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Raikkonen's Red Bull deal off

LONDON, England - Kimi Raikkonen will not drive for Formula 1 champions Red Bull in 2014, his manager Steve Robertson has asserted.

The Finn's Lotus contract will run until the end of the 2013 season and Raikkonen was a leading contender to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull when the Australian moves over to endurance racing.

Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo, from Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, is now most likely to get the 2014 seat alongside World champion and 2013 points leader Sebastian Vettel.

LOTUS AFTER ALL?

Robertson told autosport.com added: "Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks but a deal will not be happening."

An announcement had been expected during the upcoming Belgian F1 GP (Aug 23-25).

Robertson said staying at Lotus was just one possibility for 2007 champion Raikkonen who spent two years in rallying after being forced out of Ferrari in 2009. He's shone since his return to F1.

"We are pretty confident Kimi will be in F1 next year," Roberson added. "There are options - and that is plural - out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I hope we will sort something out in the not too distant future."
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