« Ferrari will be my last team in F1… » says Räikkönen

Kimi Räikkönen announced yesterday during a press conference his intention to retire from Formula 1 in two years. The driver feels good at Ferrari and admitted that Scuderia will be his last team.

Kimi Räikkönen arrived at Ferrari in 2007, while Fernando Alonso was taking over his place at McLaren-Mercedes. The Finn then became the world champion of drivers. Last year, in 2008, luck and victories eluded him, although he still secured a 3rd place in the championship.

Although criticized by the Italian press, who see Alonso at Ferrari as a dream, Räikkönen has a solid contract now until the end of 2010. Räikkönen feels good at Ferrari and intends to honor his contract: « I have loved and still love working in this team. I have had some great moments here, there is a good atmosphere and I absolutely do not regret my move here.

Räikkönen indeed seems to be much freer at Ferrari than he was at McLaren. He will notably have permission to participate in a national rally in Finland, a few days after his “vacation” with the Ferrari Wroom 2009 team in the Italian Alps.

Finally, during this press conference, the Finnish driver answered a question from the Spanish newspaper AS and the French daily L’Equipe: « Does Alonso threaten you? »

This is the question Räikkönen thinks he doesn’t have to answer… His contract is signed until 2010, and the Finn has clearly expressed not wanting to change teams before leaving F1.