Sky Sports Channel Logo
  • F1

  • Teams

Alpine News

News

  • News
  • Results
More from F1
  • F1 Home
  • Teams

Kimi Raikkonen confirms he considered boycotting Abu Dhabi GP over Lotus dispute

Finn reveals he has been "paid zero euro the whole year"

By Pete Gill and James Galloway at the Yas Marina Circuit

Last Updated: 04/11/13 8:27am

Kimi Raikkonen was considering boycotting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to not being paid by Lotus.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports

Kimi Raikkonen was considering boycotting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to not being paid by Lotus.
Kimi Raikkonen was considering boycotting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to not being paid by Lotus.

Raikkonen announced in September that he will leave the team at the end of the current campaign to return to Ferrari. Since then, his relationship with the Enstone outfit appears to have deteriorated rapidly, culminating in a sweary radio spat with trackside director Alan Permane at last week's Indian GP and the Finn's absence from the Abu Dhabi paddock on Thursday.

It has now emerged that Raikkonen was prepared to skip this week's event having grown exasperated with the team's failure to pay his wages - and will miss the final races if "an understanding" on the belated payment of his wages is not respected.

"I came here only because hopefully we've found an understanding on the certain issues that we've been having," the 2007 World Champion told reporters.

"Hopefully it gets fixed and we can finish the season as well as we can."

Asked if he could sit out the forthcoming races in America and Brazil if those issues are not resolved, Raikkonen bluntly warned: "Yes, for sure. I enjoy racing, I enjoy driving but a big part of it is business and sometimes when that's not dealt with like it should we end up in an unfortunate situation. But we have to put the line sometime and if it goes over that it's not really my fault anymore.

"I came here only because hopefully we've found an understanding on the certain issues that we've been having. Hopefully it get fixed and we can finish the season as well as we can."

While Lotus have issued an apology after Raikkonen was sworn at by Permane as Romain Grosjean challenged his team-mate for third at the Buddh International Circuit, Raikkonen says that wasn't the principal reason he considered a boycott.

"It's a small part of it," he said. "Those things shouldn't happen but unfortunately it happened and that's not really the issue. It's the other stuff and obviously all the things come together in the end.

"It's easy to say that's the reason why I didn't almost come, it's not that simple. Sometimes it's not very nice when you hear that you don't have the interests of the team [first] and then you've been paid zero euro the whole year.

"So it doesn't put you in the best place, but that's how it goes and hopefully we found an understanding on both sides how we should deal with the situation right now and fix the issues and try to finish as well as we can."

On the track on Friday, Raikkonen was fourth fastest, with World Champion Sebastian Vettel once again topping a Red Bull one-two.

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre LIVE! Barca miss out on Araujo deal by 18 seconds
  • 2
    Papers: Cucurella and Koulibaly set for summer Chelsea exit
  • 3
    Chelsea's registration dilemma explained: who will the Blues leave out?
  • 4
    Price on ear defenders ban: I've got to grin and bear whatever comes my way
  • 5
    Premier League January transfers: Club by club
  • 6
    News: Arsenal's Jesus returns to grass as he steps up comeback
  • 7
    Drivers 'should say what they want': Bottas questions FIA's 'unnecessary' ban
  • 8
    Archer: Six wickets 'a small tick' | Nasser: Jofra 'like gold dust'
  • 9
    Euro round-up: Cancelo shines on Bayern debut | Mbappe misses two pens
  • 10
    Chelsea's record January: £323m spent; long contracts; paperwork problems
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK