Almost halfway into the 2010 Formula One season, the jostling and tugging among drivers and manufacturers for next year’s grid line-up is already underway. One name that has been mentioned most often in rumors these days belongs to a certain former world champion who isn’t even in the grid this year. That man is Kimi Raikkonen.

After leaving Formula One->ke190 this year to race at the World Rally Championship, rumors of Raikkonen returning to Formula One has hit fever pitch, with the 2007 World Champion having been linked to a number of teams including Red Bull Racing, Mercedes GP, and even Renault.

But if the latest hearsay is to be believed, fans of Raikkonen clamoring for his return to Formula One may have to wait a little while longer as there’s a strong indication that the Finn may stick to the WRC next season.

Of course, nothing is crystal clear on this end, especially given that Raikkonen’s team at the WRC->ke523 is sponsored by Red Bull, which, last we checked, has a pretty fast car in Formula One this year. But judging from how the chips are looking these days, we’re not holding our breath on Raikkonen returning to open-wheel racing until, at the very least, 2012.

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