Left field

Raikkonen can put victory hopes on ice

By Abhishek Takle

Kimi Raikkonen’s return to Formula One after a two-year hiatus has enthused media, fans and rivals alike. But the question remains — does the Iceman’s comeback mean a cooling of double world champion Sebastian Vettel’s hopes of being red-hot favourite again next year?

Almost certainly not. Raikkonen’s return is certainly a good thing for Formula One. For the first time ever, the sport will see six world champions line up on the starting grid.

Known for his often monosyllabic approach to the media and love of a good party away from the racetrack, the return of the steely-eyed Finn will add another welcome storyline.

But don’t expect him to win a second world title.

For one, Raikkonen makes his return with what will be called the Lotus team next year. While a solid midfield team of late in their Renault guise, they haven’t won a race since 2008 when Fernando Alonso was driving for them.

Also, while they got off to a strong start in 2011, scoring podiums in the first two races of the season, their form tailed off towards the end of the year and they only just managed to hang on to fifth in the final standings ahead of Force India.

Button to McLaren – the real deal or just pretend?

Jenson Button’s eye-catching visit to McLaren on Friday is of obvious benefit to both parties, whatever the reality behind the headlines.

If a deal is done, the new Formula One champion gets the bigger salary that Brawn are reluctant or unable to pay as well as a potentially winning car for next season.

McLaren would get a line-up of champions that will appeal to global sponsors like Vodafone and show that they remain, along with Ferrari, a big hitting team that can always pull in the top talent.

At the very least, Button is able to send a clear message to Brawn that he has other, viable and possibly more lucrative, options and that they cannot assume he will just stay out of loyalty.

McLaren are similarly able to remind Kimi Raikkonen, until now widely considered the main choice to partner Lewis Hamilton, that they too have alternatives and that he should consider reducing his wage demands.

Raikkonen, their former driver who won the 2007 title with Ferrari and has now left the Italian team, was seen at the factory on Wednesday with his management.

But what if Brawn don’t blink, Raikkonen refuses to accept McLaren’s terms and Button signs up to join Hamilton?

The worst kept secret is finally out…Alonso moves to Ferrari

In the world of Formula One, it is very hard to keep a secret.

We’ve known for months that Fernando Alonso would be replacing Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, a move confirmed on Wednesday.

Insiders also reckoned he had signed a deal a while back, which Alonso himself has revealed, although he said it was originally for 2011.

The only aspect of the move the press did not get right was the length of his deal or his pay packet. Some Spanish newspapers said he would sign for six years when in fact it is for three while various astronomical numbers have been bandied about.

Spain’s Marca said Alonso would be paid around 20 million euros a year, some seven million less than Raikkonen was said to be getting. Ferrari put out a statement which hinted he would not be earning as much as some might have thought given these pressured times.

“Reading certain newspapers one might think that there is a gold rush in Maranello. The numbers talked about have absolutely nothing to do with reality. It’s easy to write numbers, forgetting that the world has changed recently,” it said.

Fisichella is the right man for Ferrari

Giancarlo Fisichella and Ferrari would appear to be a marriage made in heaven, as well as good box office for Monza next week.

The little Roman gets to live out the dream he thought would never come true while Ferrari get a driver who is demonstrably quick as well as being a safe and completely loyal pair of hands.

Fisichella is already fired up after the race of his life in Belgium last weekend, where he started on pole and finished second for Force India.

Ferrari know he will be a team player, committed to the cause as both fan and patriot and his loyalty cemented by a testing contract for 2010.

As of Thursday, Fisichella is part of the Ferrari family.

If Michael Schumacher is not coming back, then the last Italian to win a grand prix is certainly far better box office than Luca Badoer — someone who has not scored a point in 51 starts.

Tiger still tops … in pay

Tiger Woods not only remains the highest-paid athlete according to Forbes magazine for the eighth straight year, his total compensation is more than double the next highest total. Talk about lapping the field!

Despite eight months on the shelf due to knee surgery and the end of his sponsor deal with General Motors, Woods still made $110 million over the past 12 months, Forbes said.

The next closest athletes were Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen, NBA all-pro Kobe Bryant and retired basketball star Michael Jordan, all at $45 million. Soccer superstar David Beckham rounded out the top five at $42 million.

While Woods’s prize money dropped to $5 million from $25 million due to the injury, his non-athletic endeavors bore fruit thanks to deals with such well-known brands as PepsiCo’s Gatorade, AT&T, Nike, as well as the success of his golf course design business. He is preparing to defend his U.S. Open title (weather permitting…).

Forbes derived its list of highly paid athletes by combining earnings from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income between June 2008 and June 2009. Overall, the top 20 athletes earned $789 million, down 1 percent from last year.

Those that dropped off this year’s list included boxer Floyd Mayweather, who has not fought since late 2007, NFL players Ben Roethlisberger and Dwight Freeney, and Formula One driver Fernando Alonso. The top newcomers on the list was boxer Manny Pacquiao.

(Reuters photo)