Kimi Raikkonen has announced his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season.
Raikkonen’s contract with Alfa Romeo was known to be expiring at the end of the year and had been widely expected to leave the Swiss-based team.
The Finn has now confirmed this year will be his last in F1, leaving as the most experienced driver in the series’ history with 341 Grand Prix starts to date.
Revealing the news on his Instagram account on Wednesday, Raikkonen said: “This is it. This will be my last season in Formula 1.
“This is a decision I did during last winter. It was not an easy decision but after this season it is time for new things.
“Even though the season is still on, I want to thank my family, all my teams, everyone involved in my racing career and especially all of you great fans that have been rooting for me all this time.
“Formula 1 might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy. See you around after all of this! Sincerely Kimi.”
Raikkonen burst onto the F1 scene as a 21-year-old in 2001, racing for Sauber despite only having 24 single-seater races under his belt.
An impressive rookie campaign with four points finishes saw him poached by McLaren to replace compatriot Mika Hakkinen for 2002, finishing runner-up in the drivers’ championship twice while at the Woking-based outfit.
A move to Ferrari for 2007 finally earned him a world title, overhauling McLaren driver’s Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to the crown by one point at the final race in Brazil.
After leaving the Scuderia at the end of 2009, Raikkonen undertook a two-year spell away from F1, competing in rallying and Nascar.
He made a comeback with Lotus in 2012 and claimed two victories for the team, before returning to Ferrari in 2014.
Raikkonen initially struggled to find form back at Maranello, but his performances gradually improved, leading to his first win in 113 races at the 2018 US Grand Prix.
Following Ferrari’s decision to sign protege Charles Leclerc, Raikkonen headed back to where it all began at Sauber, although now under the Alfa Romeo brand.
The 41-year-old has only managed two points finishes so far this year, finishing 10th in Azerbaijan and Hungary, with Alfa ninth in the constructors’ standings.
Alfa Romeo is yet to confirm who will replace Raikkonen next year, but fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas is tipped to grab the vacant seat.
