The Panasonic Toyota Racing team have offered current Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen a reasonable contract to drive for them in the upcoming 2010 Formula One season, however it appears as of the Finnish champion will not accept anything under twenty five million Euros for his services.

"We put on the table what we can afford and what we think is a serious offer in the current market," Howett was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I think genuinely we could work well with him, give him a car that's quick. We have had very good relationships with Scandinavian drivers in the rallying times that enjoy life and it works very well, so we could cope with it as a team."

However, according to German publication, Motorsport Aktuell, Raikkonen responded to Toyota’s offer with a counter offer and it was way too high for the Cologne based squad to even contemplate. Therefore, it is now a waiting game between them and another option, presumably McLaren.

"He gave us back a figure that is much too high. He says he has two options, so we are going to wait.”