‘Why would Kimi want to be a No 2?’

Eric Boullier has again brushed aside suggestions that Kimi Raikkonen could be off to Ferrari, saying he wouldn’t want to play second fiddle…

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier has again brushed aside suggestions that Kimi Raikkonen could be off to Ferrari, saying he wouldn’t want to play second fiddle.

Media reports claim Ferrari are interested in re-signing the 32-year-old as a replacement for Felipe Massa for the 2013 season.

Raikkonen, who won the 2007 World Championship during his three-year stint with the Italian squad, insisted he is happy at Lotus, but in the same breath said “you never know what happens in the future”.

Boullier is confident Raikkonen won’t leave for Maranello as he wouldn’t want to be a number two driver to Fernando Alonso.

“There are always a lot of rumours,” he told Finland’s MTV3.

“We have a two-year contract with Kimi but, as in every agreement, there are always options.

“I believe Kimi is happy here and I do not believe that his experience with Ferrari was the best one.

“Being with (team-mate Romain) Grosjean is certainly easier than Alonso.

“I can’t see why Kimi would want to be the second driver at Ferrari when he has the chance to be the number one here.”