Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen has Ferrari seat fitted for next season

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Andrew Benson
  • Role, Chief F1 writer

Kimi Raikkonen has visited Ferrari for a seat fitting ahead of his return to the team next season.

The Finn was measured up for his new car and met with team principal Stefano Domenicali on Thursday.

It was the 2007 world champion's first visit to Maranello since he

Video caption, Kimi Raikkonen plays down Ferrari rivalry with Alonso

He had a spell racing in the World Rally Championship before returning to Formula 1 with Lotus last year and has so far won two races with the team.

In Abu Dhabi last weekend, Raikkonen said he may not take part in the final two races of the season if Lotus do not fulfil a promise to solve a financial dispute.

Raikkonen, who decided to race in Abu Dhabi at the last minute, said he has "not been paid a single euro all year".

Fernando Alonso, who Raikkonen joins as team-mate in 2014, is continuing his recovery from back pain suffered during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend.

The Spaniard is still experiencing discomfort from the impact he suffered as he bounced over kerbs avoiding Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne on his way to fifth place.

Alonso has had a series of tests this week, all of which showed no injuries, but he is taking anti-inflammatory tablets to reduce the pain in his back.

Ferrari expect the double world champion to be fit to race in the US Grand Prix from 15-17 November but Alonso will have final tests on his back on Tuesday before flying out to Austin, Texas, for the race.

Raikkonen's seat fitting revealed he was more or less identical in terms of size and weight to Alonso.