Kimi wants part ownership not just drive at Williams

[John S]

Could explain delay, Frank's not one to share control.         

Kimi Raikkonen isn't just looking for a Williams race-seat for next season, according to reports he also wants a stake in the F1 team.
 
Raikkonen is believed to be on his way to Williams next season with some reports claiming the deal is done while others say it is still in the preliminary stages.
 
However, there appears to be a new twist to the tale.

According to British motorsport journalist Joe Saward, it "is not as simple as most team-driver negotiations as I hear that Raikkonen is looking to acquire some equity in the team."
 
Although shares in Williams were floated on the stock market earlier this year, Frank Williams and Patrick Head still remain in control with Sir Frank holding the biggest stake in the team.
 
However, Raikkonen wanting to part-own and not just drive could be a stumbling block in the negotiations as Sir Frank is believed to be loath to handing control, even a small part, to someone else.

Planetf1.com, Today.

[David]

Part ownership! That should help keep Kimi's interest at least.

[Alianora La Canta]

There could be more to it than Kimi asking for part-ownership. An investigation has been launched by the Venuzuelan government into Pastor Maldonado's sponsorship. By the sound of it, there may not have been the correct authorisation for it, which would imply that Pastor's sponsorship stream is under threat. As far as I know, nobody has anything like Pastor's sponsorship amount available. If Williams was counting on that sponsorship, it may not be able to offer Kimi as much as it or he would like.

[cosworth151]

Maybe Kimi had started drinking a little earlier than normal that day. 

Loosing the funding that Maldonado brings would be a major hit to the team. Still, I can't see Sir Frank giving up any control, especially to a driver, without a fight. He's always seemed to be in the Enzo Ferrari school of thinking that the driver is just another interchangeable part.