Age is showing no sign of slowing down Formula One veteran Kimi Raikkonen as his Alfa Romeo team said Friday he would be retained for the 2021 season alongside Antonio Giovinazzi.
The 41-year-old, who was world champion in 2007, holds the records for most races entered (327) and started (324) by any driver in the history of the sport and is the oldest on the starting grid.
The Finn showed in Portugal last weekend that he still has the fighting spirit, overtaking 10 cars on the opening lap.
“Alfa Romeo … is more than a team to me, it is like a second family,” said Raikkonen, who started out with the team when they raced as Sauber and won his world championship with Ferrari.
“So many of the faces that were around me when I made my Formula One debut in 2001 are still here and the unique atmosphere of this team is what gives me that extra motivation to keep going in what will be my 19th season in the sport, next year.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in the team’s project and in what we feel we can achieve together.”
Team principal Frederic Vasseur said Raikkonen “can be trusted to deliver 100 per cent of what the car can produce and he is a true leader for the people working around him.”
Giovinazzi, 26, was also confirmed in his spot ahead of Sunday’s Emilia Romagna grand prix in Imola, Italy.
“The team has put a lot of faith in me and I have done my best to repay this confidence with hard work and commitment,” the Italian said.
“We have achieved some good results and I feel I have done my part to make the team progress, but the road ahead is still long and there is much more we want to achieve together.”
Alfa Romeo are eighth in the 10-team constructors’ championship while drivers Giovinazzi and Raikkonen are 16th and 17th respectively in the drivers’ standings.