Raikkonen to take year off Formula One

(AP)

The former world champion Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he will take a one-year sabbatical from Formula One next season and says it is uncertain whether he will return in 2011.

The Finnish driver, the 2007 champion, was replaced by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari and says he prefers to take a year off and wait for a place with a competitive team after failing to reach a deal with McLaren, who opted to sign the current champion Jenson Button to partner Lewis Hamilton.