Kimi Raikkonen has shot down rumors about him planning to retire in the near future, perhaps even as soon as the end of the 2018 Formula 1 season.
Scuderia Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has been the subject of many retirements rumors over the last few Formula 1 seasons, but perhaps no season has featured more rumors about him potentially retiring in the near future than this season has.
In June, it was revealed that the 2007 Formula 1 champion would likely be replaced by Alfa Romeo Sauber rookie Charles Leclerc beginning next season. Later in the month, it was even revealed that the 20-year-old Monegasque had reached an agreement with the Scuderia that had not yet been signed.
This news resulted in discussion that Raikkonen could potentially return to McLaren, the team for which he drove from the 2002 season through the 2006 season, as the replacement for two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, who actually is retiring after the 2018 season comes to an end.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
Just a few weeks later, there were suddenly reports that the 38-year-old Finn would likely re-sign with the Maranello-based team on a two-year contract extension.
After the sudden death of former Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne, who was a huge fan of Leclerc and wanted him driving for Ferrari in the bright red car not driven by four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel as soon as possible, it appeared as though rumors of Raikkonen being replaced by Leclerc were shot down.
But just a few more weeks have gone by since then, and suddenly Leclerc is, once again, considered by many people to be the favorite to be Vettel’s teammate in the 2019 season.
However, with all of these speculative reports flying around every which way, Raikkonen has confirmed one piece of the puzzle, as he has shot down rumors that he is planning to retire in the near future.
Here is what Raikkonen had to say about the matter, according to AS English.
"“I don’t know [when a decision will be made]. Obviously at some point. I want to race, otherwise I wouldn’t be here today. I don’t feel that I drive any differently from ten years ago. I drive pretty well, at least in my own books and that’s enough for me.“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t feel that I can drive as well as I feel that I should. That’s kind of my tool to decide when it’s enough. Who knows? Maybe I will wake up one morning and I don’t know how to drive fast anymore. I don’t think there is a time.“It’s more feelings and how do you feel yourself, doing good or bad. People always said the speed would disappear but until this day it hasn’t disappeared for me. Maybe there’s one morning when I’ll wake up and it’s just not there, it could be like that but I don’t think you can just put a date [on it]. If you have it, you have it, if not – that’s it.”"
Raikkonen, who hasn’t won a Formula 1 race since he won the 2013 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, has driven in Formula 1 in every season since the 2001 season except the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
He has earned 20 victories, 99 podium finishes and 17 pole positions in 284 starts over the course of his 16-year career in the sport. He has led 1,229 of the 14,904 laps that he has completed throughout those 16 years.
When will Kimi Raikkonen retire from Formula 1? Will he return to the sport in the 2019 season, and if so, will he do so as a Ferrari driver for the ninth overall season and sixth consecutive season?