Raikkonen to step down from Ferrari at the end of 2018!

Scuderia Ferrari has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will step down from his current role at the end of the 2018 season.

"During these years, Kimi’s contribution to the Team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamental," Ferrari said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

"He played a decisive role in the team’s growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player.

"As a World Champion for Scuderia Ferrari, he will always be part of the Team’s history and family. We thank Kimi for all of this and wish him and his family a prosperous future."

Raikkonen's career comes full circle with return to Sauber!

Raikkonen will therefore conclude his second stint with the House of Maranello, having initially raced for the Scuderia between 2007 - the year he won the world title - and 2009.

After a two year absence in F1 followed by a couple of season with Lotus, the Finn returned to Ferrari in 2014, but has yet to return to the winner's circle which he last visited in 2013 with Lotus.

Reports emerged after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza that Raikkonen had been informed by Ferrari boss Louis Camilleri that he would o longer be racing for the Italian outfit in 2019.

As expected Charles Leclerc will join Ferrari next season, following an agreement signed off by the company's former boss Sergio Marchionne. Scuderia boss announced the Monegasque's arrival with a rather laconic one-line official comment.

As for Kimi, he has vowed to race on at the pinnacle of motorsport as he will be heading back to the team where it all started for him in 2001: Sauber!

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.