Kimi cut after cracking comeback

KIMI RAIKKONEN was slashed in the betting for the 2012 Formula One drivers championship after topping the times after the first day of pre-season testing at Jerez on Tuesday.

The Lotus driver, who has been out of F1 since leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2009 season, lapped the Spanish track 0.1 seconds faster than Paul di Resta in the new Force India.

That was enough for Blue Square to cut the 2007 champion from 66-1 to 16-1 to claim a comeback title.

Mark Webber was on duty for defending champion Red Bull and went fourth fastest behind nico Rosberg, driving last year's Mercedes.