Formula 1: Kimi Raikkonen to leave Ferrari after 2018 season

Scuderia Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen is set to leave the team following the conclusion of the 2018 Formula 1 season, his 16th season in the sport.

Scuderia Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has driven full-time in Formula 1 in every season since the 2001 season except for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The 38-year-old Finn is currently driving for the Ferrari for the fifth consecutive season and eighth season overall, and he is driving for the team on a one-year contract for the third consecutive season.

However, the 2018 season is set to be his last driving for the Scuderia, as the 2007 Formula 1 champion is set to step down once the final seven races of the season are in the books.

It was widely believed that Raikkonen would be replaced by Alfa Romeo Sauber rookie Charles Leclerc next season. In fact, in June, it was revealed that Ferrari were ready to replace Raikkonen with the 20-year-old Monegasque, and it was then revealed that Leclerc and Ferrari had reportedly reached an agreement that Leclerc had not yet signed.

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Raikkonen then reeled off five consecutive podium finishes for the first time since his championship season in 2007, which may have played a role in the fact that it was then revealed that he would likely re-sign with Ferrari on a two-year contract extension.

However, it is widely believed that the sudden death of former Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne had the biggest effect on this news. Marchionne, who passed away in July at the age of 66, was a big fan of Leclerc and wanted him to drive for the Maranello-based team as soon as he possibly could. Upon his death, Ferrari rethought their driver strategy for next season, and they originally wanted to keep Vettel and Raikkonen paired with one another.

This was the case because of the fact that Vettel and Raikkonen have strong relationships with one another both on and off the track. In fact, Vettel himself claimed that he prefers Raikkonen to be his teammate, and he also claimed that he believes Leclerc is too young and inexperienced to drive for Ferrari.

However, Ferrari have reportedly decided to honor Marchionne’s wishes and sign Leclerc to replace Raikkonen despite the fact that new CEO Louis Camilleri wanted to re-sign Raikkonen. As a result, Raikkonen is set to leave the team.

Here is a Ferrari’s statement about Raikkonen leaving the team, according to their website.

"“During these years, Kimi’s contribution to the Team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamental. He played a decisive role in the team’s growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player.“As a World Champion for Scuderia Ferrari, he will always be part of the Team’s history and family. We thank Kimi for all of this and wish him and his family a prosperous future.”"

Throughout his 16-year Formula 1 career, Raikkonen has racked up 20 victories, 100 podium finishes and 18 pole positions in 285 races. His most recent victory came in the 2013 season opener, the Australian Grand Prix. At this time, he was in his second and final season driving for Lotus.

Raikkonen, who has driven for Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus, has not won any of the 92 races that he has contested since returning to Ferrari in the 2014 season (he also drove for the team from the 2007 season through the 2009 season).

Raikkonen is currently on a 108-race win drought, which is the longest win drought among the win droughts of the seven active drivers who have won at least one Formula 1 race in their careers.

Are you disappointed that Kimi Raikkonen is set to leave Ferrari once the 2018 Formula 1 season comes to a close? Are you excited that Charles Leclerc is poised to be his replacement beginning next year?