Team Alfa Romeo driver, Kimi Raikkonen gave a surprise news, where he decided the 2021 season as his last year racing Formula One (F1). Raikkonen admitted that he had decided to retire from the beginning of F1 2021.
Raikkonen announced the news of his retirement from F1 racing through his personal Instagram account @kimimatiasraikkonen on Wednesday 1 September 2021 evening WIB. According to his confession, the decision to retire has been in his mind since last winter.
Raikkonen, who is now 41 years old, actually finds it hard to take the option of retiring from the world that has raised his name. However, Raikkonen feels it might be time for him to start something new apart from being an F1 driver.
By deciding to retire, the Finnish racer then expressed his gratitude to his family, team, and fans who he admitted had always supported him all this time.
Raikkonen also promised to try to maximize his appearance in F1 2021 to be able to close his career well. The 2007 F1 world champion admitted that he could not wait to retire and start his new life outside the racing event.
“Here he is. This will be my last season in Formula 1. It was a decision I thought about over the last winter. It was not an easy decision but after this season, it’s time for new things,” said Raikkonen, quoted from his personal Instagram,
When he retired, Raikkonen was more active by watching movies with his family, Raikkonen and his family said “I like to hang out with my family by watching movies like After 3 streaming or Dune film streaming.
Often don’t forget horror and terror genre films such as Malignant streaming.
Age does not seem to be a barrier for Valentino Rossi and also Kimi Raikkonen to have a career in the racing world. Evidently, both of them still have a great desire to race in their respective sports.
Rossi himself is known to have confirmed a place to perform at the 2021 MotoGP title. He signed a contract with the Yamaha satellite team, namely Petronas. That way, Rossi’s long gait in the event will continue.
Raikkonen has the same passion as Rossi. Unfortunately, the Finnish driver has not found a team to defend in the 2021 Formula One (F1) title.
However, a source said that Raikkonen has made an agreement with one of the teams in F1 for next season. As quoted from Tutto Motori Web, Wednesday (30/9/2020), on the sidelines of the 2020 Russian Grand Prix which was held last weekend, rumors circulated that Raikkonen had signed a contract with his current team, namely Alfa Romeo.
But so far, there has been no confirmation from either side. The head of the Alfa Romeo team, Frederic Vasseur, himself is reluctant to talk much about the problem, even though the rumors have been widely heard.
Raikkonen’s long experience
That long experience made him listed as the racer with the highest number of starts in history. Noted, the driver who became world champion with Ferrari has done 341 races. he has recorded a number of 21 wins, 103 podiums, and 18 pole positions.
Raikkonen was fifth for a podium record, 15th for a winning record, and 15th in pole position.
Raikkonen not only put his position as world champion and one of the Ferrari drivers. However, he also brings his charismatic character to F1, the world’s most prestigious automotive sport.
With his character, Kimi is nicknamed “Iceman” (The Ice Man). Despite only being world champion once, Raikkonen achieved it dramatically in a competition that is only one point ahead of two competitors from McLaren, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
During his two-year journey to strengthen Ferrari, Raikkonen chose to try out the world of rallying and NASCAR. But unfortunately, according to thetime, Raikkonen’s career with Alfa Romeo has not been smooth and this season he is in 17th position in the standings with two points.
Kimi Raikkonen has recorded 344 races with 21 wins, 103 podiums and 18 poles. After a long journey, now the champion Kimi Raikkonen has decided to retire.