Even though it was reported yesterday that Kimi Raikkonen would be taking a sabbatical in the 2010 Formula one season after losing out oint he McLaren drive to new world champion, Jenson Button, it has now come to light that should the new Mercedes Grand Prix team, formerly known as Brawn, make a good enough offer and convince him that they have a championship winning car, then he may return after all.

“This is Formula 1. If they can offer, or convince us, that they can provide Kimi an opportunity that Kimi is happy with, and that we are happy with, and he feels he can win races and the championship then never say never. There is always a possibility,” his manager Steve Robertson told Autosport in an interview.

Apart from Mercedes the field is looking very grim in relation to race winning teams, however Renault, if they remain in the sport, may be of interest to the Finn, but at the end of the day he says it is not about the money, even though there were reports that he was asking for 25 million, instead it is all about being given the equipment top challenge for race wins and championships.

‘There are not that many teams that would appeal to Kimi because he is honest when he says he has got to have a car to win. He is not interested in the money. Of course, money is a part of it but he doesn't need the money. He wants a car where he can show his talent. He was very frustrated this year by the fact that he could not win more races, and challenge for the championship. When you have been in F1 for nine years and been a world champion then you need challenges – and for Kimi the challenge is to win championships and races.”