Ferrari: Räikkönen hopes to continue for two more years
Returning to F1 in 2012, Kimi Räikkönen hopes to continue for another two seasons in the pinnacle of motorsport. Moreover, he says he is pleased with the probable arrival of Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari.
Although he initially announced his desire to continue until 2015 – the final date of his contract, Kimi Räikkönen might extend his career in F1 by another season. This season, Iceman has returned to Ferrari, where he became world champion in 2007.
Fernando Alonso’s teammate is currently tied for 12th with Sergio Perez in the World Drivers’ Championship, with a 2-point deficit to Kevin Magnussen. During the British Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver initially announced that he would not continue his F1 career beyond the 2015 season.
But to date, things have changed, as he confided to CNN. Retirement does not seem to be on the agenda for the Finnish driver, who is the oldest in the paddock: « I have a contract for next year and probably for one more year. I’m not a young man anymore. I want to do something more in my life than Formula 1, I will finish my career with Ferrari. I have never lost the passion. I will stop the day when I feel that I’m no longer enjoying it. »
Räikkönen would be ready to drive in NASCAR or rally when his F1 career is over. He already did two years of rallying in 2010 and 2011 before returning to F1. Furthermore, he says he’s satisfied with Sebastian Vettel’s upcoming likely appointment at Ferrari, whom he considers a true friend: « The guy I see the most outside of racing is Vettel. The rest of the competition, I really don’t see them as friends; I’m in competition against them. Vettel is a normal guy with whom I have an easy relationship. »
