Formula 1: 5 possible landing spots for Kimi Raikkonen in 2019
By Asher Fair
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo recently signed a two-year contract to drive for Renault Sport starting next season, leaving one of the sport’s most desirable seats open for next season.
It has been speculated that a key reason why Ricciardo, who has earned seven victories and two career-high finishes of third place in the Formula 1 driver standings since he began driving for Red Bull Racing in the 2014 season, agreed to leave Red Bull Racing and sign with a team that have not been nearly as good as Red Bull Racing have in recent years is the fact that Red Bull Racing made Max Verstappen their number one driver when they signed him through the 2020 season last fall.
If there is one driver who would not create much, if any, teammate drama, that driver is Kimi Raikkonen. As discussed on the previous slide about the possibility of the 38-year-old Finn re-signing with Ferrari, he is a great team player.
If Ferrari do not re-sign Raikkonen, Red Bull Racing should take advantage of that by signing him, as he could serve as a great team player and number two driver to Verstappen. Also, if Raikkonen has the ability to sign with Red Bull Racing, he should take advantage of it, as he would still be in a car capable of racking up podium finishes and winning races.
But if Raikkonen is unable to sign with one of the top-tier Formula teams yet he remains in the sport next season, which other team or teams might he end up driving for?