Red Bull: Raikkonen rumours are 'nonsense'

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has dismissed rumours the team are poised to sign Kimi Raikkonen for next season.

Speculation regarding a potential return has surfaced following the team orders saga in Sunday’s British Grand Prix, when Mark Webber ignored repeated instructions to maintain a gap to team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

With Webber yet to sign a new contract with Red Bull for 2012, and with team principal Christian Horner insisting no discussions will take place until later this summer, talk as to who might partner Vettel next season is rife.

Although 2007 world champion Raikkonen stepped away from F1 at the end of 2009 to concentrate on the World Rally Championship, gossip surrounding a comeback has never disappeared.

But on the latest rumour, Marko, right-hand man to Red Bull magnate and team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, said: “Kimi Raikkonen is and will be an issue for us, this is definite.

“He will not drive at Red Bull. The rumours are far-fetched and total nonsense.”

Speaking to German news website TZ, Marko added: “We have our juniors, one of which will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull when he’s ready.”

Marko’s comments further endorse Horner’s remarks last week that Lewis Hamilton would not be joining the team.

Instead, Red Bull will seemingly turn to either Jaime Alguersuari or Sebastien Buemi at Toro Rosso, both in their second full season with the team.

Also on the radar is Daniel Ricciardo, who made his debut on Sunday with Hispania Racing after being loaned out for the remainder of the season by Toro Rosso, where he was test and reserve driver.