Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen to retire from Formula One on the finish of 2021 season

Kimi Raikkonen, the Finnish ‘Iceman’, who received the 2007 Formula One world championship for Ferrari, introduced on Wednesday that he would retire on the finish of the season after a file run within the sport.

The 41-year-old is at the moment racing for the Swiss-based Alfa Romeo group and his departure opens up a seat, with compatriot Valtteri Bottas strongly tipped to take it if he leaves Mercedes.Raikkonen is the oldest driver on the beginning grid and holds the all-time file for many race begins, with 341 so removed from 344 grands prix attended.”This is it. This will be my last season in Formula One. This is a decision I did during last winter,” Raikkonen mentioned in an Instagram submit to his 2.4 million followers.”It was not an easy decision but after this season it is time for new things… Formula One might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy,” he added.
Raikkonen, a blunt fan favorite whose love of racing is matched by his dislike of media duties and the company aspect of the game, made his F1 debut in 2001 with Sauber, the group that now races as Alfa.He was so inexperienced in single-seater racing that the group needed to persuade the governing physique to offer him a super-licence.He moved to McLaren in 2002, successful for the primary time in Malaysia in 2003 and being dubbed ‘Iceman’ by group boss Ron Dennis for his calmness below stress. He now has the phrase tattooed on his forearm.Raikkonen then joined Ferrari in 2007 as substitute for seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher.His title success stays the final championship for a Ferrari driver and got here when the Finn pipped McLaren’s then-rookie Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by a single level after successful three of the ultimate 4 races.Raikkonen left the game on the finish of 2009 however returned in 2012 with Lotus, with whom he received two races earlier than his second stint at Ferrari from 2014-2018.His final win was on the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in 2018 and his contract was because of expire on the finish of the 12 months. He might be 42 in October.”Kimi is an incredible part of our sport, a personal friend and a true champion,” mentioned former Ferrari group boss Stefano Domenicali, who now runs Formula One as chief govt.”I had the privilege of working with him at Ferrari and know the fantastic person he is. We will all miss him and his unique style and wish him and his family the best for the future.”