The Finnish driver wants to wait for a spot to open up on a competitive team.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON -- Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen confirms he will take a one-year sabbatical from Formula One next season and says it's uncertain whether he will return in 2011.

The Finnish driver was replaced by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, and says he prefers to take a year off and wait for spot with a competitive team after failing to reach a deal with McLaren. McLaren opted to sign current champion Jenson Button to partner Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, said Thursday that he will "only return in 2011 if I can drive a competitive car."

The 29-year-old Raikkonen says he hasn't held talks with Button's former Brawn team -- now Mercedes GP -- and will look at competing in rallying next year instead.