Kimi Raikonnen’s career in Formula 1 will be extending to 2021, this is after the finn received a contract extension to stay with Alfa Romeo, the official announcement will be made this weekend as sources say.
Kimi Raikkonen will now be breaking Reuben Barrichello’s record of 322 race starts this weekend in the Eifel Grand Prix which will be held at the Nurburgring, sources say he took the option to remain with Alfa Romeo for the 2021 F1 season. The official confirmation of his extended tenure would come as early as Friday.
Raikkonen joined the swiss-based outfit in 2019, as his previous team, Ferrari decided to replace him with Charles Leclerc. While Alfa Romeo has not been delivering the best of the car specs that Raikkonen would have hoped for, the 2007 World Champion is impressive enough to showcase his talent and motivation. His recent best was in the chaotic 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix when he finished in fourth place and helped Alfa Romeo to get the 8th position in the constructors championship.
This season, however has been very difficult for Alfa Romeo as their cars driven by a Ferrari engine have not been performing quite as well. Raikkonen’s best performance in the 2020 season so far, was in the Tuscan Grand Prix held at Mugello last month, when he finished ninth.
As Kimi Raikkonen is set to stay, Alfa Romeo has yet to make a decision on who will be his teammate for 2021 F1 season. Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher are both in the run for the seat. The partnership of Alfa Romeo with Ferrari, the Maranello based team has the right to place one of its young drivers in an Alfa Romeo cockpit.
Alfa Romeo is still evaluating whether to stick with Antonio Giovinazzi or promote Mick Schumacher from Formula 2. Schumacher will be having his first run with Alfa Romeo in Germany this weekend. Should Ferrari give a reprieve to Antonio Giovinazzi, Schumacher may also join the Haas team which has been also having very close ties with Ferrari.
The Haas team is considering an all new driver line-up for 2021 and has been linked with one of the Ferrari junior drivers. It is giving Callum Illot, a Briton a run in the free practice at the Nurburgring this weekend. Another junior racer, Robert Shwartzman will also be running with either Haas or Alfa Romeo at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as an evaluation too
