The Finnish Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo), Formula One world champion -in 2007, with Ferrari-, announced this Wednesday, in his account of a well-known social network, his withdrawal from the premier category of motorsport as soon as this season ends.
“This is all. This will be my last season in Formula One“, explained Kimi, 41 years old and who, with 341, is the driver with the highest number of races contested in the motorsport honors division, in which he debuted in 2001 and in which he has 21 victories, 18 pole positions and 46 fast laps “This is a decision I made last winter,” noted ‘Iceman’ – the ‘ice man’ -, as he is known in motoring circles.
“It was not an easy decision, but after this season it will be time for new things“, wrote, on his Instagram account, Raikkonen, also runner-up in the Formula world in 2003 and in 2005 -the year of the first title of the double Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso- and three times third in the World Cup (2008, 2012 and 2018).
“Although the season is still ongoing, I want to thank my family, all my teams and everyone related to my racing career; and above all to all of you, my fans, who have been supporting me throughout this time “, indicated Kimi, who has climbed 103 times to a Formula One podium and that between 2009 and 2011 he competed in the world rally, before returning to the honorary motor division in 2012.
“Formula One may have come to an end for me, but there are many more things in life that I want to experience and enjoy, still. I’ll see you there after all this! With all my heart, Kimi,” wrote the eccentric Finnish star this Wednesday in his farewell announcement of the premier class of the motor.
Kimi, who made his Formula One debut aboard a Sauber in 2001 and who for the next five seasons (2002-2006) raced for McLaren, completed two journeys -between 2007 and 2009; and from 2014 to 2018- with Ferrari, the most awarded team in history, of which it is still its last world champion (2007).
Just before returning to the Maranello team, Raikkonen participated in two seasons, 2012 – his return, after competing in rallies – and 2013, in Lotus; and since 2019 he has been playing the World Championship with Alfa Romeo. He is currently in seventeenth place in the championship, with two points.
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