Otmar Szafnauer reveals near-miss signing Kimi Raikkonen for Force India in 2012

Former Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer has revealed he came close to signing Kimi Raikkonen for Force India ahead of the 2012 season. The 2007 world champion ultimately joined Lotus, where his performances were so strong he nearly bankrupted the team with performance bonuses.

Why it matters:

This story offers a rare glimpse into the chaotic, personality-driven nature of driver negotiations in the early 2010s. It also underscores how Force India—then a midfield team—was actively trying to attract a top-tier talent like Raikkonen, a move that could have altered the team's trajectory and the driver market.

The details:

• Szafnauer made his pitch at the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, meeting Raikkonen at a Japanese restaurant in São Paulo's Hyatt hotel.
• Raikkonen had no formal manager—his two companions were co-founders of the game Angry Birds. He told Szafnauer to talk after the season.
• The meeting moved to Red Bull's massive end-of-season party. Raikkonen waited patiently for everyone in his group to enter before stepping through the crowd himself.
• Despite Szafnauer's efforts, Raikkonen chose Lotus, a team then outperforming Force India. Over two seasons with Lotus, he scored 390 points, 13 podiums, and two wins (Abu Dhabi 2012, Australia 2013).
• Szafnauer admitted he could not convince Raikkonen that Force India's future was brighter than Lotus's offer—and Lotus was indeed more competitive.

Between the lines:

The anecdote highlights Raikkonen's famously relaxed, independent approach to career decisions. With no agent, two game developers as his only advisers, and a casual meeting at a party, the deal still came close to happening. Szafnauer's regret is palpable: signing Raikkonen would have been a game-changer for Force India, but the team simply wasn't quick enough to seal the deal.