1 once he leaves Maranello.
A disappointing campaign last year has left many questioning Raikkonen’s future and motivation, but in Jerez earlier this week he said that he is not thinking about his next move at the moment.
“There is an option on my contract,” Raikkonen confirmed. “It’s up to me and the team to do a good job this year, and if it goes badly and I don’t sign it, I don’t sign it. It won’t be the end of the world.
“The aim is to do well, and there’s a big chance. If everybody is happy then I am sure we can do well.
“We’ll see what happens in the future. I don’t worry about it or think about it.”
Raikkonen has been joined at Ferrari by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for the 2015 season, with both drivers hoping to revive the team’s fortunes after its worst performance in 20 years in 2014.
It is likely that the Finn’s decision will be the focus of the 2015 silly season. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas has already been linked with the seat but simply said that he wants to be in the “quickest car available” for 2016.
Besides Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton is the other big name driver who is out of contract at the end of 2015, but the defending world champion appears to be keen on extending his time at Mercedes beyond this year.