At the end of 2009, despite the Finn having a year to run on his contract, the Maranello based team replaced Raikkonen with Fernando Alonso in a deal that coincided with the arrival of Santander as a lucrative new sponsor.

The 2007 world champion went off to world rallying and even tried his hand at NASCAR-style racing, but is now reportedly on the verge of returning to formula one next year with the beleaguered Williams team.

“That he might be coming back makes me feel good,” Ferrari president di Montezemolo told La Stampa.

“Kimi is a very likeable guy even though I have never been able to communicate properly with him,” he added.

“There are some drivers like him with the flames of speed burning inside them, like Jean Alesi who is going next year to do the Indy 500.”

Montezemolo also dismissed rumours Ferrari is looking to replace Felipe Massa with Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg at the end of the season.

“Our drivers are Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa,” he insisted.

yallaf1.com